Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
I let him control the pace at which we do this—be with each other for the first time in years—in how we make love.
EPILOGUE
It’s been six months since my return, and a lot has happened. On Christmas Day, Evangeline and I escaped all the questions from her family and took a walk. Out there, among the growing trees, I presented her with the signed contract to purchase the farm, including the house, the outbuildings, farm equipment and house. At first, she didn’t believe it and thought it was some weird joke—not sure who jokes about something like this—and seemed confused until she read the entire document and it all set it. She now owned her family farm, and it wasn’t going anywhere. Buying this for her was the least I could after what I put her through.
I finish with my last client for the day and head back to the office. Since January, I have been working for Evangeline, focusing on real estate transactions, which are easy work. Ever since she added this service to her website, business picked up. I find that I like this much better. The research is less, the money is good, and once I’m done with the closing, I can move on to the next. There doesn’t need to be any follow-up and I don’t have to spend hours and days putting my clients through depositions. Those will come later when Evangeline has a trial and needs me for second chair. I’m perfectly happy sitting second chair and supporting her.
On my way home, I stop at the store, check on my dad, and pick up a bottle of wine I ordered for the evening.
“How are things today?” I ask my dad when I find him behind the register.
“Slow, but good. A couple of the boys from the high school came in to apply for a job.”
“That’s good,” I tell him. “We have capital for two or three.”
My dad shakes his head. In the time I’ve been back, I have somehow turned things around for the store. I renegotiated some very old contracts, found some new vendors, and started slowly remodeling the interior. We’re still the same store but now we offer a gourmet selection of food, wine, and cheese. These additions have been a positive addition and the people of Deer Ridge love the options. They no longer have to order online or travel out of town to feel fancy.
The store is also clean, reorganized for a better shopping experience, and we’ve added a gift section, as well as a meat butcher. Now hunters can bring their game here to have it butchered and wrapped—saving our neighbors time and money.
All in all, everything is on the upswing and my dad couldn’t be happier. Evangeline tells me he’s lost ten years, in a good way. That my return is giving my dad life again.
“What about if I hire them for part-time work?”
“Whatever you want,” I tell him. “Honestly, they might like it. I know I loved working in the mornings so I could go to the lake in the afternoon.”
Dad nods and steps around me to help a customer. The next remodel is going to be the cashier space. Right now, it’s a small space and if someone has more than five things, they have to stack them or wait for my dad to bag the items. He then has to carry the bag around the front because of the lack of space. We’re going to put in a new register space, giving staff more room.
“I’ll see you later,” I tell him as I take the bottle of wine and head toward the door. My next stop is the new Italian restaurant that opened two months ago. Da Vinci’s, yes named after the man himself, has been a popular go-to for Eve and me. We eat here at least twice a week, with one being take out.
“Good evening, Mr. Whitaker,” the young woman greets me at the door. “Here’s your order.”
“Thank you.” I sign the slip saying I’ve picked my order up and take the bag. Right away, my stomach growls. The aroma of marinara, basil, and roasted tomatoes drifts from the bag. I’m thankful the office and apartment are a few blocks away. I’d walk, but then I’d have to come back for my car later.
My car is new as well. When I was in New York, I didn’t have one. Didn’t need one. Once I decided to stay, buying one was at the top of my list. I didn’t want to leave my dad without transportation, and I couldn’t keep paying the rental fee. Once Caryn admitted to setting everything up, I wanted to get as far away from her devious hand as I could. This meant getting rid of the rental. I went with an economical Honda SUV Hybrid. I like it but love the gas mileage better.