backup.â
âIncompetent, though, huh?â
âHe doesnât handle things the way I do, but heâs very competent.â
Forrest laughed.
She smiled but didnât get the joke. âWhatâs so funny?â
The front door opened as Forrest stood up and pointed at her laptop. âYou need to look up âmicromanager,ââ he said as he walked over to hold the door for his wife.
Tayler crossed her arms and gave him a knowing smile. She understood.
Barbara walked over to Tayler. âWell, Tayler, it was nice meeting you, but weâre gonna have to get on the road.â Tayler moved her laptop aside and stood up to hug the older woman goodbye. Within minutes, everyone else came out to say goodbye. Rita and Tayler stood on the porch waving as both cars pulled off. The moment reminded Tayler of a scene from an old movie.
âWell, young lady, what have you got planned for today?â Rita asked.
Tayler sat back down and picked up her laptop. âI was going to get some work done, but Iâve changed my mind. I think Iâll just enjoy the breeze.â
âThat sounds nice. You enjoy yourself, now. Iâm gonna go up and start cleaning those rooms. Lunch is at noon.â
âOkay, Iâll see you then.â
Tayler thought about what Forrest had said and closed her laptop. She wasnât a micromanager.
A few minutes later, she heard a vehicle barreling up the driveway. A big black truck that resembled a monster with tinted windows pulled in next to her BMW. Sheâd seen the truck parked around back before but wasnât sure who it belonged to. It kicked dust all over her precious jewel.
The door opened, and Rollin stepped out. Tayler rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, âI should have known.â
He walked up onto the porch. âEnjoying yourself?â he asked.
âYes, Iâm just relaxing.â She followed his gaze to her laptop. âAnd trying to stay away from work.â
âYeah, Nicole said you were here to get away from work. She said you needed to get some rest,â he said.
She glanced over her shoulder as he now stood at the door. âAnd I plan to get plenty of that, as long as I donât have to adhere to six a.m. wake-up calls every morning.â
âYou must plan on losing at lot of weight, then.â
She set her laptop aside and turned around in her seat. âSo, letâs talk about that. Do you really expect me to go out there all by myself and pick vegetables every morning?â
He left the entrance front door and walked over to stand against the railing opposite of her. âSure, I do. This is a working organic farm. People come from all over for the opportunity to pick their own food and have Rita prepare it for them. Almost everything we make here is fresh and from scratch. Tomorrow, Iâll take you out and introduce you to the hens.â
Tayler laughed. âYou talk about hens like theyâre people.â
His lips pressed together in a slight grimace. âNo, but I think a proper introduction should be made before you stick your hand under her ass to pick up the eggs.â
Eyes wide, Tayler pointed to herself. âOh, no , my hands wonât be going under anythingâs ass. Besides, I donât have to eat eggs. Pancakes are fine with me.â
He chuckled. âYou need an egg for pancakes.â
âThen Iâll have a bagel.â
He shook his head. âNo bagels, nor doughnuts, before you ask.â
She brought her palm to her forehead and massaged it for a moment. âSeriously, though, how do I get a good meal without playing farmer Jane? And what about the elderly? Surely to God, you donât make them ride out on that old rusted truck.â
âThey appreciate it the most. But if you want to eat somewhere else, thereâs always Donitaâs Diner in town.â
âAnd how do I get there?â
âTake the main road back