Uncle Jim cleared his throat. “Things have been tough around here. Seems like every year gets a little harder.”
“We didn’t want to bring this up today,” Aunt Meg said. “But we’re thinking of putting the farm up for sale. The bank is threatening foreclosure if we can’t make up the missed payments.”
My stomach flopped. “You want to sell the farm?”
They couldn’t do that. The farm was my home. Kasey’s home. The only sense of stability we had left in this world.
“What about the money I’ve been sending?” I asked. It was every last dollar I could spare—sometimes even more. Those were the months I’d live off instant noodles and tap water. But it took care of whatever Kasey needed.
“Of course,” Aunt Meg said. “You know we appreciate all the help, really.”
“We are proud of you, Maeve,” Uncle Jim said. “You’re a good girl.” He kissed the top of my forehead. “We’ll talk about it some more later.”
The kitchen door swung open and slammed shut.
“Oh great,” Kasey said. “I guess they told you, too.”
My heart skipped a little. It didn’t seem like Aunt Meg and Uncle Jim to share this news with Kasey. They shared my mission of protecting her against as much conflict as possible. She’d already been through enough.
“What is she talking about?” I said.
“Well…” Aunt Meg looked to Uncle Jim for some help.
“Your mother called,” he said.
I rolled my eyes in disgust. The good news just kept coming. “Forget I asked.”
Aunt Meg gave a warm smile. “She wanted to know if it would be all right if she—”
“No,” I said.
“I vote yes,” Kasey said.
I squinted my eyes at her. “Traitor.”
I didn’t share her same affection for our mother. Then again, Kasey did see her a lot more often. It was easier for her. She was so young when I’d started running away from home. And she definitely didn’t remember the one time I’d brought her with me. She had been just a few months old. I carried her wrapped in blankets all the way to Aunt Meg and Uncle Jim’s from my house.
Aunt Meg opened her mouth to say more. Probably to try and convince me to change my mind. It was her sister—I got it. But it still didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t stand the sight of my own mother.
Uncle Jim took a few steps closer to me. “We already told her no.”
* * * *
The relatives started to trickle in, bringing pies and potato salads. Jack darted around the tent, his nose following the smell of food. I tried to fade into the background and keep myself busy with helping with the food or getting more ice from the freezer. Living near campus had made me soft. I was quickly reminded of the hardship of farm life every time I came here for a visit.
“Maeve,” Aunt Meg called as I refilled the cooler with ice.
I shook the bag to empty out every cube before tossing it in the nearby trashcan.
“Look who’s here.” She reached out for me with one hand as she gestured to the tall guy beside her.
He towered over the crowd. His dark, messy hair flopped over his hazel eyes. The scruff on his face definitely added to his I-just-rolled-out-of-bed look. I knew this face. Those eyes behind the glasses.
“Hi, Maeve.” He gave me a timid wave of his hand.
“Hey, Jacob.”
My heart drummed in my ears. Sweat pooled in the creases of my palms. I almost couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me. The last time I saw Jacob Young I was flat as a board. His mother and Aunt Meg were best friends, so he spent a lot of time with me here.
“Jacob’s just moved back to start veterinary school,” Aunt Meg explained to the few others who were standing nearby. “He’s going to be staying here and helping us with the animals until the semester starts.”
“Really?” someone asked.
He pushed his black-framed glasses higher on his nose. “Yeah, just got here from the airport, actually.”
“Maeve, why don’t you get Jacob something to drink? I know you two have a lot to catch up on.” She gave me a smile that told me she was up to no good before scurrying away.
I wiped my hands on my shorts. “So, what do you like to drink?” Looking him in the eyes was proving difficult.
“Um, I’ll take water if you have it.”
God, his voice was deep.
I rummaged through the cooler and picked out a cold bottle from the bottom. I twisted the top off and handed it to him. “Here you go.”
He thanked me before taking a sip, his gaze scoping out the plethora of geriatric company.
“So, graduate school, huh?” I popped open a beer for myself.
“Yeah, I took a bunch of summer classes to finish my B.S. early.”
That was no surprise.
He took a sip of water. “What are you studying?”
I smiled. “Undecided.”
We stood feet apart. The conversation dead. It’d been so long since we talked; I didn’t know what to say. I swatted a fly away from my face and crossed my arms. This was beyond awkward.
“Do you live in the dorms?” he asked.
“No. I rent an apartment close to campus.” Another incident I’d never told Aunt Meg—getting kicked out of my dorm last year for “sexiling” my roommate too much. I couldn’t help it if I needed so much privacy with my guests. She had it out for me, anyway—convinced I was after her boyfriend.
He nodded and took another swig from his water.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I was supposed to stay with a buddy of mine. But that’s not happening anymore.”
“Why’s that?”
“Something about his girlfriend moving in. It’s too late for me to get room and board from the school, so I guess I’ll be staying here until I can get it figured out.”
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. “I can show you around campus one day if you want.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
That answer wasn’t exactly brimming with enthusiasm.
Kasey weaved through the
