CHAPTER 15
Darby
Jake and I crest the hill, and the gray Farrington barn comes into view. I had walked him out to show him the progress on the peach orchard. We decided to hoof it rather than use the Gator as it was a beautiful day and we had nothing but time.
The goat pasture is on our left, and both Linnie and Laken are in there. Laken came out to trim the goat’s hooves today and asked Linnie if she wanted to learn how. I wasn’t all that surprised when she said she did. Linnie absolutely loves animals. While she doesn’t have any experience with them other than her horse, I don’t think she’s afraid to get her hands dirty with farm life. This makes me incredibly happy, of course.
“So all the holes should be finished today,” I tell Jake as we walk toward the barn.
I had hired a man with a backhoe and an auger attachment to dig all the holes for the rootstock trees. Because Jake has an endless supply of money and wants to operate at a loss, I made the decision to go ahead and purchase peach trees that had been nursery raised for two years. That would give us a bit of a head start on production.
“They’re going to be delivered on Monday, and I have a crew of almost thirty who will be here to help.”
Jake nods as we trudge along. He’s transformed from the polished Chicago businessman into a farmer himself. He’s got on a pair of faded jeans and work boots caked with soil and red clay. “How many trucks is it going to take to get them in?”
“I think the guy said at least five full-sized flatbeds,” I say vaguely. The nursery owner had told me that information, but it wasn’t overly important, so I can’t quite remember. “He’s going to stagger the deliveries though throughout the day.
I had to arrange for a few tractors with flatbed trailers to be ready for when the trees would arrive. The tractor-trailers hauling them in wouldn’t be able to turn off the highway into Farrington Farms. There is absolutely no way they’re going to make it over the farm road to where the orchard was located. So the crew of people would be here to unload the trees onto the tractor flatbeds, and we would drive them out to the orchard for unloading. It’s a labor-intensive process but again, Jake pretty much gave me an open checkbook and told me to do it the most efficient way possible.
Oh, to have that type of money.
“I am so darned impressed with you, Darby,” Jake murmurs as we walk side by side. “I can’t believe how fast you got this up and running.”
“Thanks,” I say as I beam on the inside. “But I did a lot of the pre-work while I was still living in Illinois.”
“Still, you have transitioned very seamlessly. I’m proud of you, sis.”
A warm bubbling fills me up over his use of the word “sis”. Even though he and Kelly are no longer married, I still consider him to be my brother. It’s nice to know he feels the same about me.
“How are things going with Mitch?” he asks me, the concern in his voice evident.
I stumble over the unexpected question, and Jake latches onto my elbow until I steady. He chuckles and reprimands me, “Come on, Darby. You had to have known I’m going to keep my nose in your business.”
I laugh, and he releases my elbow. “I know. We were just having such a nice talk and you had to bring him into it. It took me by surprise.”
Jake laughs again, but then his expression sobers. “Seriously… how are things going?”
I sigh and shrug at the same time. “It was rough when we first came here. Mitch kept using Linnie as a pawn to try to get me to go back to him. He kept her completely riled up and pissed off at me, but at least that doesn’t seem to be working anymore.”
“But I sense there’s more to the story?” Jake asks. He’s always been a perceptive man.
My eyes dart across the field to Linnie, who is helping to hold the goats while Laken works on them. “He’s still harassing me. Calls and nasty texts. Our attorneys have been battling things out, but he just won’t agree to anything. Then he demands things that just aren’t doable.”
“Like what?”
“Like his last demand was he would give me full custody if I would agree to bring Linnie to Illinois every other weekend. That’s just not feasible. I don’t have the time nor the money to do that.”
Jake stops in his tracks suddenly and turns to face me. He crosses his arms over his chest, his expression turning very serious. “It sounds to me like he’s stalling. Trying to drag this out and maybe making it so difficult on you that you’ll just give in.”
I look back to Linnie for a moment and then turn my attention to Jake’s observation. “I think you’re exactly right. I just don’t understand why he won’t give me up. I mean, come on, Jake… The guy has a mistress. Those needs are being seen to. He can marry somebody else to cook for him and clean his house. Why is he still focused on me?”
Jake’s arms drop, and his hands come to my shoulders for a reassuring squeeze. “I suspect he thinks he still loves you. And let’s face it, the man always had horrible self-esteem along with an oddly inflated ego. One of the best things you ever did for him was pump up his ego on a daily basis.”
I blink in surprise. “Excuse me?”
Jake makes a clucking sound with his tongue. “Surely you knew that, Darby. You were a trophy wife for Mitch. You made him feel good about himself. I guarantee you he’s quite lost without the perfect little wife to run his household and make him feel all manly and such.”
I cannot control the shudder that ripples up my spine because in that context, it just sounds extremely creepy Mitch would need that from me. Regardless, it doesn’t give me any insight on how to deal with him.
“Listen,” he says to get my attention focused on him. “I don’t want you to have to stoop down to the games he’s playing. I think you need to let your attorney get very nasty with him. He was cheating on you and that gives you leverage in the divorce settlement.”
“I know,” I tell him with frustration. “But there’s only so much I can afford to pay this attorney to do.”
“Then let me clarify what I’m saying,” Jake says with a smirk. “I’m going to give you my checkbook. You have carte blanche to write any amount to your attorney that will get you to prevail in the divorce settlement. You tell your attorney you want it done quickly and without any mercy.”
I can’t help it. I throw my head back and start laughing, then I double over and hold my stomach while I laugh even harder. I manage to look up through tears of mirth to find Jake glaring at me. It makes me laugh even more hysterically.
Jake’s arms go back over his chest, and he waits out my amusement.
When I’m done, he asks, “Why do you find that so funny?”
“You are my former brother-in-law, Jake,” I say with a snort. “I’m not going to take your money to fund my divorce.”
Jake’s face crumbles, and he looks hurt by my words. He gives a shake of his head and his tone is chiding. “Darby… I still consider you family. I thought you felt the same for me.”
I start shaking my head and wagging my finger at him. “Oh no you don’t. You don’t get to pull that family crap on me just so I’ll use your money.”
“Did you know I make almost seven million a year just in salary and stock options?” he asks me smoothly.
I blink like an owl at him.
“And did you know that my net worth is close to forty-two million?”
I shake my head, my lips and tongue completely numb with shock.
“You’re going to take my blank check and fund your divorce, Darby,” Jake says in a domineering tone. “I can afford it. And if you don’t do it, I’m going to fire you as the operations manager for Farrington Farms. Now you and Linnie are more than welcome to stay here rent free after I fire you, but you’re not going to have that nice little title of operations manager and you’re not gonna have any say so over this peach orchard. And then how will you finish your thesis? So you can call it bribery or you can call it strong-arming or whatever, but you’re going to do this. It will give me peace of mind because I still love you and Linnie very much.”
I can do nothing but stare silently at my former brother-in-law who is very much like a real brother to me in every sense of the word. I open my mouth, but no words come out.
The only thing I can do is throw my arms around his shoulders to give him a hard hug of acceptance. I bite down into my lips so I don’t start crying.
Jake’s arms come around me, and he gives me a squeeze in return before releasing me.
We continue our walk toward the barn, Jake lapsing back into questions about the orchard.
As we approach, Linnie and Laken come walking out of the goat pasture. Laken holds the gate open far enough for little MG to slip through and she runs up to Jake, her tail wagging a hundred miles an hour.
I don’t think I’ve ever been as charmed as I was to learn this sweet little goat bonded with Jake shortly after she was born. For weeks, she refused to drink from her mother or from anyone else other than Jake. It’s one of the things that precipitated him spending more time here, which in turn led to him getting to know Laken better.
Therefore, Miss Goatikins is directly responsible for bringing Jake and Laken together. While the little kid has grown up some and is asserting more independence, she still goes crazy anytime she sees Jake. He leans down when she puts her front hooves up on his knee and picks her up. He holds her with one arm supporting underneath her belly, his hand spread wide across her chest. He tucks her in close to his side. Her little tail is visible underneath his armpit, and it’s still wagging mercilessly as she butts her head against his jaw.
Cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
“Mom,” Linnie says excitedly with a tiny push of her glasses up her nose. “Laken actually let me do some of the trimming.”
I blink at Linnie in surprise, turning to Laken with a cocked eyebrow.
Laken shrugs. “What can I say? Your kid is a natural when it comes to caring for the goats. I’m glad you decided to keep them.”
I bring my gaze back to Linnie with a soft smile, chuck her under the chin, and tell her, “I’m proud of you, baby. And I’m really glad you’re taking to the goats.”
“I don’t know about you ladies, but I am starting to get really hungry,” Jake says as he scratches MG’s head. “I was thinking about riding over to Milner and picking up some pizza for us. How does that sound?”
The sun is starting to drop fast, and we have spent most of the day outside. We had some bologna sandwiches for lunch, but I could definitely be down with some pizza tonight. “Sounds good to me.”
“Me too,” Laken adds on. “Want me to ride with you, babe?”
Jake shakes his head and grins at Linnie. “Want to go with me, kiddo? You haven’t hung out with your Uncle Jake in a while.”
She rolls her eyes. “I just spent last night with you and Laken when Mom went out to dinner with Colt.”
Jake shakes his head and gives her a stern look. “No, you pretty much spent the entire evening hanging out with Laken. In fact, you both ignored me. So how about riding with me to Milner to go pick up the pizza?”
Linnie gives a dramatic eye roll with a long-suffering sigh. “Fine. I’ll go with you.”
Chuckling, Jake turns to Laken and unloads the tiny goat into her arms. He leans over and gives her a hard peck on her cheek and a swat on her butt. “We’ll be back soon.”
Laken walks back to the pasture and opens the fence to set MG inside. As she comes out, she gives me a pointed look. “I could use a beer. How about you?”
Within moments, we are inside. After we wash our hands and pull cold bottles of beer from the refrigerator, we head back out to the porch and sit on the top step while we wait for Jake and Linnie to return with the pizza. It’s starting to get chilly, but I’m still warm from the long hike we had out to the orchard and back.
We’re both silent as we sip on our beer and stare out at the goat pasture. That doesn’t last long, though, because Laken breaks the silence by asking, “So, how was your date last night?”
I twist my neck to look at her. It’s uncanny how much all the Mancinkus kids look like each other with their dark hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Turning to gaze back out over the goat pasture, I say, “It was really nice.”
“Oh, hell no,” she exclaims and gives me a tiny punch to my arm. “I need more details.”
Chuckling and rubbing my arm, I admit, “Your brother is really great. I like him a lot, and I feel terrible I like him so much.”
Laken pulls back from me in surprise. “Why would you say that?”
I take a slug of my beer and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “Because I’m not even divorced yet. I just got out of a terrible marriage. The last thing in the world I should be doing is getting involved with a man. I don’t even think I’m being fair to Colt.”
“Colt is a grown man. He doesn’t seem to have any problems with your situation.”
I give Laken an exasperated look. “I know he doesn’t. But I do. It doesn’t seem, well… seemly. I mean, what must Linnie be thinking that I’ve gone out on a date with a man only three months after separating from her father?”
“Well, what does Linnie think about it? She didn’t say anything to Jake and me last night, but she was not bent out of shape at all.”
“She seems fine with it,” I say softly, stubbornly refusing to accept the fact Laken just removed that worry. “But well, what will everyone else think?”
Laken chuckles, and then gives me a friendly nudge with her shoulder. “I can tell you the Mancinkus clan likes it a lot. We all adore you and Linnie, and Colt clearly likes you. Quit thinking about things so much and just go with the flow.”
“Go with the flow? That’s your advice?”
Laken turns slightly so her knees bump into mine and she can look me in the eye. “Darby, I am quite confident you would not intentionally hurt my brother. I think you’re sweet and funny and kind and brilliant. I also think you are perfect for someone like Colt and he’s perfect for someone like you. Take your time with it if you want. Stick to a friendship if it makes you feel better. But don’t get scared and do nothing. You’ve got a fantastic opportunity in front of you, and I’m not saying that just because I think my brother is the cat’s meow.”
I can’t help but laugh over her declaration, and I am completely overwhelmed by the relief I feel by getting this validation from Laken.
More than anything, I am glad to hear her say the things she did, because no matter how weird it may seem given I’ve only been separated for three months, I really want to see where this goes.