One Bride for Five Brothers

“This stupid thing,” he mutters. “Stan, I thought you were going to fix this?”

“Yeah… I think I got distracted,” Stan explains. He backs up and tips his head to look toward the roofline of the barn. “You think those shingles are going to hold up for another winter? Should we get to work on that?”

“I think you should get another chainsaw.”

“Yeah, I think we heard you,” Charlie quips. “The roof looks okay to me. I don't see the point in making improvements if we’re just going to be getting out anyway.”

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Tom looks at me meaningfully, jerking his chin toward Charlie. Neither of us is convinced that Charlie really has this international deal locked up, but he's keeps talking about it like it’s settled.

“Stan?” I call out. “You want to weigh in on our global domination tour?”

Stan rubs the stubble on his jaw. “What are you talking about?”

I stab the shovel into the dirt so that it stands upright. “Well, is it for real? Is that what we’re doing or not?”

Charlie scoffs, clearly hurt. “What's that supposed to mean? That's what I said, isn't it?”

“Hey, I know what you said,” I explain with my hands up in a gesture of innocence. “I'm just saying, is it for real? Like, really real? Are we supposed be looking around for a real estate agent or something so we can sell the old homestead?”

Stan raises his eyebrows at Charlie and they stand for a second, communicating silently. I have to wonder what's been going on that I don't know about.

“There's definitely some… possibilities,” Stan finally says. “But yeah, nothing settled yet.”

Hank coughs into his hand. “Bullshit!”

“It's not bullshit!” Charlie replies. “Didn't I get us that bottling contract for the wine? Didn't I get us into Boston and New York?”

Hank rolls his eyes. “Yeah, that's not the same thing as a European expansion, is it?”

“Shit, man,” Charlie mumbles. “You guys sure are tough to please. What do you want, engraved invitations?”

“That's a start,” I shrug. “It would be nice to have something concrete, anyway.”

“You'll see,” Charlie mutters. He shakes his head in disgust. “Just be ready. I'll let you know pretty soon.”

Stan claps him on the shoulder, squeezing encouragingly. “Just do your thing, man,” he advises him. “Either way, we’re fine, right? We can stay in the orchard or go find something new. It’s all fine. Long as we’re together…”

Hank sucks his teeth. He rips on the cord again and the chainsaw chugs for a second, then dies.

“This stupid thing,” he growls.

“Come on, man,” Tom teases him. “We know you can get her going! Put your back into it!”

Stan chuckles. “Yeah, we've all seen you bring a girl to life. Focus!”

“Fuck off,” Hank says, ripping at the cord twice more before giving up. He chucks the chainsaw onto the pile of weeds. A surprised family of rodents scurries out from underneath.

“Looks like somebody needs a another session with our fairytale princess,” Tom chuckles. “Let off a little steam, eh?”

Hank sucks his teeth. He walks over to the barn and turns around, crossing his arms and leaning against it, glaring at each of us.

“You guys are really serious about her, are you?” he finally says. “Can we talk about this for a second?”

Tom looks affronted. “We are talking about it? Where is this coming from?”

Stan shrugs. “She says she’s serious, if that helps.”