“What are you talking about?”
She laughed, her dangling strawberry earrings rattling softly. “I see you with that sweet girl.
You’re perfect together. Now, why haven’t you come out and told the world you’re a couple
yet?”
“Well, for one thing, I didn’t know if it would be appropriate. You know, seeing that she’s a
guest.”
She rolled her eyes, waving her hand at me as if she were swatting a mosquito. “Oh, come
on. Everybody can see this isn’t some sleazy little tryst. You two are meant for each other.”
“You don’t think that her living so far away is a problem?”
She exhaled heavily, shaking her head. “Why do you men always seem to think in black and
white? All or nothing? Did you ever think for one second that there might be a solution in the middle?”
“I don’t know.”
“I know you’ve been saving up for your own house for years now. Why not get one that’s
halfway to the city? You have the farm truck to get back and forth to work. Buy Joanna a
little car, so that she can go in to work a few days a week. Or maybe she could get a job around here. She could take the train in to see people, then come back to you.”
“That’s a lot of driving during the busy season,” I said.
Miriam snorted. “Dean, they’ll always be a room for you here. You could stay here during
the busiest harvest, and see Joanne on weekends. Until you g
et the house and everything
sorted, you could visit her place when you drive in to make deliveries.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Why not? People make crazy things work all the time. You two are both bright and clever,
and meant for each other. Figure it the hell out. But don’t you dare let her go back home
without some sort of arrangement.”
She was right. As always. Realizing that there really were ways to make this work, I began
to laugh, feeling the tension leave my body. “Thanks, Miriam. I really appreciate it.”
“Not just the county’s best pie maker,” she laughed, pointing to her heart. “Besides, I’d like Joanna to pop by now and then to help me taste test things. The girl really does have a
way with blending herbs.”
I laughed even harder. “See – I knew there was something in it for you. Greedy, nasty farm
owners.”