Page 29 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

T he urns were placed exactly where Kelly wanted them to be. Once the arrangements were completed, they would look amazing and accentuate all the good things about Sweet Ridge. Not one urn had been broken here or at the farm.

“Urns are fine.”

The text message from Tate had been short and to the point, and it aggravated her to no end.

His anger at her request annoyed her. He was the one who didn’t want too many people around the farm upsetting his father.

If she’d arranged for someone to make sure the delivery went off without a hitch, that would’ve been an extra person and he would’ve probably got upset about that as well.

Kelly had a feeling that no matter what she did or said, Tate would be unhappy.

She hadn’t meant to add to his stress. His reaction surprised her, though.

She was sure they’d reached the point in their relationship, especially after the weekend they’d spent together, that if he was mad or upset with her they could talk about it.

Over the course of the planning of the festival, they’d had disagreements but had always managed to find a way to reach a compromise.

She’d taken that as a sign of maturity in Tate.

Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe he wasn’t as mature as she thought he was.

Kelly ran a cloth over one of the urns, wiping away dust that wasn’t there.

This was why she’d been reluctant about pursuing a relationship with someone younger.

She liked to think that someone older would’ve shared their troubles with her.

She’d asked Tate about it. Could see he was stressed, but he’d brushed it off.

“Kelly. Thank goodness you’re still here.”

Kelly whirled around to see Macy rushing toward her. “Macy? What’s wrong? Is everyone okay? Has something happened to Mom?”

“No, your mom’s fine, but Tate’s dad isn’t. I heard that an ambulance has been called to the Prentice Farm because Trenton collapsed.”

Kelly’s heart sank to her toes. Tate would be devastated if his father didn’t make it this time.

After having spent time with the two of them, she’d been able to see their relationship was more than father and son; they were best friends as well.

“Oh, my God. Do you know what happened? Was it another stroke? Is he still alive?”

“I don’t know anything except what I told you, that he collapsed. But the timing couldn’t be any worse. What with the festival starting in two days. And being at a satellite location this year for the first time. This is a disaster.”

“Macy! A man is on his way to hospital. I think the festival should be the least of your worries.”

Macy ran a hand through her long hair. The country singer normally looked in control, but Kelly could see she was stressed and worried and had blurted out her words without really thinking about them.

“Shit, you’re right. Sorry. Sorry. I want everything to be perfect this year, with me organizing it all. ”

While Kelly wanted to reassure her friend that it would all go off without a hitch, her main concern was Tate and his father. “I need to go to the hospital. I need to be there for Tate.”

Her friend hugged her. “I’m sure everything will be okay. Go be with Tate. And forget about what I said about the festival. Everyone attending probably won’t even notice all the changes we’ve made.”

Kelly returned her friend’s hug. “Thanks, Mace. And don’t worry, if I have to not sleep for the next forty-eight hours”—which had been entirely probable anyway—“I’ll make sure everything is completed on time. I know Mom will help out more.”

Macy released her hold. “Now, don’t you go getting yourself sick. I’m sure with the trees and everything else at the farm, if you don’t get out there to do the flowers, it will be fine. All that greenery will be nice anyway.”

“Funny, that’s exactly what Tate said.” Her voice hitched and she swallowed down tears. Oh, what pain the man she loved must be in.

The man she loved.

It was true. She’d gone and fallen in love with Tate, and he was everything she’d told herself she didn’t want. But he was everything she needed.

And he needed her now. “I’ll keep you updated.”

“Sounds good.”

With a wave, Kelly hurried out of the town square, heading to her shop to get her purse and go the hospital.

She had no idea if Tate would welcome her there, but for once, he was going to accept help and support even if he didn’t want it.

*

Tate paced up and down the waiting room.

He was here alone. Trey was off on the West Coast and Tyler was in Houston.

Tate had left a message asking Trey to call him when he could.

The call to Tyler had gone straight to voice mail as well, and so he had to leave another message, this one a little more terse and demanding than the one he’d left for Trey.

Once again, the burden of his father’s ill health had fallen on his shoulders. He was tired of it. Tired of always having to be the strong one, when all he wanted to do was sit down on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs and sob his heart out. Tired of bearing all the responsibility alone.

As quickly as the thoughts entered his mind, he threw them out.

Dad’s health wasn’t something Tate should resent.

If it wasn’t him standing here alone, it could’ve been one of his brothers.

He’d like to think, though, that he’d be there for either Trey or Tyler.

He liked to believe he wouldn’t leave them to shoulder the responsibility alone.

Tate paused in his pacing and slumped down in one of the chairs, burying his face in his hands.

The second he closed his eyes, the image of his father lying on their front porch, the front door wide open, flashed before him.

His father’s skin had been clammy and his breathing labored.

Tate had called 911 and grabbed his father’s hand, willing him to hang on until help arrived.

The harvest workers all stood around him, watching.

How he controlled his urge to yell at them to back off surprised him.

His worst nightmare had come true and all the activity surrounding the festival had caused his father to have another stroke.

If only he hadn’t been making sure the damned urns weren’t damaged as they were placed in the spots Kelly designated. He’d just finished texting her that they were safe when he’d found his father.

He should’ve been inside with Dad. He could’ve stopped him from going outside and attempting to do work he was in no fit state to do.

“Tate?”

He kept his head down, he didn’t want to speak to her or anyone. He wanted to be alone. He deserved to be alone. But there was no mistaking the gentle hand on his shoulder or the aroma of flowers and sunshine, the smells he associated with Kelly.

Lifting his head from his hands, he saw her standing in front of him. “What are you doing here?” His words were harsh.

The person standing in front of him was the reason his dad was in this place again.

“I came as soon as I heard about your dad. I didn’t want you to be alone.”

Tate couldn’t take it anymore. Anger at everything that had happened over the last few months erupted. “Really? Do you want to know why I’m here? I’m here because of you .”

“What?” Kelly’s face paled and her eyes widened. A rational part of him told himself that he was taking his anger out on the wrong person… but he had no idea if he would ever see his dad alive again.

“I was making sure your precious urns were delivered and placed in the areas you wanted unscathed. Everything about this damn festival has caused me nothing but stress and upheaval. I’ve had to change the harvest schedule to accommodate the workers doing the setup.

I’ve had to ensure that those same workers didn’t get in the way of the day-to-day running of the farm.

All the while making sure that my dad didn’t get stressed out over all the activity.

” He stood and placed his hands on his hips.

“Do you know how hard that is? No, because your first visit out to the farm was today and it wasn’t to supervise the setup.

It was to ask me to do you a favor. Well, that favor could cost my father his life, and I’m not sure I can ever forget or forgive that. ”

His chest heaved in and out. His skin buzzed with pent-up energy, and he wanted to hit something.

“Is that what you really think? That it’s all my fault?” Kelly asked, her face now had color blooming on her cheeks.

“I told you with Dad coming home that he couldn’t be stressed out.

That all the activity around the farm wasn’t going to be good for him.

But you promised me, promised , that you would do everything in your power to make sure nothing happened to him.

Well, guess what, all that activity was too much and, now here we are.

My father’s in a sterile room having God knows what done to him all because of a stupid festival. ”

None of what he was saying was making him feel better, but he had to get it out. The red haze in him wasn’t dying down.

“I did do everything possible to keep the stress away from the farm, Tate. But I’m not the one you should be blaming. Tyler is the one who volunteered the farm, not me.”

“Yes, you’re right, and I’m hell angry at my brother.

But you were the one who had to make it extravagant with arbors and urns and carts full of flowers.

Like Tyler, this event at my farm is all about showcasing your business.

The trees should’ve been enough decoration for everyone.

No one’s going to notice what you do. They’re not going to ooh and ahh over roses and whatever other pretty little things you put in them. ”

Her sharp intake of breath should’ve been a sign for him to slow down. Stop and think before he said anything else, but worry about his dad was making his thought processes slow.

“Is that what you think of my business, that it’s just pretty little things ?

Those pretty little things bring joy to people, and don’t you forget it.

” Kelly shook her head and her fingers played with her wrist. “You know, I thought that I was wrong about the age difference between us. But I was right. You’re immature, and you’re acting like a spoiled brat. ”

“Jesus Christ, you can’t let the age thing go, can you? You’re scared to be with someone younger than you, but being with someone the same age didn’t do you any favors, did it?”

She held out her hand, palm up. He could see his mom’s bracelet sitting in the middle. He looked up at her, tears shone in her eyes. “I think we’re done here. I don’t want this anymore.”

On autopilot, he reached out and took the jewelry from her, the metal still warm. The anger fizzled as if doused with buckets of cold water. “Kelly, I—”

“Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Sometimes, what we really want to say is said in anger, and you’ve made your opinion more than clear.

But here’s the thing, Tate. You don’t always have to be the one to shoulder all the burden.

You don’t give anyone else a chance to help you.

You just say yes to everything and take it on yourself, including caring for your dad. ”

His anger simmered up again, and he clenched his fist, the bracelet digging into his palm.

He welcomed the pain. “Now, wait just a minute. You were the one who came to me telling me that I was the only one you could trust to make sure the urns were delivered safely. So don’t tell me that I don’t have to take everything on myself. You. Didn’t. Give. Me. A. Choice.”

“You know what, you’re right. I didn’t, and perhaps I should’ve, but it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve been unable to say no.

” She shook her head and gripped her bag tighter on her shoulder.

“You know I was giving my heart to you, Tate. I was taking the chance to put myself out there with you, but I can’t be with someone who isn’t willing to ask for help.

Actually, it’s more than not willing to ask, it’s that you don’t want to.

You don’t want to be seen as unable to cope with everything handed to you.

I’m sure if you let them, Trey and Tyler would’ve done what they could’ve to help you with the farm and your dad. I really hope Trenton is okay, Tate.”

She walked out of the waiting room, and pieces of him broke off and shattered to the ground. His heart clenched tightly and the pain was so intense he grabbed at his shirt. After a moment, the pain settled to a dull ache and Tate didn’t think he’d ever be the same again.