Page 108 of That Conflicted Feeling

Theyall look around the five acres of grass like they’re trying to findWaldo.

“I’mlost,”Pollysays.

“Yeah,”Carlysays. “AndI’ma bit hungry.Couldyou hurry up and tell us so we can have lunch?”

AndIthought negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts would be the most nerve-wracking thingI’dever do.Idig my nails into my palms and dive in. “Polly,Gloria.Wouldyou like to live here?”

“What?” they ask in unison.

Pollylooks as confused as ifI’djust asked her to name her top three vegetables—there’s no way she could pick just three—and holds ontoGloria’swalker to steady herself.Icould probably knock her down with the feeblest of feathers right now.Hopefullythat’s a good sign.Icertainly have no choice but to plow on as if it is.

“Iknow it’s not like the huge farm you lost to the developers.Butit’s big enough for a nice house and a cottage for you,Gloria.”Ipoint to where the field slopes up toward one side. “Ithought the main house could go up there, farthest from the road.Andyour place could be in the opposite corner,Gloria, so you have some privacy.”

“Forme?”Gloriasays, still processing the first part of the news. “Youwant to build a new cottage forme?”

Oh,God.Isthis a case of like daughter, like mother, andGloriais the one who’ll thinkI’minterfering and trying to control their lives?

MaybeIshould walk this back a little. “Oryou could keep your house across the street, and we could renovate it.Whicheveryou prefer.”

Carlypaces around us, her eyes roving the field as if she can see the vision of the future homes coming to life before her eyes.

ButPollyand her mom continue to stare at me—baffled, or furious, it’s hard to tell.

Myheart turns its beats-per-minute setting up from “a lot” to “panic stations.”

“AndI’dlove to build you a workshop for the soaps and all the other stuff you want to make.Allcompletely accessible in case you’re not having a great day.”

Butthey just look more bewildered, not less.Mystomach gnaws away at itself.

I’vepulled deals back from all-is-lost moments before.Imust be able to do this.

“Maybewe could get you an assistant to help, so you never have to stop soap-making if you don’t want to.”Ipause for a breath.I’vejust done a lot of garbling.Possiblywith a slight hint of desperation.

“Holdon,”Pollysays. “Ineed you to rewind a bit here.”Shecircles her finger in the air. “Areyou saying you bought this field from theHarringtons?”

Oh, yes, maybeIdid dive headlong into the future without explaining the fundamentals and letting it all sink in. “Idid.”

“When?”

“Erm.”Thisis the part that’s important to her? “Lastnight.Whileyou were out walkingLacey.AndIhad the gate put in this morning becauseIknew your mom wouldn’t be able to hop over the fence.”

“Lastnight?”Nowshe looks completely stunned. “Youarranged all this last night?Inless than an hour?”

“Yes.Well, with some help from my assistant.ButI’dbeen thinking about it from the momentIfirst landed here in the helicopter.Youguys would get to have more land again but barely have to move.Justacross the street.”

Carlyslams her hands on her hips and swivels to facePolly. “Hebought you a fucking field,Poll.”

Pollynods in slow motion. “Hedid.Heabsolutely did.”Shesays it slowly as a huge smile spreads across her face, and she turns to me. “Youbought me a fucking field.”

Andthere it is, the joyIwanted to see in her eyes.

Whenshe moves closer and wraps her arms around my neck, the tightness in my chest eases enough for me to finally breathe.Everymuscle relaxes, my shoulders drop, and my heart soars.She’shappy.That’sallI’llever want.

“Andwe’re going to build a house.”Herface is aglow. “Andmaybe one forMom.”

Icircle my arms around her waist and turn toGloria. “Youcan think about it,Gloria.Norush to decide.Whateveryou want.”

“Butwhat about you?”Pollycocks her head to one side, a playful grin curling her lips. “Wherewillyoulive?”