Page 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

ROZ

“Happy birthday to yoouuuu!” We were out of tune and out of time, but Lottie didn’t seem to care.

She knelt on a chair at my dining room table and blew out the candles on the chocolate cake with a giant puff. I cheered along with my parents and Matt. This was Lottie’s first birthday without her mom, so I was trying my best to push my worries aside and focus on ensuring she had a good time. It had been easier to be present earlier in the afternoon when, as a special treat, I’d taken her on a pony ride outside the usual petting zoo route, weaving through the apple orchards and out to the Christmas trees and back again, the fresh air tinged with blossoms and pine and Lottie’s squeals of delight keeping me in the moment.

I cut the cake and served everyone a slice. Hopefully, it tasted good. I’d never baked a cake from scratch before.

Lottie gobbled hers down, then looked up with chocolate smeared across her little face. “Can I open my presents now?”

“Okay, fine.” Matt grinned.

Lottie shrieked and began ripping the wrapping paper off an enormous box. Would Matt be able to transport its contents home in their small Toyota Corolla?

“Oh, wow!” Lottie exclaimed, as her efforts revealed a drum set, complete with cymbals. “Thanks, Nana and Pop. This is amazing!”

Matt shot me a horrified look, his eyes wide and his mouth puckered. I choked back a laugh.

Lottie smashed a drumstick on the cymbals, sending an ear-shattering clang reverberating around the room. I flinched. If Matt couldn’t fit it in his car, I’d insist on dropping it off to him at the first available opportunity.

“Perhaps we could keep it at Nana and Pop’s house.” The corner of Matt’s mouth pulled up. “We could turn their library into your drum studio, honey. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

Mom frowned at Matt and I chuckled under my breath.

I walked over and knelt next to Lottie, putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into me. “Happy birthday, gorgeous.” I handed her my present.

Lottie unwrapped the box. Her face lit up as she pulled out the headlamp, kids Swiss army knife and sleeping bag.

“You said before that you’d like to go camping, so I thought the two of us could camp out at the farm—and that these would come in handy.”

Little arms enveloped me. “Thanks, Auntie Roz! Can we do it tonight?”

“Not on a school night, sweetie, but perhaps next weekend?” I glanced over to Matt, who gave me a thumbs up and a grin. He didn’t get many nights to himself these days.

“Speaking of school, Margie was telling me that Radford has just finished building a state-of-the-art science lab and that her grandchildren are doing robotics and virtual-reality field trips to explore the solar system.” Mom put down her fork and peered over at Matt.

A muscle twitched in Matt’s jaw, but he kept his voice calm. “That’s nice, Mom.”

“Our offer still stands. I know you took Lottie off the waitlist, but we can pull some strings.”

“We’re very happy with Cloverdale Elementary, Mom.” His tone had shifted, taking on a distinctly steely edge.

“But is she still struggling with math? Radford would be able to give her support in a way a public school just wouldn’t have the resources to provide.”

“Mom! Not on Lottie’s birthday. We can speak about this later.” Matt shoved a forkful of cake into his mouth.

A cold shiver shot down my spine. Mom and Dad just wanted the best for Lottie, but the best wasn’t always the most expensive or the most exclusive option. Throwing money at things or pulling strings to get your loved ones ahead wasn’t always the best option either, as I knew all too well. My stomach roiled with nausea. I was dreading the discussion I planned to have with them later tonight.

After we were full of cake and Lottie had opened the rest of her presents, Matt stood and placed his hand on Lottie’s shoulder. “Well, I’d better be taking the birthday girl home. It’s getting late and it’s a school night.”

Lottie’s face crumpled, but she stood and started packing away her presents.

“Roz, do you mind if we leave the drum kit here for now?” Matt asked.

I narrowed my eyes. “Fine. But I’ll be dropping it off to one of your houses if it’s not gone by the weekend.”

We walked them to the door, waving goodnight as they stepped out into the dark. Thirty seconds later, a little light appeared. I grinned. Lottie must have turned on her headlamp.

Mom and Dad headed back inside and began collecting their belongings.

“It’s a shame Olivia couldn’t make it,” Mom said as she put her phone into her purse. “We’d love to see her again soon.”

I took a deep breath and turned to them. “Mom, Dad, there’s something I was hoping to talk to you about before you leave.”

Mom put her purse back on the dining table and took a seat. “What is it, sweetie? Is everything okay with Olivia?”

As I sat, pain shot through my chest. I really did not want to do this. I hated it. I’d worked hard my entire life to ensure I was completely self-sufficient. But as Olivia said, I had to suck it up. I had to put my pride and my principles aside. At the end of the day, saving Red Tractor Farm, my employees’ jobs and Olivia’s business was more important. While I was stubborn enough that I’d rather ruin myself financially than ask my parents for help, this was far bigger than just me. I clenched my hands tightly and took a deep breath.

“It’s the farm.” I swallowed. “Fred decided not to invest.” My chest felt so tight I could hardly breathe. “I’m out of options with finding financiers.” I looked at my parents, who were staring at me, brows furrowed in sympathy. Here goes. I resisted the urge to close my eyes. “I was wondering if you would be willing to lend me the money? I’d pay it back, of course, with interest. I can give you all the documents I prepared for Fred, setting out my business plan and projected revenue. I need a lot. Two or three million. I completely understand if you’re not comfortable doing it.” I didn’t know my parents’ exact financial situation, but I did know they had both been earning salaries of over a million dollars a year for at least twenty years. While the amount I was asking was enormous, I thought—I hoped—they would have it.

Dad glanced at Mom, an eyebrow raised. She nodded.

“Of course,” Dad said. “We’ll talk to our accountant. It might take us a few weeks to get it to you, but that will be fine Roz. We’re happy to help.”

“But I think we would want to have an agreement drawn up, setting out our roles and responsibilities,” Mom chimed in. “Not just so we’re on the same page, but also so it’s all documented in case we need it for tax purposes.”

My stomach dropped at the mention of roles and responsibilities. What kind of involvement were they expecting? “Of course. I was thinking the same thing. Apart from giving me the loan and me paying it back over time, was there anything else you were thinking of?”

Dad tilted his head. “It would be good to be consulted on any major changes that might affect the farm’s profitability.”

Mom leaned forward. “I’d also like to take a look at the plans for the new venue too, just in case I can value-add.”

Nothing they were asking for was really that unreasonable, but my throat constricted at the thought of them poring over my plans, making suggestions that I almost certainly wouldn’t agree with, and then me having to tightrope walk between trying to keep them happy while also staying true to my vision. If it hadn’t been for our history, perhaps I wouldn’t be so sensitive to the whole thing. But the thought of them meddling in my business again made me sick to my stomach.

But at least the farm, and Sapphire Blooms, would be saved.

I took another deep breath.“Thank you.”

Now all I had to do was talk to Olivia.