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CHAPTER EIGHT

ROZ

I sat at Jim’s old oak desk, which was covered in scratches and faint ink stains, scrolling through the business plan I’d prepared on my laptop. An email notification from Mom popped up titled Lesbian Speed Dating in Poughkeepsie! I rolled my eyes, and focused back on the document in front of me.

This better go well. Thank god for Fred, the only person in my network who’d shown any interest after dozens of rejections from banks and private lenders. It wasn’t ideal that he’d only consider coming on board as an investor—a bank loan would have been much more straightforward—but I needed the money one way or another. ’The farm needed far more money than my savings could provide. A lot of the farm machinery was old, to the point where it needed to be replaced rather than repaired, and other unexpected issues kept cropping up. Like crashing an ancient tractor into my extremely expensive car. I winced. The insurance company had refused to cover the damage. I wouldn’t be able to afford to replace my car anytime soon, even if Fred agreed to go ahead with the investment. And if he didn’t… I closed my eyes. I didn’t know what I would do. But it would probably end in bankruptcy.

The doorbell sounded, and I jumped up, my eyes darting to the wooden clock on the wall. My pulse quickened. That must be Fred, although he was fifteen minutes early . I took a deep breath, pulled on my suit jacket, and walked down the hall. I opened the door, a large smile plastered on my face.

My smile vanished. It was Mom. She was holding a pie and a bag of groceries and beaming at me. My hand tightened around the door handle.

“Mom? What are you doing here?”

Mom lifted up the pie. “I thought I’d just pop by to check you’re settling in okay and drop off some food to make sure you’re eating.”

“Thanks, Mom. You know, I do have the farm café literally fifty feet from my house and I can look after myself—I managed to eat for the last twenty years without you. But I appreciate the thought.” I reached out for the pie and bag of groceries. “I’ve got a business meeting in ten minutes, so I’m afraid I don’t have time to talk, but thanks for dropping by.”

Mom pulled the grocery bag away from me. “If you’re busy, I can put this all away for you. Don’t worry, I won’t interrupt your meeting.”

“Okay, Mom, just make yourself at home,” I muttered under my breath as she pushed past me into the hallway. Well, I did want to pitch the farm to Fred as a family farm. Having Mom around might help, as long as she didn’t hijack the meeting or start asking Fred if he knew any single queer women of childbearing age I could date.

Mom entered the spacious kitchen with its expansive wooden countertops, blue cabinets and white farmhouse sink. She placed the bag of groceries on the island.

“Did you get my email about speed dating?” Mom pulled a can of tomatoes from the bag.

I did my best to hold back an exasperated sigh. “Yes, thanks.”

“Apparently, tickets are selling fast. I know you’re seeing someone, but perhaps you should buy a ticket just in case things don’t work out with her.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh, and I also have another possibility waiting in the wings.” She looked at me expectantly, clearly waiting for me to ask for details.

“Uh-huh?”

“Margie’s daughter.” Mom grinned, a loaf of bread in hand.

“Holly? Is she queer?” I collected the yoghurt from the counter and popped it into the almost empty fridge.

“Well, I’m not one hundred percent sure. But she does have short hair and always wears pants. Oh, and your dad often runs into her at Home Depot.”

I huffed, swinging the fridge door shut. Mom was really leaning into the lesbian stereotypes. I should probably have a talk to her about that, but now was not the time.

The doorbell rang. I glanced at my watch. Fred was right on time.

“Mom, that will be Fred. This meeting is really important, so I’ll just introduce you, and then you need to leave.” I took the pie from her and placed it in the pantry.

“Okay, sweetie,” Mom said, folding the grocery bag and leaving it on the counter. She followed me to the front door, smoothing her dress as she went.

A loud knock made me pick up my pace. Perhaps Fred thought the doorbell wasn’t working.

The knock sounded again, harder this time. I frowned. That wasn’t like Fred.

As I reached the door, I wiped my damp hands on my pants, plastered another welcoming smile on my face, and swung the door wide.

And froze.

What the hell?

Standing in front of me, cheeks flushed and eyes flashing, wearing blue pants with yellow flowers on them and a pink t-shirt, was Olivia. From Pryde.

I blinked. What is happening right now?

“Olivia?”

She was even more beautiful than I’d remembered, her shiny brown hair framing her face in soft waves. For some reason, she appeared to be glaring at me.

Olivia’s eyes widened. “Roz?”

We stared at each other in silence.

“Oh, Olivia!” Mom exclaimed, pushing past me and enveloping Olivia in a hug. “When Roz said she’d been seeing someone named Olivia I didn’t realize she meant you! How wonderful! It’s so lovely to see you again. How’s your flower shop going? Those dahlias we bought from you last year were gorgeous.”

Olivia’s expression changed from anger to confusion as she shot me a questioning look.

Oh god.

Mom knew Olivia? And Olivia lived somewhere nearby. Shit .

“Mom, Olivia and I are not?—”

“Roz!” Behind Olivia, Fred stepped out of a black electric car in the parking lot. He flipped his sunglasses onto his balding head and waved before starting to walk toward us. Fred looked like he’d just come from the golf club in fitted navy pants and a white polo shirt.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Okay, sorry to cut things short, but I’ve got a meeting now with a potential investor for the farm. Can you both please leave?”

I couldn’t let myself get distracted by Mom or Olivia. I could clear up the misunderstanding later. For now, I had to stay laser focused on securing the investment from Fred.

“Roz!” Mom crossed her arms. “That’s no way to talk to your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I said through a smile directed at Fred, who had almost reached us.

“Sorry, what’s the word you use these days? Partner?” Mom tilted her head.

“Girlfriend, partner—I’m happy with anything,” Olivia said, grinning.

“Mom, Olivia, can you please leave?” I muttered through gritted teeth moments before Fred reached us. “Hi, Fred!”

“Roz, it’s great to see you again.” Fred held out his hand.

“You too,” I said, grasping his hand firmly in mine. “Thanks for coming all the way out here.”

“And I’m Roz’s mom, Marie, and this is her girlfriend—sorry, partner—Olivia,” Mom chimed in.

Fuck.

Fred tipped his head. “Lovely to meet you both.” He shot me a glance, an eyebrow slightly raised. No wonder he was surprised. In the ten years he’d known me, I’d never had a girlfriend.

I had to fix this situation now, before it got even more out of control. “Actually, there’s been a misun?—”

“Lovely to meet you Fred.” Olivia shook Fred’s hand. “We’re so happy you could visit. Aren’t we, darling?”She shot a devilish sweet smile my way.

I stared into her brown eyes, lost for words.

She elbowed me. “Aren’t we, darling ?”

“Um, yes.” My mind whirred. What the hell was she playing at?

Fred looked between us, his smile faltering. Shit, this was not a great start. And it would be even worse if I tried to explain that Olivia was not my girlfriend now that she’d started acting the part. It would probably result in Fred thinking we’d lost our minds and leaving. My best bet was to get rid of Mom and Olivia and go full steam ahead with the meeting. I could work out how to correct the record on our relationship status later.

“Please, come in,” I said to Fred. “I can take you through the financials and my vision for the farm, and then I can give you a tour. Mom, Olivia, please excuse us.”

“Actually, could we do the tour first? I’ve just spent the last hour and a half in the car. I’d love to stretch my legs and enjoy the fresh air.” Fred inhaled a vigorous breath to make his point.

“Yes, of course.” I turned to Mom and Olivia, who were both still hovering next to me. “Well, Fred and I will be off, then. I’ll see you both soon.” I stepped out of the door while trying my best to emulate Olivia’s sweet smile.

“Oh, babe, I decided to open my shop later today so I can stay to show Fred around the farm as well.” Olivia flashed a grin at Fred. “We have so many great plans for it that we can’t wait to share with you.”

I frowned. “That’s really not necessary?—”

“Excellent.” Fred clasped his hands together. “The more the merrier. And I’d love to get to know the woman who has stolen Roz’s heart.”

I clenched my teeth together. Stolen control of my meeting, more like it.

In my long career, I’d experienced many meetings that had gone off the rails, and I’d always been able to bring them back on course. But usually, I knew the motives of the person disrupting the meeting, and I was able to use that information to my advantage. However, while Olivia clearly had her own agenda, it wasn’t clear what it was. I straightened my back. I couldn’t let her throw me off my game.

“Before you three head off… how long are you in the area for, Fred?” Mom asked.

Fred swatted at a passing fly with his hand. “I thought I’d mix work with pleasure and stay for the weekend. I’d also love to explore the Hudson Valley some more. And considering it’s not a small investment, I’ll probably visit the farm a couple times before I make my final decision.”

Damnit . I’d hoped Fred would decide quickly. How long could I put off fixing the backhoe?

Mom smiled. “Well then, we’d love to have you over for lunch if you’re free tomorrow? You too, Olivia.”

“Mom—” I cut in, eager to shut down any talk of the three of them regrouping. This conversation had already spiraled out of control after only a few minutes.

“That would be lovely, thank you,” Fred said.

“Say about twelve?”

“Sounds great.” Fred pulled down his sunglasses.

Goddamnit. The plan was set. How could I get out of it? I tried not to clench my jaw too hard. I did not need a fractured tooth on top of everything else.

“Well, should we get going?” I stepped forward. “I thought we could walk around the café, farm stand and petting zoo first, and then we can take my truck to see everything else. It would take too long to walk the entire farm.” I nodded toward an old truck parked next to the house, an inheritance from the farm that I now relied on to get around after the tractor incident. The truck didn’t have any back passenger seats, so hopefully, I could get rid of Olivia at that point.

“Sounds great.” Olivia beamed at Fred as they turned toward the café, their backs to me. “I’m sure you’ll love the animals and the flowers.”

She glanced over her shoulder at me, shooting me another sugary sweet smile, and I glared at her. Not only was Olivia more attractive than I remembered, but she was also way more annoying. I needed to work out her ulterior motive stat, before this meeting completely crashed and burned.