Page 90 of Love You Truly

“Done,” Archer says.

“But the bigger issue, and the reason I invited Graham here, is that someone seems out to get us. Either just us or Graham too, we’re not sure. But it seems like we ought to be comparing notes at least and working together a bit more.”

An uneasy silence settles over the room as we look from one to another and then down at the table. No one wants to make a suggestion for how to work together when we’re still getting to know each other. Trust doesn’t come easy.

Graham leans in and fills his coffee cup but doesn’t take a sip. He taps a finger nervously on the table. “Look, I know none of you wanted a brother, and the money part…I’m sorry about how it all went down. It wasn’t my doing, if that makes it any better.”

More silence. Finally, Beatrix clears her throat. “We know it’s not your fault, Graham. It’s just a lot. A lot for us to process.”

He nods. “I get that. And I see why I’m probably the last person you want to work with, but…I’m producing more grapes than I use and need to sell them to someone. I figured I should give you the first crack since we’re, you know, family.” He says the last word quietly, but it lands loudest.

No one comments, so he continues. “I don’t know what your needs are in the short term, but I can make a commitment on cab grapes.” We all exchange looks. No one wants to admit that this is a very good solution for us right now.

He’s saying exactly what Mallory suggested, and it sticks in my craw because I didn’t even give her idea a chance before concluding she was reneging on our whole arrangement, something she never said at all.

I finally pull it together enough to speak. “Maybe in some weird way, this is what Dad wanted for all of us.”

“Jesus. You think?” Archer asks, shoving a hand in his hair.

“Thanks, Graham,” Jax says. “We can probably make something work here. And yes, if someone is out to sabotage us, they probably won’t stop at one fire. We should stick together.”

I can hear everyone in the room breathing. In and out. Long, heavy breaths as we digest this new arrangement with Graham Garcia. Guess we’ll be getting to know him a little better.

Which brings my thoughts back to Mallory and the idea that she wants what’s best for me and for us. I still don’t like the way she went about it, but I’m smart enough to know she’s right.

“Come on.” Beatrix is always barking orders at someone or another, so I don’t bother to look up. Then I feel her moving my chair and find her beckoning me with a finger. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“On a walk.”

I don’t have the energy to argue, and everyone else is still chatting with Graham, so I follow her out of the barn. She doesn’t slow her pace until we’ve rounded the backside and turned onto a path that winds through a stand of apple trees.

“These should have been picked by now.” Beatrix points at the trees still bearing fruit.

“Is that my responsibility too? I’ll get right on it.” Sarcasm is all I have left.

My sister smacks my shoulder. “You’re a pain in the ass, but I love you. Sit.” She points at a bench under a particularly full tree. Maybe she’s hoping I’ll get pummeled by apples. I sit anyway, and she stands in front of me like a lecturing parent.

“I hate seeing you this way, but I love that you’re in love.”

Shaking my head, I squint at her because she’s positioned herself with the sun at her back. She moves to the side, and I can see her face, which is filled with concern, not judgment. It’s the only reason I indulge whatever she has to say.

“Glad you’re happy,” I gripe.

“Whatever happened between you, fix it, Dash.”

“There’s nothing to fix. It’s a fake marriage, and she’s out for herself, just like you guys all said.” I hate having to admit it. I hate that it’s true.

Beatrix shakes her head. “I was wrong about that. We were wrong. From what you told me, she’s in a tough spot because of that a-hole ex, but she’s trying to do right by you. Mallory loves you, and you need to get over yourself.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”

“Don’t ‘whatever’ me.”

“Trix, when you don’t know what you’re talking about, you should really mind your own business.” My siblings have a lot of nerve, and I’m done with all of it.

“You are my business. And I do know what I’m talking about. Mallory loves you, and if she had to make a business decision, you need to separate those two things.”

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