Page 6 of Fire in My Heart

Dad slid the plate with meat piled high toward me.

I was starving because I hadn’t eaten breakfast when Charlotte ambled down the lane. I took a huge bite of the sandwich. “What exactly is she going to be doing here?”

Dad grabbed bottles of root beer out of the fridge, twisted off the tops, then handed me one.

“If you’d listened to any of our conversations about this, you’d already know.”

I took a swig of the sweet soda. I usually preferred water or beer, but I drank the occasional soda when I was at home. “I was hoping she’d leave and not come back.”

Dad grunted. “She’s planning events for the holiday season to draw more customers. The Monroes have been upping their game, and it’s time for us to do the same if we want to compete.”

“I don’t want to be so commercial. Can’t we just sell trees?” I asked stubbornly.

Dad let out a breath. “I want to increase revenue on the farm. This place is my retirement plan, and I want to pass on something to my kids.”

“You already have a good thing going.” I didn’t see why holiday events at the farm would make much of a difference. “People want trees. They don’t need Santa photos.”

“Charlotte thinks they do.”

“She was supposed to prove herself to us last year, but I don’t remember her doing anything significant.”

“That’s because you blocked her at every turn. She wants to learn how the farm operates.”

“How’s she going to do that?” I couldn’t see her cutting down a tree or securing one to a vehicle.

Dad gave me a look, and I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “That’s where you come in.”

“Come again?” I asked, the sub sitting like a rock in my gut. I didn’t like the sound of any of this.

“You’re going to teach her what we do on the farm.”

My jaw tightened. “I don’t like it.”

“I didn’t expect you would,” Dad said drolly. “But you’re busy with your job. You can’t be here all the time. Now, you have the issue with your house.”

I was wondering how I’d handle the house and the farm, but I knew I’d figure it out. I always did.

“Charlotte is passionate about helping us, and I want to lether do her thing. I have a feeling it’s going to turn out to be a good decision.”

“You can’t possibly know that.” I liked to think of all the ways things could go wrong. And Charlotte Monroe being on our property was a disaster waiting to happen. “How can we trust a Monroe?”

“You know she doesn’t have anything to do with Monroe Farm. She never worked there or advised them on marketing.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I trust Charlotte. I know it will take a while for you to believe in her. That’s why you should show her around and get to know her.”

“I don’t want to,” I said stubbornly.

“I’m not asking for your permission. You can help me by taking Charlotte around the farm and showing her the ropes. Or you can step back from your role here.”

My throat tightened. I’d always been involved in the farm. Ever since Mom died, I took on a larger role, helping Dad out so he could breathe. I couldn’t imagine just letting it go now. “Fine.”

Dad nodded. “I appreciate that. I’d like to take a step back from the day-to-day operations, and I hope this is the first step in that direction.”

How could I say no to that? My first priority was always my father. I wanted to make sure he was taken care of, and if he wanted to step back from the farm, then I’d do whatever he needed me to do.

He waggled a finger at me. “Just don’t run her off.”

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