Page 64 of Loving Decker

They started talking about selling their land, and there was only one person to object: Decker.

He didn’t say much, but Faith could probably tell that he didn’t like it one bit. Listening to everyone talking about this perk or that benefit to giving up pieces of Willow Creek just made his skin itch.

Then someone talked about Randall. And one of their high school friends smiled. “He’s, like, the literal hero of Willow Creek right now. We should have a Randall McKinney day.”

And that was the last possible straw.

Faith put her nice cool fingers on his arm, but even that didn’t calm his raging reaction. “I…”

Faith stood. “How about we get an order of ice cream while we’re in town. How long has it been?”

Everyone agreed and they put in their order, but the table was quiet. Decker couldn’t resist saying at least something. “I just wonder what Randall is getting out of this.” After digging into the contract, he knew some of the things that Randall might be getting.

They scoffed for the most part. “The guy is probably getting a commission. Of course he is. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Maverick reminded him. “At least he’s local himself. That helps.”

“Helps the developer. Who is really looking out for us, that’s what someone needs to ask.”

They all turned to Decker with only mild interest.

“Looks like that’s what I’m doing.”

“Great. If you find something shady, let us know. Until then, we’re going to keep living with our happy expectation of sudden wealth.” The girl who dreamed of Randall McKinney Day seemed ready to defend the guy to the last.

But Decker wasn’t about to ignore the new information about mineral rights, and he knew that if his suspicions were accurate, they might change their tune. “I just think we have a little bit longer until our signing day to figure this out. Might as well research everything.”

“It’s admirable that you’re so attached.”

“We all want to honor Dad. We don’t want to let it go without making smart contract decisions.”

“Selling wouldn’t dishonor Dad.” Maverick ran a hand through his hair. “It would just be so much less stress on the ranch, on caring for Mama, on everything, if we could sell off that upper land. Honestly, Deck, I don’t know why you care so much. You’re not even gonna be here.”

“What!” Faith gasped and looked at Deck. “Where are you going?”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Decker glared at Mav.

“Well, no. He’s just had the best offer of his life to go out to New York, something he’s been wanting for at least five years. Nothing wrong with that.” Maverick looked at everyone. “The better we do outside of Willow Creek, the better Willow Creek does, right? But the point is, Deck, you can’t go having such strong opinions when you aren’t even going to be here.”

Decker glanced quickly at Faith and then stared daggers at Mav before he stood up. “Well, here we go again. The siblings who stick around are the most loyal. They’re the ones the Dawsons should listen to most. While the ones who keep the family afloat by going outside to build a name for themselves are discounted. Do you really think that’s how this should go?” He nodded to everyone then walked away.

But Faith didn’t follow.

Not yet.

She had to let things sink in. And her reaction right now was nowhere near appropriate for what had just happened. Was she hurt? So much. Did she have a right to be? Maybe not.

Sounded like Decker hadn’t made a decision about New York yet.

But it also sounded like he really wanted to go.

So many thoughts rushed through her that she didn’t know what to do with them all, so she sat very, very still. And didn’t do anything.

Hours later, at her house, the place was quiet and, for the first time in a long time, lonely. She decided it was time to box up the stuff from her childhood. So instead of going to bed, she went from room to room and put everything in a box that she really didn’t like anymore. She separated herself from her emotional attachment and just put stuff away that felt outdated or that needed to be refreshed. She worked long into the night and finished a surprising number of rooms.

When she fell into bed, she hoped she was too tired to think about Decker going to New York.

Was she sad that he was leaving? Or was she feeling betrayed he didn’t tell her sooner? Yes. All of it. Yes.

How could she live without him?

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