Page 82 of Redemption

“Psst, August!” I hissed, peeking at her around the door of the stables. Her strawberry blonde hair whipped over her shoulder as she stood up, pushing her glasses further up her nose as she looked around.

I waved, as discreetly as possible, trying not to draw Kat and Tate’s attention. Tate was back for another vet visit with the horses and cattle so that meant Kat was distracted.

August smiled softly when she saw me and scurried over.

“Morning Jack, what’s up?” she asked sweetly.

“Good morning. I need a favor,” I replied, gesturing for her to follow me. August was the one I knew would help me. As far as I was aware, none of the sisters knew that me and Kat had a thing going on, just some suspicions on Daisy’s part. For the last month we’d been so careful in our sneaking around to make sure we weren’t spotted by anyone. It still hurt like a sonofabitch to keep hiding what we were doing. I understood why, but I wanted to scream it from the rooftops that Kat was mine.

I remembered the time I bumped into August at the library all those months ago and the books she was carrying. She was a romantic at heart and she would be the best person to help me.

“Have you got a picnic basket?”

Her mouth quirked up on one side. “Whydo you need one of those?”

I shrugged. “For a picnic.”

She nodded slowly, staring at me with her amber eyes, the sun making them shine brightly with curiosity.

I rolled my eyes. “For a picnic date.”

She glanced over her shoulder back towards the stables. “For anyone in particular?”

I squirmed on the spot. I didn’t want to tell, I wanted to respect Kat’s wishes of keeping our affair quiet but it would help to have at least one sister on side. “Maybe. It’s a surprise picnic date though so don’t tell her.”

August squealed and clapped her hands together. “I know just what we need, come with me!” She grabbed my hand and dragged me back towards the main house. August pulled me into the kitchen and dug around in various cupboards, rummaged in the sideboard for a few bits, and presented me with a wicker picnic basket, checkered blanket and napkins, and a matching set of dishes and utensils.

“This was my mother’s,” August said, presenting them to me. I hesitated and August smiled softly. “I think she’d be very happy for you to take them and put them to use. Mom was a big romantic, and she and Daddy always used to have picnics. It’s okay Jack, take them.”

I reluctantly took them, the weight of them light in my hand but heavy in my heart.

“Thank you, August, I appreciate this.”

“No sweat,” August winked. “Make sure you pack some apricots.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Apricots?”

“They were Mom’s favorite, and Kat’s.”

“Ah, great, thanks for the intel.”

“Have a great date, can’t wait to hear all about it!” she said, then she was gone and I was left in the kitchen onmy own.

I glanced at the pictures on the sideboard, the ones of Charlie and Sherry, Sherry and the girls. Seeing the pictures of Sherry and how similar she looked to all the girls now was uncanny. They were like carbon copies, just with different shades of hair. My heart lurched as usual at the thought of Sherry and the life cut short by my reckless actions. But I felt like I was slowly making it up to her and Charlie here, working off my debt and looking out for the girls any way I could.

I laughed at the picture of Charlie and Sherry, she was slung over his shoulder, her mouth open in laughter and he had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. My eyes filled with tears as I stared, sad they weren’t here but at least now they were together.

I heard a noise and then Leo came into the kitchen.

“Howdy partner.”

“Hey man, how’s it going?” I asked, putting the picture back, trying and failing to hide the basket behind me.

“Good. You’ve not seen Mads, have you?” he asked, looking around distractedly.

“Isn’t she on shift?”

“I thought so but she’s not at the station.”

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