Page 23 of Pick Yourself Up
Amber shot up a brow. “I didn’t say I wanted to take it on.”
Jolie laughed. “Maybe not with words, but we can tell. You’ve got that look you get when you’re imagining how to transform a building into a comfortable and welcoming home.”
Her cheeks flushed more, but she smiled. “Maybe. I’ll have a look inside soon.”
“Not tonight?”
She shook her head, and her fingers tightened on her fork. “No. I think I’ll let the ideas I have shift around in my head tonight. I’ll check it out tomorrow.”
He wondered if she was convincing the others, because she wasn’t convincing him. She had no intention of going in that building tonight. Alone and in the dark.
Tomorrow, he’d offer to go in with her. Using the excuse of seeing what the view was like from the windows should work. He didn’t want her to go anywhere she felt uncomfortable.
Plus, he would get more time with her. Alone. Give them both a chance to get to know each other better in a setting that didn’t carry the pressure of a date.
How would she respond if he asked her on a date? Maybe he’d know enough tomorrow. He already knew he wanted more. Now to see how she felt.
Chapter 6
All Choked Up
Amber woke from another poor sleep. Even though it had been weeks since she’d woken screaming from a nightmare, she worried she’d have one here. That stopped her from dropping into a deep sleep, and her energy levels were low when she dragged herself into the shower.
Boomer had barely stirred by the time she was ready for the day. From experience, she knew the dog would react instantly if a threat were near, even from his deepest sleep. “Sorry, Boomer. I’ll get used to being here soon. I know I’m interrupting your sleep, too. Let’s get some breakfast and then do some exploring.”
It wouldn’t be exploring in this house, as she didn’t want to wake anyone else. She wasn’t sure even Jolie and Ford were up yet, and they rose early to take care of their ducks.
Boomer had already figured out the squeaky stairs, and she followed him down without making a noise. Smiling, she ruffled his fur, and they went into the kitchen. She filled Boomer’s dish and grabbed a banana, making sure to put the peel in the compost bucket.
Smiling, she and Boomer headed out the mudroom door. The view from the porch was wonderful. This part of the orchard had been maintained more than some of the other areas. The trees scented the air and filled her vision. Knox was onto something here. Even if they only got the farm working to create enough money to support themselves without much profit, it would be worth it.
Burke would disapprove of her not worrying about profit. Her oldest brother was always ensuring he had enough to take care of all emergencies any of them might have.
She’d love to have him sitting on the porch with his ever-present cup of coffee. Maybe the farm could work its magic on him as well. Although it might be easier to get Lawson here first. Having all four of them in one place would surely bring in Burke.
Getting them all here had been Knox’s plan from the beginning, and it was a good one. They’d become closer than most siblings when their parents had died. Fox had been wonderful, giving them all what they needed while pushing them to find individual things that gave them joy.
Amber sighed. “I miss him, Boomer. I think he’d like it here. It’s easy to imagine him sitting here with Jay, sipping coffee, and grumbling about climate change.”
All the evidence so far showed that Fox and Jay had been very much alike, but nothing gave them an idea of what had pulled them apart.
Maybe she’d find something in the other farmhouse., which gave her a great excuse to check it out. Not that she needed one.
Not having a job was weird.
Lessons from Burke had paid off, and she’d stashed away a lot of her paychecks over the years. Living in hotels meant she hadn’t paid rent. Wearing uniforms meant her clothing budget had been virtually non-existent. She’d already spent more on the t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jeans she’d ordered the night before than she had in the past five years.
Having a social life might have put a dent in her savings, but that had never been her priority. Work had.
She headed to the driveway. “Come on, Boomer, let’s get to work.” If she treated her evaluation of the farmhouse like a job, she wouldn’t feel guilty for wasting time.
And she was rationalizing again.
Dr. Kate would lift her eyebrows and wait for Amber to make the connections.
Your job isn’t your life, Amber. It’s time to expand your horizons and put some life into your life. Time to search for the joy.
She trailed her fingers through Boomer’s fur. “She told me to think of the recovery from the attack as an opportunity to bring more happiness into my world. I think coming here was a good start. Do you like this better than the city?”
