Page 59 of Overdue I Love You's
It’s been watered recently, but the look of their stems to the leaves tells me they’ve been neglected.
“Don’t you look wonderful today,” I gently rub my thumb along the closed curve of the peony. She’s a shy one. It’ll take time for her to come out of her shell, but once she does. She’ll have everyone on their knees.
A soft, small, twitteringmoonudges my back.
I go still.
What in the ever living…
Then a pink tongue attempts to lick my hand but falls face first into the grass.
I cover my mouth with a chuckle looking at the culprit and my heartswoons.
A light, brown-furred calf turns her hand and stares at me with boba eyes and eyelashes I pray for.
When I reach out to pet the baby, it bounces onto its feet and sloppily runs—gallops—towards the barn. One of the two back legs, drags against the three.
I hop onto my feet to go after the calf when it reaches the bridge connecting two mountains.
Across from it is grass upon grass, but a large barn sits right in the middle. There’s a home not too far from it.
Cornwall has a couple of barns, and I’ve spent my fair share visiting. But the animal farm life is not what the town is known for. It’s the fish, the mackerel, the pollack, bass—everything I don’t eat anymore. Can’t stand the smell of it either.
I breathe in the wind that flows through my silk pyjamas.
You know those feelings where you’re enjoying the present knowing you’ll miss it later?
That’s how I feel right now. I’m here, but I’m already yearning for it.
The baby cow bangs her head against the brownish-yellow door. It’s large, has some cracks in it, but stable enough to show that its survived some bad times.
“Lottie!” I hear a voice call from the inside.
The door swerves open, hiding me from view.
A man with a buzzed head, lips etched in a stern line, and stresswrinkles over his forehead barge out. He puts his hands on his hips.
“Own a farm, they said.” He mutters under his breath, looking at the baby cow, who sits on her butt and tilts her head looking up at him.
He runs a hand over his buzzed head. “Damn you for being adorable, Lottie.”
I peek my head out from behind. “If it helps, she’s a sweetheart.”
The man yelps and rests a hand over his heart. “Damn it, you scared me.”
“Sorry, I’m Nova.” Side stepping from the barrier, I extend my hand.
The man eyes my extended hand and recovers by shaking it. “Gabriel. You on the dating show?” He looks over at the house.
“I am. How do you…”
Lottie abruptly stands and attempts to run away.
“Lottie—” Gabriel sighs when he realizes she’s not going far. “She’s going to give me a heart attack. But to answer your question,” He shows off the gap between his two front teeth with a smile. “Irene Doleres is my half-sister. That house,” he points at it with his cap. “Is mine.”
“I’m sorry,” I quickly say. “It must suck having strangers live in it.”
Gabriel swats his hand with atsk. “Anything to help family out.”
