Page 80 of If You Give a Grump a Christmas Tree Farm
“Keep walkin’, JJ. I’m tellin’ her what a catch you are,” Hammer shouts.
JJ grins. “Yeah, I bet you are. Don’t believe a word he says, Becca.” But he turns and keeps walking with the rest of his brothers.
Hammer glances at me. “JJ’s not perfect. No one is. He’s impulsive, spontaneous and doesn’t always think things through. But that’s not always a bad thing.”
“No. I suppose not.”
“He says you plan everything. You a list maker?”
“Guilty as charged,” I admit.
“You an overthinker, Rebecca?”
“Yep.”
“You need to knock that shit off, darlin’.”
We shuffle along the street, him with his hands in his pockets, our breath coming out in foggy white clouds.
He looks at me again. “Why did you want to keep the tree farm?”
His question takes me by surprise.
“I’m only askin’,” he continues, “because JJ thought he was gonna make a quick sale, now he seems all in on keepin’ the place.”
“Does he?”
“You don’t think so?”
“Maybe.”
“You didn’t answer my question, honey.”
“It was a fresh start for me after my husband’s death. I never worked during our marriage.” I shrug. “I don’t really have any marketable job skills.”
“From what JJ says and what I’ve observed, you have a lot of skills. Don’t down play your abilities.”
He hits my biggest sore spot, my biggest fear—that I’m not good enough.
I lick my lips and don’t respond.
Hammer takes in my face. “Sounds like your self-worth took a hit in that marriage.”
My mouth drops open.
“Sorry, honey, I call ‘em like I see ‘em.”
“I guess you do.”
He hooks an arm around me. “Don’t get your feelings hurt. Can I tell you a secret?”
“What’s that?”
“I think you and JJ are really good for each other.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re opposites. He’s spontaneous and you plan everything. Together you’re a happy medium.”
