Page 44 of Take Me Home

“Glad to finally meet ya,” Uncle Bill said. “Thanks for helping out around here this summer.”

“Yeah, no problem. It’s been great. Darcy keeps everything organized so we just have to show up and make it happen,” Jake said, cutting his eyes to me for a second. I mouthed a ‘thank you.’ I was touched that he remembered I was nervous about being evaluated.

“It looks like she’s done real good,” Bill said, squeezing my shoulder. “Probably better than when I’m doing it myself. You’re living on the farm, aren’t ya?”

“Yep. It’s working out real well. I’m not too far from Huntington, which helps with my schoolwork.”

“Air conditioning working alright in the trailer?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve been comfortable. Sometimes animals come by at night, but I figure they can’t open doors,” Jake joked.

“Yeah, that’ll happen,” Uncle Bill laughed. “Really gotta watch out for them wild dogs and coyotes though. They get bolder all the time.”

“We had a little adventure with the coyotes, didn’t we, Darcy?” Jake said, eyes lit up. “She tell you how she scared them off?”

“What, my shotgun?” Bill asked, amused.

“No, but she did threaten me with that once,” Jake teased, winking at me.

“I did not!” I objected.

“Okay, fine, she thought I was a murderer and brandished it to scare me off. Anyway, she used the air horn one night to scare the coyotes. They were headed for the farm dogs and she just threw open the door and honked at them,” Jake laughed, animating my actions with his hands. “I was cowering behind her. She didn’t even hesitate. She’s tough as nails.”

Uncle Bill let out a hearty laugh. “Yep, that’s our Darcy. Might have to keep you around come fall-time, sissy.”

My smile faded. Fall-time. Time for me to figure out my life. Aunt Sally and Aunt Rosie came out to join us, sitting on either side of Jake.

“Have you given any more thought to what you’re doing in the fall?” Uncle Bill probed, not noting my change in mood.

“Still haven’t figured it out,” I sighed, putting on a fake smile. “It’s been nice to be out here clearing my head, though.”

It’s not like copywriting jobs were abundant in Charleston. I couldn’t just go back to doing what I did before. I’d either have to move or compete nationally for remote copywriting jobs. As my misery started to take over, Jake spoke.

“I’ve told her I think she should get back to her writing,” Jake said, his eyes flashing up to meet mine.

Man, he was acting like we really knew each other deeply. If I thought about it, we were getting pretty close to each other. All the time spent working, the extended periods alone together, it was adding up. He was so at ease talking to my family like he belonged there. We’d had our own little dynamic together for weeks, both he and I and the farm crew. It was nice seeing how he was with strangers. His confidence and relaxed attitude were attractive, and frankly, downright sexy.

Aunt Rosie’s hand flew to her heart in reaction to what Jake said.

“I remember that beautiful story you wrote about our family before you left for college,” Aunt Sally said.

“She’s very talented,” Aunt Rosie said to Jake.

“Y’all are too sweet,” I said, fighting back touched tears. It meant so much to have my family’s encouragement. I took a bite of my sandwich to distract myself, focusing on Jake’s plate.

“Wait, how did you get Aunt Sally’s pasta salad?” I asked, changing the subject. Aunt Rosie shifted her eyes away, looking guilty.

“He just looked so hungry, so I got him some of what we have for dinner,” she squeaked.

“That’s okay, Rose,” Aunt Sally cooed, shooting me a warning look. “Nothing wrong with making a guest feel welcome. There will be plenty for tonight. You’ve had 29 years to eat my pasta salad, sissy. This is his first time.”

“So, Jake, will you be back to school in the fall?” Aunt Rosie asked.

“Yes, for my last semester, assuming I can finish my thesis project,” Jake said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

That launched a series of questions about what he was working on. Uncle Bill made him promise to test the finished product on the farm. My aunts looked like they’d pass out from Jake’s smarty-pants talk, hanging on his every word.

“How’s mom’n’em, Darcy? We don’t hear from them much,” Aunt Rosie said.

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