Page 252 of Show Me

I frown at the work orders spread across the desk. “Miller.”

“We’re at Miller.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The foundation crew is also at Miller.”

Shit. I shuffle through the papers until I find the second work order. “They’re supposed to be at the West property.”

“No shit.”

“Tell them to head over there. They can start framing the foundation for the garage.”

A pause. Then Travis says, “Ruby used to do all this while answering phones.”

“Fuck you.”

He laughs. “Just pointing it out.”

The line disconnects. The computer dings. My gaze shifts to the security feed in the corner of the monitor.

Ruby steps into the backyard carrying a feed bucket. Everything else disappears for a second. I watch her cross toward the pigs. She’s bundled up against the cold, moving normally. Safe.

My shoulders loosen. Then I catch myself. I close the feed. Work. I need to work.

Dad walks in a few minutes later carrying another stack of paperwork. He takes one look at my desk and shakes his head.

“You look terrible.”

“Thanks.”

He drops the papers in front of me, then notices the security feed minimized at the bottom of the screen.

His eyes come back to mine. “You’ll figure it out.”

“The office?”

He shakes his head. “You and her. The baby. Everything.”

I lean back in the chair. Figuring it out isn’t the problem anymore. I already know what I want. I just have to show Ruby I mean it.

Chapter One Hundred Forty

Ruby

The Next Morning

Travis waves as I get out of my car. “Well, look who decided to come back.”

“Miss me?”

“No.” He grins and winks. “But payroll did.”

I laugh despite myself. Crew members call greetings as I walk past. Lewis lifts a hand from the ladder as he prepares to pull a 2x12 off the top of a stack of lumber. “Good to have you back, Ruby.”

“I missed you guys too.”

Travis falls into step beside me. “You look better.”