Page 77 of While the Sun Shines

The mess of milk, his cheese schedule, and waiting orders will always be there for him. That and more problems, one after the next.

For now: Penny. He’s got today to make things right with her. Today. Tomorrow, too. And then to keep that momentum going the next day and the day after. All of them, for as long as he can picture, summer fading into fall and winter bringing another new year with it.

“Can you take care of a couple things for me?” Drew asks.

“Of course, whatever you need.”

The sheep, Drew nearly starts listing. The baler, the ruined hay, the now broken milk pump, the—

“All of it.” Drew straightens. Different, he thinks. Do things differently than he’s ever done. That’s the only way this is ever going to work. “You’ve worked here on the farm for nearly as long as I have, right?”

“Right,” Whit says, again, just as slow.

“And what’d I tell you last year? To just take over managing the entire place?”

“Yeah,” Whit says. “To keep things running while you make cheese.”

“Do you just…do you want it? You and Cooper? The farm?”

Whit lets out a soft breath. “What?”

“I can’t pay either of you more to take on more responsibility, but I’ve got to get some of this headache off my plate. Do you guys want shares of the business? Equity in what we’re all building here?”

“Drew, that’s—wow, that’s generous, I—”

“Think about it, okay?”

“Have you thought about this?”

“Absolutely haven’t,” Drew says and laughs. “But I can’t—Whit, I can’t do this anymore.” That’s right—sounds right even as he says it. Feels right too, in a way that sits deep in his chest, warm and calm against the churn of worry. “The farm’s too much for me. Which is—I feel like it shouldn’t be, but it is, and it’s not getting any better. But you and Cooper—what if I just make cheese and just—” He wants to laugh again. “Quit farming. Or take a giant step back, at least.”

“Wow. Are you—are you okay?”

“No. Yes. I’m better than I’ve been, I think.”

“Is this what you want?”

“I want—” Drew stops. Smiles. “I want—I’m going to ask Penny out.”

“Oh.” Whit blinks. “You are?”

“Yeah. I mean I did, but she said I need to get my shit together, so I’m going to try again, and right now I need to find Cooper. Just think about all of this, all right?”

“Coop went to change. He was completely soaked. He looked like he went for a swim in the milk vat.”

“Right.” What a waste, part of Drew’s mind screams. Penny, he thinks again. “Okay, thanks, Whit. That’s great. See you later.”

“What do you want me to do with the hay?” Whit calls after him.

“Whatever you think is best!” Drew shouts back.

“What’s going on with Penny?”

Drew breaks into a jog as he heads for the house. “I have no fucking clue!”

Penny eyes him as he pushes into the kitchen. “Why did Cooper walk in here dripping milk?”

She’s gorgeous. And perfect. And so fucking normal, standing there barefoot, halfway through a piece of bread with a slice of cheese on it and already looking vaguely irritated with Cooper.