“I have something to say, and I want to say it to you and Georgia at the same time.”
My brother laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “I think you said enough yesterday.”
I took a deep, slow breath, fighting my instincts to get angry and snap back. “I was wrong yesterday, and I’d like to apologize.”
“You should apologize to Margot.”
“I did.”
He looked up at me in surprise, shielding his eyes from the sun. “You did?”
“Yes.”
Turning his attention back to the oil filter, he was silent for a few seconds. “I’ll meet you inside in five minutes.”
“Thank you.” I went back into the kitchen and sat across from Cooper, making goofy faces at him so he’d giggle. His little laugh was my favorite sound in the world.
“Jack, I’m trying to get him to eat,” Georgia complained, but she was smiling too. “You’re making it difficult.”
“I’ll do it. Go get some more coffee.” I went around the table and nudged her out of her chair, then sat. “Cooper’s gonna eat for me, aren’t you buddy?”
“Bunny!” he said happily.
“I said buddy. Now open the barn door, because here comes the horsie!” I did my best at the horse, motorcycle, and airplane tricks to get him to open his mouth and managed to shovel in the rest of his blueberry pancakes by the time Pete came in.
“Good enough,” Georgia said, taking away the little plastic plate and wiping his mouth and hands with a washcloth. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. I can take him to the park later, if you want.”
“That would be great.” She set him down on his feet and I laughed when he took off running at full speed, face planted in the hall, then got right back up again. Kids were so resilient.
“You guys have a few minutes for me?”
Georgia nodded and sat down across from me, and Pete took the chair next to her. “So what’s up?” he asked, bringing his coffee cup to his lips.
“I need to apologize for yesterday. I had a bad attitude right from the start and I was rude to a guest in your house. I’m sorry.”
“And you apologized to her already?” Pete still sounded like
he didn’t believe me.
I nodded. “I did. Last night.”
They exchanged a glance. “Last night? Where?” Georgia asked.
Be careful. “The cabin. She came over to talk about the meeting, and I told her I was sorry for being such a dick about things. I tried to explain myself better.” Then I fucked her right out of her shoes.
“What reason did you give her?” Pete asked.
“I told her I can tell that she’s good at what she does, but that I’m reluctant to make any changes on the farm that weren’t part of my original vision.”
“But Jack, her ideas can be in addition to your vision,” he said. “No one wants to take the farm from you or stop you from doing what you love and what you’re good at. This place is your dream. We know that.”
Pressing my lips together, I forced myself to say what I’d come here to say. “You two deserve the same shot at your dream. So I won’t stand in your way.”
They were stunned silent for a moment. Then Pete said, “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” I took a breath. “I did a lot of thinking last night. And if the situation were different, and it was Steph sitting here, not me, I know she’d tell you to go for it.”