"The one Ford got from Mike. He was the last one to show up at the church," Brice explains.
"This is crazy,” Miles says. “We thought it was some hillbilly rodeo or people gambling away their mortgage. This." he shakes his head, "this is bigger than anything I've ever seen. You’ll testify how you got this information?"
"Of course," my dad says.
Miles looks at me.
"I'll testify to whatever you need," I nod.
"Okay. I'm sure my boss will want to talk to all of you."
"Well, I’ll be heading back to Dallas this afternoon." Dad pulls out his business card. "Call me. I'm happy to meet up anytime."
Miles looks at me and I get tongue tied. I glance at Brice, who seems just as interested in my answer as my parents.
"I’ll be in town for a little while longer," is all I offer, but it seems good enough for Miles because he stands, says his goodbyes, and leaves.
"So, we never did get breakfast. How do you feel about brunch?" Brice asks.
"That would be nice," Mom says.
"Why don't we go chat on the back porch?" I suggest as Brice goes off to make brunch.
As they go outside, I stop and refill my coffee.
"I'm glad you're staying," Brice says.
"You might not be after my parents are done with you. They picked up on everything today, and while they may not have said anything in front of Miles, I'm about to get an earful. Then you’ll have your turn, too."
"I'm looking forward to it," he says with a chaste kiss before I join my parents on the porch.
"I see why you haven't been in a hurry to rush back home," Mom says.
"That wasn't it at first. But now, it's part of it." I don't bother lying to my parents. They can tell when I'm lying, and it just wastes time. They are always honest with me, so I always try to return the favor.
"What's the other part?" Mom asks.
"Brice has been helping me get to know Jason, his family, and the town. Yesterday we went mudding with Jason and Nick, their wives, and some of their family."
"Mudding?" my mom asks like I just told her I sold a kidney on the black market.
"It's what they do around here," I laugh. "Once you get past the mud part, it’s actually pretty fun. Jason and Nick have opened up and told me how WJ’s came to be, and some of the not-so-public history. I’m understanding it better and I now know my pitch was all wrong."
"You think this deal is worth all this time and energy?" Dad asks.
"In reality, probably not. But I need this. I can't walk back in there empty-handed and I've more than earned some time off," I say, looking through the kitchen window where Brice is chopping some vegetables.
"How do you justify it to the Board, to your employees?"
"When I get back, I’ll tell them I was injured. But they don't need to know that now. I'm working on a business deal and that's it. You were gone for three months in Europe my freshman year of high school, closing a business deal."
"Worst fucking three months of my life," he growls and pulls my mom to his side, kissing her."But sometimes you have to shift gears for the better of the company you’re working with."
I know how miserable they were apart.
"Listen,” I say. “Business-wise, is this the best thing? I don't know. But I’ve watched you two my whole life, and as driven as I am, I still want what you have. I don't know if that’s with Brice, but I’ve never felt about anyone the way I do about him, and I'm not willing to walk away just yet."
"Then I guess it's time we officially have our talk with him," Dad says.