“I know. But Mama thinks she can handle it. Like she handles everything—by sheer force and stubborn determination.”
“What if she’s not able?” Natalie threaded her scarf between her fingers. “Eventually he’ll need care, possibly around-the-clock. Sure, the farm’s doing well, but the liability insurance and property taxes get more expensive every year. What if the cost of his care exceeds their income?”
Kirsten’s eyes glistened with tears. “Believe me, I’ve thought about everything you’ve mentioned. Mama and Daddy simply don’t want to hear it.”
“If Daddy’s diagnosis isn’t...” Natalie swallowed hard. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. “If the news isn’t what we’d hoped, I think we should be prepared to have that hard conversation. Cami’s in school at Clemson, you’re working on your MBA and I’m practically working two jobs. Tisha’s not here, right—”
“Mama says Tisha’s coming back from Alaska in the next week or so,” Kirsten said.
Natalie sighed. “Tisha’s been away a long time. She can’t exactly make an educated choice about what’s best.” She stopped short of mentioning how their sister’s ridiculous plan to lease some of their land to that solar energy company nearly cost them everything.
“She’s changed a lot since she moved away, Nat.” Kirsten shifted from one foot to the other. “Mama and Daddy are her parents, too. We can’t exclude her from the discussion.”
Natalie clamped her mouth closed. She couldn’t argue with that. Although Tisha’s blind affection for her conniving ex-boyfriend and careless actions almost ruined any future plans for the farm, Natalie couldn’t be too critical. Not with the surprise news from Forever Love sitting in her inbox. If she decided to accept their offer, she’d be moving to Charlotte. What if the sale of Magnolia Lane helped provide professional caregivers? Then they wouldn’t have to worry about financing Daddy’s care. On the other hand, it meant pursuing her dreams at the expense of her family’s heritage. Daddy’s parents had built the barn themselves. Even if they’d deeded the building and the surrounding land to her, the news of the sale would still come as a shock. Could she really live with that?
Kirsten’s gaze flitted from Natalie to Mama and Daddy. “Let’s wait and see what the doctor says before we try to talk to them again. Maybe it’s not as bad as we think.”
“Miss Natalie?”
Natalie glanced over Kirsten’s shoulder to see Nolan, who was hurrying toward her as he tied an apron over faded jeans and an NC State T-shirt.
“I was fixin’ to text you. Justine called in sick. Any chance you could fill in at the register during the lunch rush?”
Oh, brother. What other surprises could land in her path today? “I’ll find somebody to help out, Nolan. Thanks for letting me know.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He returned to the kitchen.
Kirsten frowned. “Are you short-handed all day? I’d offer to help, but—”
“Could you? I’ve got my first fall festival committee in a few minutes.” She regretted the request as soon as she said it. Maybe having Kirsten fill in for Justine wasn’t the best idea. Her sisters hadn’t worked the counter in ages. Natalie bit her lip. What if she pushed back the meeting until—
“I guess I can do it. I’ll work on my presentation later...”
Natalie shoved her doubts aside. It would have to do for now. “Perfect. Thank you so much.” Natalie didn’t stick around. If she lingered, she’d be tempted to tell Kirsten everything about Forever Love, and it was too soon for that. She needed more information. More time to weigh her options. She rubbed at the ache in her chest as she hurried toward the door. A solution that appealed to everyone and allowed her to follow her dream felt hopelessly out of reach.
Outside, she offered friendly greetings to the customers coming into The Grille, recognizing several familiar faces. Mama and Daddy would be glad to see some of their friends. A line of at least a dozen cars waited on the two-lane road beside the entrance to the farm, blinkers on, indicating they’d be pulling into the parking lot. Looked like another busy Sunday afternoon. That would make Mama and Daddy happy, too.
Her smile quickly faded once she jogged across the road to the new subdivision where the committee meeting was scheduled to take place.
Shay Campbell was less than twenty feet away, climbing out of a pickup truck.
Natalie’s steps faltered, and she stumbled, wincing more from embarrassment than from the twinge in her ankle. What was he doing here?
Shay waved, a smile lifting one corner of his mouth.
Natalie tried to play it cool while her pulse went all kinds of crazy. Although she hated to admit it, he did look handsome in khaki slacks and a brick red button-down, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his chiseled forearms.
“Hey.” Shay closed the driver’s door. “Is this the fall festival committee meeting?”
She cocked her to head to one side. “It’s supposed to be. The others aren’t here yet.”
“Mind if I join you? I’m not on duty today, but the chief sent me as the liaison from the fire department.”
Rats. Why him? The chief had ignored her email requesting Trent Walker’s help.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “He said we needed to have a presence at major community events.”
“You must’ve drawn the short straw.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Two of our key members and biggest supporters of the festival had to step down unexpectedly. They’re in Chicago caring for their daughter and her family. We’re going to struggle to pull the festival together without them.”
A frown etched his features. “Unless Chief Murphy tells me differently, the fire department is committed to helping. When’s the festival?”
“In about six weeks. The first Saturday in November.”
“One of the guys mentioned a service project. Is this it?” He angled his head toward the lot nearby.
“Yes.” Natalie glanced at the concrete foundation and exposed wood framework for the walls. Mounds of ugly red clay and large rocks dug up by the construction crew surrounded what would eventually be a three-bedroom rambler. Nothing much had changed since the last time she’d stopped by. Had the volunteers run into a problem no one had mentioned to her?
“Is anyone managing the project?”
“That’s where things get complicated. I guess I’m in charge now.” She sighed and met his gaze again. For the second time in one weekend, the luminous color of his eyes—green rimmed with hints of blue—captured her attention.
A girl could get lost in those eyes.
Shay’s brow arched, waiting for her to elaborate.
Warmth heated her skin. “The house is for a wounded veteran and his family. The big reveal happens during the festival. At least, that was the plan, anyway. Now with Maureen, the former committee chairperson, gone—”
The sound of another car approaching interrupted her. Natalie glanced over her shoulder to see her best friend, Erin, parking beside the curb.
“Wait.” Shay held up his hand. “Before the others get here, I have something I need to say.”
“Oh?” Natalie faced him again and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. This should be interesting. “I’m