“Morning, boys,” Joan says, entering the kitchen. “How’s bacon and eggs for breakfast?”
“Perfect,” I tell her. “Can I help?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
“So, when is Cass coming home?” Chad asks his mom.
“She had a final yesterday. She’s leaving this morning and will be home later today.”
“How is she?” he asks.
“Good. She loves her classes. She’s living her best life. Isn’t that what you kids say these days?”
Chad and I both chuckle. “Yeah, something like that,” he says, placing his coffee cup under the stream unable, or maybe unwilling to wait until the machine is finished doing its thing.
“She’s going to be a teacher, right? My mom and sister both teach kindergarten,” I add to the conversation.
“She is. An art teacher. She’s not sure what grade, but I think she’s leaning toward elementary and middle school.” Joan starts cracking what looks like fresh eggs into a large glass bowl. “She was disappointed that she couldn’t make it home yesterday.”
“That’s all right, Shayne entertained us,” Chad replies.
“Wait, is there anything else you’re not telling? Cassie is a girl, right?” I ask him. I’m teasing. I’ve seen pictures of Cassie, she’s beautiful too, but her cousin, Shayne, she takes my breath away.
“No.” Chad laughs.
“What did I miss?” Joan asks, placing bacon in the pan.
“Oh, you know. Nothing much. Ford, here, assumed that Shayne was a guy.”
“How was I supposed to know. It was my cousin Shayne this, my cousin Shayne that. You never mentioned a gender, and I’d never seen any pictures,” I defend myself. Joan is grinning wide, so I know my lack of knowledge about her niece is amusing her.
“What’s so funny?” Henry asks, entering the room.
“Tell him,” Joan sputters with laughter.
Chad explains, and Henry’s smile tells me he’s also amused. “So, you were shocked?” Joan asks.
“He was more than shocked. He was knocked on his ass, Mom. I swear my boy here got cartoon eyes when he saw her.”
“Chad,” Joan chides him. “Leave him alone.”
“He’s not wrong.” I shrug.
“She’s not had it easy,” Henry tells me. It almost seems like a warning.
I nod. “That’s what I’ve heard.”
“Enough about Shayne. Ford, grab yourself a cup of coffee. We have juice and milk in the fridge.”
“Glasses are in the cabinet next to the fridge.” Chad points to the cabinet.
“Thanks.”
The next twenty minutes are spent talking about the farm and how things are going. I sit back and listen, chiming in where I can. I don’t know much about farming. I grew up in the country, but milking cows is not something I can say I’m proficient in.
“You ready?” Henry asks.
“As I’ll ever be,” I tell him. I take my plate to the sink with the intention of washing it.
“I’ve got that. You go on. Thanks for your help today.” Joan pats me on the shoulder.
“Thank you for having me. I’m happy to help.” It’s the truth. Going home to an empty house after being deployed for nine months didn’t sound like a good time. My parents offered to change their trip, but I told them not to. Chad offered me to come home with him, and Mom and Dad have talked about coming to base for a week after we settle back in.
“You’re welcome here anytime,” she assures me.
With a smile and a nod, I rush out the back door to get this day started.
Four hours later, after having violated the herd of cattle, fed the chickens, collected the eggs, fed the cows, and mucked the horse stalls, I’m exhausted. It has nothing to do with the work. Although challenging at times, it’s my lack of sleep that has my ass dragging back into the house.
“How did it go?” Joan asks.
“He did good,” Henry says, slapping me on the shoulder as he goes to kiss his wife.
“Ford, honey, you look exhausted. Why don’t you go shower and lie down before lunch?”
“I’m good. I won’t sleep tonight,” I tell her.
“Well, tonight, you’ll be in Cassie’s room. I didn’t realize Shayne stayed over until she came down this morning, not long after you all went out to work.”
“Where is Cass going to be?” Chad asks.
“She’s going to stay with Shayne. She usually splits her time between here and there when she’s home from school.”
“I don’t want to put her out. The couch is fine.” Or I can stay at Shayne’s.
“Oh, you’re not.” Joan waves a hand in the air. “This is what they do. Those two are close.”
“She doing okay? Shayne, I mean?” Chad asks. “Connor was at the bar last night. He was giving her a hard time, that is until Ford stepped in.”
“Yeah, she’s good. That boy.” Joan shakes her head.
“He’s caused her enough trouble. Thanks for stepping in, Ford.” Henry turns his gaze to Chad. “Where were you?”
“I was right beside him, but this guy”—he points at me—“was on his feet and taking care of the situation before I had the chance to. I knew he had it under control.”