20. Lia

Once Ethan cools down,I remind him that he's going to need to hire help for the pick-your-own adventures. Much as I'd cherish the opportunity to be fully hands-on with the project I'm spearheading, I know my physical limitations. I'd spend more time in the rented port-o-potties than in the pole barn if they put me in charge of concessions.

Ethan heads outside with a wave and soon I hear him discussing the staffing with Mrs. Bedd, who has Baabara on a leash out for a walk—perhaps to survey her handiwork. I watch through the window as Ethel starts gesturing wildly.

"I know someone! I know someone who would be perfect. I found her on the internet."

Ethan's brows shoot up so high they disappear under his ski cap. "You found a woman online?"

Mrs. Bedd waves a hand. "There's a website for those people who live in vans. They convert them into tiny houses and just drive around doing odd jobs. I was looking at renting out the field behind the pole barn."

I step closer to the window, eager to hear more about this scheme and worried about how it fits into our carefully mapped out plans to meet the grant application requirements. The pole barn is mostly an empty space for storage and equipment, but there's a small office that Ethan never uses, and a full bathroom next to it. Ethel continues to explain that there's a service where farms with extra land can rent it out to people needing work. "Everyone wins!" I"m instantly skeptical about an online connection, but I can also tell the idea of interviewing and hiring someone is far outside Ethan's comfort zone.

I think back to our kiss last night, something I never should have let happen, and I decide Ethan has strayed far enough from his comfort zone on my account.

But Ethel continues, saying, "I found a gal the other day. Ethan, you finish up here and then you can do one of those Zoomy thingies. You can tell her what we need specifically."

Ethan flushes. "Hell, Gran, I don't even know what we need."

Gran waves a hand; Baabara bleats. "Bring Lia with you. She knows."

Having delivered marching orders, Ethel struts back toward the house, sparing me a wave where I'm spying from Ethan's window. I suppose that's today sorted.

In the meantime, I soak my aching joints in Ethan"s deep tub until my hands prune, the hot water loosening tight muscles made worse lately by tension and activity exacerbating my illness.

Lying back cloaked in lavender-scented steam, I finally relax fully for the first time in ages, my thoughts drifting to Ethan. To kissing Ethan. To how good it felt, especially compared with my recent feelings toward Richard.

My thoughts circle back to Richard assuring me he talked to his medical advisors about our relationship, but he's also apparently treating me off the books. Everything about him sets me on edge lately, and then Ethan holds me when I'm scared and quietly builds me a bidet without being asked. I let myself relax in the deliciously hot water, trying to make sense of all my confusing feelings.