31. WYATT

31

WYATT

In an hour, Songland Farms will officially be open for business.

The last month has been all hands on deck getting everything ready for the grand opening of our first summer season. Wren has worked herself to the bone lining up influencers and photographers to come out and document everything.

Mason and Colt, along with their foreman, Lenny, built Lenny Land, to her exact specifications. Complete with a giant silo slide. It turned out to be the biggest selling point for families. We sold out of all our tickets for both days in a few hours.

It isn't opening day jitters that has me jumping from boot to boot unable to stay still. Wren's mom and dad should be here any minute. They got into town late last night and are staying at a bed and breakfast a town over from here.

I know I'm not the country club guy they thought their daughter would end up with. Even with her using all her money to get my family out of debt, our financial differences have never been an issue. It doesn't stop me from worrying about them liking me.

I quickly finish setting up the pre-cut flowers in the shop. It's the last thing I have to do on my list. I want to find Wren and see if she needs help with anything else.

She's been running around like a chicken with its head cut off making sure everything is set up correctly and all of our volunteers know what they are supposed to be doing.

There's been a learning curve as we transition to a large scale operation. Lucky for us, my girl knows how to manage people. Her direct approach may come across as abrasive to some but it gets the job done. Most people have embraced her no-nonsense attitude. They know she is the person to go to with any compliments, complaints, and concerns. If something isn't working efficiently, you best believe Wren will take care of it.

Walking out of the barn, I see Mason over by the play area. "Have you seen Wren around?" I ask. He's checking to make sure everything is bolted down and ready for hundreds of kids to go wild.

Last weekend Lenny invited a bunch of her friends—excuse me, her test group—over. Wren helped her type up a questionnaire and everything. It reminded me of her student profile she wanted me to fill out.

"I think she's up front by the road. You should call her on the walkie."

"I'm not calling her on the damn walkie."

"You lost yours didn't you?" He smirks at me.

"It's not lost. It's around here somewhere," I grumble.

"One of the guys drove her down to the parking lot. If you hurry, you can be the one to bring her back home," he shouts. I'm already stomping through the gravel halfway to my four-wheeler. I don't know which one of these high school numbskulls thought it was a smart idea to take my girl for a ride.

When I pull up behind the other vehicles, Wren is directing her army of parking attendants. These guys will handle crowd control with the cars, making sure everyone is safe and using the parking lot efficiently.

A few of the guys are paying more attention to Wren's legs than her instructions. I stand beside her and cross my arms over my chest. She does a double take and rolls her eyes when she sees me glaring down her admirers.

"You're ridiculous," she murmurs to me.

"I think you underestimate the power of frayed denim and tanned legs," I say, while keeping my eyes straight ahead.

"Does anyone have any questions?" Wren asks, ignoring me. A few kids ask questions which Wren answers expertly.

"Great. We open at ten. You can start allowing cars in fifteen minutes early. We need to keep the road clear if possible," I tell the crew. They nod and go off to do whatever Wren asked them to do while they wait.

Wren glances at the main road. "Cars are already starting to line up."

"You did a great job, birdie. You've turned this whole place around." I throw an arm over her shoulder and walk her back to the four wheeler.

"We all did this. It was a family effort."

"You're right. It was." I kiss the top of her head. "Get in. I'll take you back to the house. What time are your parents getting here?"

"Any minute. They wanted to be here early in case we needed help. I expect my mom to be full on Dolly with pink cowboy boots and big hair."

"Think she'll want to borrow my silver chaps?" I joke.

"Don't tempt her with a good time," Wren deadpans. "Can you drive us to the barn? I've got something for you."

"We don't have time for that, birdie."

"That is not what I'm talking about," she says, slapping my arm.

Once I park, she hops out of the four wheeler and I follow her inside the barn. She digs around in one of the boxes we have full of branded T-shirts. I'm not sure why, I already have mine.

With one hand behind her back, she stalks toward me. She reaches up and removes my old Newhouse hat from my head. "We've got new dreams now," she says, before placing a Songland Farms hat on my head.

"How did I get so lucky?" I ask, swallowing down the emotions I feel with starting this new dream with her.

"I don't know. I ask myself the same thing every day." She tilts her head and gives me a kiss under the bill of my hat.

"Thank you, birdie," I say, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close.

"Knock, knock. Sorry to interrupt," a female voice calls out from the front of the barn.

Wren breaks our kiss and looks over my shoulder. "Mom. Dad!" She rushes to greet them.

Great. Of course they would show up when I'm making out with their daughter. Not the first impression I was hoping for.

"This is Wyatt," Wren says, pulling me closer to them.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you both," I say. Wren's mom—who is wearing pink cowboy boots—pulls me into a hug.

"It's nice to finally meet you too," she says, when she lets me go. "He's so handsome, Wren." She winks at her daughter and fans her face with her hand. I have to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing.

"Alright, Mom, that's the one compliment you're allotted for today. I already told him he looked good this morning. Any more and we'll give him a complex."

"That is not what you said this morning," I say. "Do you need me to remind you?"

"No," she says through gritted teeth. "I remember just fine."

"I'd like to know," her dad says, with a playful smile.

"Oh darn, look at the time. We should head back to the house and introduce y'all to the rest of the family. I know Faith and Jack are dying to meet you both," Wren says and starts walking out of the barn.

"I'll tell you later," I say to Ivan and Abby.

"Wyatt," Wren warns, making her parents laugh.

"He's perfect for you Wren," her mom says, laughing. Wren sighs then beams a smile in my direction.

"I know. But seriously no more compliments. You don't understand the damage you are doing to his ego right now. I won't hear the end of it."

I run up to Wren and throw an arm around her. "Stop being so mean. You're turning me on," I whisper in her ear. Then give her a quick kiss.

There are people everywhere.

They are in the sunflower fields. The playground. They are with the chickens and the goats. You can't walk anywhere without running into someone.

It's unbelievable. This is better than we could have hoped for.

Leaning against the fence, I watch as Wren helps a group of kids feed the goats. She's become a seasoned pro when it comes to the animals. She's taken over all the milking and feeding for the goats, cows, and chickens.

It's hard to believe a few months ago she was wearing slacks and blouses. Now the only suit she wears is her birthday one. Ain't no complaints about that.

Wren's dad walks around the side of the barn. I should probably stop thinking about Wren naked with him so close by.

Ivan spots me and joins me in admiring his daughter. He watches her with a smile on his face. "She looks happy," he says.

"She is. I didn't know if she would like it here. If she would fit in my world. The first time she met the goats she was so scared. Look at her now. She's a natural."

"She fits you, that's why it works. When you find the person that you're meant to be with, everything else falls into place. I never thought I would end up with a beauty pageant queen. I was working as a valet at the country club the first time I saw her." Ivan gets a dreamy far off look in his eye.

"Abby came to the club every Sunday with her family. During the summer, she would come to swim and play tennis with her friends. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, but we were completely different people—she was flighty and just wanted to have fun, while I worked two jobs and had goals and dreams. I was going to community college and working at my startup. We were heading in different directions."

"What happened?"

"I changed course. I wasn't going to let her go. Together we built the life we wanted. Her parents didn't like it at first. I was the help after all. They thought we were too young to know what love is. I told them they're old and they still don't know what love is." He smirks.

"I know I love your daughter. She's the most important person in my life. She's my best friend. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her."

He looks at me. His eyes brimming with emotion. "I know what an honor it is to hold that position. I was her best friend for many years."

His words hit home. It is an honor to be her best friend. To know her inside and out. To be the one she turns to when she's tired and weary. To be the only one who can make her feel better.

"I promise I'll take care of her."

"I don't have any doubt about that." He slings an arm around my shoulder and gives me a quick hug.

"I don't think I've ever been this tired." Wren stretches her legs over my lap.

We're out back, sitting on the porch. Everyone else has gone to bed. It's been a good day, but a long one.

"Did you have fun?" I start massaging her calve muscles.

"I did. It was a lot of work, but it was fun."

"I'm glad you thought so because we get to do it all over again tomorrow and the next day. And the day after that," I tease.

"And the day after that?" she asks, and her tone is more serious.

"Everyday until we're done." I reach across the couch and pick Wren up and drop her on my lap.

"What if I'm never done with you?" She drags her fingers up my face and into my hair.

"That's why we're so good together because I'm never going to be done with you either."