Free A Forever Love by Maggie Marr

together and took a deep breath. She could get through this. She would get through this. Work had pulled her through the dark months of doubt when she’d first arrived home and been pregnant with Max. Work would pull her through again. The calendar for today was clear until the tasting in the afternoon. “The Kesslers are at two. When does Cassidy get here?”
    “Eleven. Best decision we ever made, hiring Cassidy once you forced me to accept weddings.”
    “She’s awesome, isn’t she?” Aubrey’s best friend since second grade, Cassidy contained more effervescence and energy than a can of shaken soda in a hot car.
    “Bob wants you to come up to the barn. He wants to talk to you about milk production and orders.”
    “I’ll go deal with the cattle first. When Cassidy gets here, have her prepare the tasting service for the bride and the groom, and they’re each bringing their mothers.”
    “That never goes well.”
    “Not usually. They’re doing the cake tasting after.”
    “That’s too much,” Nina said. “How can they possibly have room for cake after the tasting menu?”
    “Their request. The groom will be in Texas until the wedding. This is the last day they could do it. Tomorrow we need to prep for the Stoddard wedding this Saturday.” Her gaze met Nina’s. “You know it’s two hundred.”
    “Which is one hundred and fifty more than I like serving at one seating.”
    “You like your fancy kitchen here at Rockwater Farms, and you still need the new freezer?”
    “You know I do.”
    “Then a wedding for two hundred on Saturday keeps the kitchen and gets you a new freezer. The weddings are pulling us into the black every month. The word is out that The Red Barn at Rockwater Farms is the place to get married.”
    This was good. Lots to do. Work to accomplish. Meetings to have. Phone calls. People. Her gaze swept across her desk and out the large windows that looked out over the rolling grass hills that led to the Kaw River.
    Her heart thumped faster. In blue jeans and a T-shirt, his black hair unmistakable, Justin walked down the green hill toward the timber. “What is he doing?”
    Nina stood and looked out the window. “Maybe getting lost?”
    “Don’t joke. He’s as city as they come. Why would he be heading in there? Alone?”
    “Who knows, and I don’t care. He’s come to take my nephew, so I hope he falls in a ravine.”
    “Nina! You can’t say those things.”
    “What? He’s causing all kinds of hell. I can see it in your face what with the puffy eyes and the circles. You look like you didn’t sleep at all last night.”
    So she looked bad as she felt. The scalding-hot shower and the three cups of coffee before coming down to The Barn hadn’t hidden that she’d awakened in Max’s room at two a.m. and not been able to get back to sleep.
    Nina turned from the windows and walked toward the office door. “There’s fresh coffee. Have a cup before you go see the cows.”
    Aubrey nodded and met Nina’s gaze.
    Her little sister’s brows were pulled tight, and worry etched lines around her mouth. “You’ll let me know if I can help.”
    Aubrey fought the tears heating the backs of her eyes. There was nothing Nina could do. She and Justin needed to have a rational, adult conversation and come to a reasonable compromise, but last night, when Justin had said he’d come for his son, there certainly hadn’t appeared to be any kind of compromise that he was willing to entertain. Only a complete victory would satisfy him.
    “Okay.” She pushed herself to standing. “Up to the barn to see the cows.” She followed Nina out of the office, grabbed a to-go cup of coffee, and walked to the back door. She slipped off her shoes and pulled on her green Wellies. At least the cows wouldn’t have anything negative to say to her about her past, her present, or her future.
    She opened the door and Scout jumped to attention. He wagged his tail and shook his entire body. Thank God for a happy