Chapter 3

BETH

After talking with Daryl about selling our animals to him exclusively I had a lot to think about and big decisions to make. I was trying to expand our farm and I wasn't sure that selling all of our meats exclusively to a single hometown butcher shop was the way to do that. Currently the farm was sending approximately 60 cows to the slaughterhouse each year at the end of March. Daryl was proposing that instead of a mass sell that we only sell him two cows each week all year long. That would end up being over a hundred head of cattle a year but our profits would also be spread out. He told me I had the choice of getting paid per animal or getting a percentage of everything he sold of ours. I was still debating because not only was he offering to buy our cows. He was also interested in the pigs, turkeys, chickens, and goats. But before anything was final he wanted to come out to the farm and take a look at how our animals lived and what they ate. So I had told him to come to the farm Saturday morning and he could join me on the morning rounds of feeding and watering the animals.

By Friday I still hadn't made a decision so I decided to invite Otis and Patricia over for dinner to have a family farm discussion. I wanted to have a decision for Daryl by tonight so I could discuss it with him tomorrow morning when he came over to assist in the morning chores. "Dad, I'm gonna cut out a bit early to go help Mom with dinner since Otis and Patricia are coming over." I told my dad as I stuck my head around the doorframe into his office where he sat watching my babies play with two pups from the local pound that had finally been given a clean bill of health.

He looked up at me with a smile on his face. "Okay but have a seat first, I've got something that I want to talk to you about." He said pointing to the chair that sat on the other side of his desk.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as I glanced between him and my kids. "Shawn? Maggie? Mom?"

With a shake of his head he turned around to grab a file folder off the filing cabinet behind his desk. "Nothing's wrong. Everything is going as planned actually so I have a surprise for you." He told me as he handed me the thin file folder.

My mind automatically went crazy. "Are these termination papers?" I asked as I tentatively took the folder from him.

"Absolutely not. Stop guessing and open the folder." He said as he leaned back in his chair watching me with a smile on his face.

Taking a deep breath I opened the folder and gasped at what I saw inside. "Are these…?" I whispered as I looked at the childhood drawings of my dream home.

My father took a deep breath. "They are. This is your graduation present from your mother and I." He explained as he pointed to the folder. "Your mother took those drawings to an architect and had actual legal house plans drew up based on them. They break ground in your spot in two weeks and the house should be ready by Christmas." There was fifteen acres that had never been used for anything than grazing pastures because it was being saved for us three kids; Shawn, Maggie, and me. Maggie lived in town in Glenn's rental house that he had before they met while she builds their business. Shawn and his wife, Veronica, live in an apartment in Atlanta while they work at an animal hospital to gain some experience before taking over the clinic. I am the only one that lives on the farm aside from our parents of course but that is just the way things played out when my kids came along.

"But…" I whispered as I flipped to the next page which was a professionally printed copy of my childhood drawings.

"No buts, Bethie. You deserve this. You are about to graduate from college with honors despite everything that has happened. We are all so proud of you and this is our gift to you. I don't think you'll be on the farm by yourself for long according to the phone call I received earlier from your brother." My dad said with a shake of his head.

I smiled broadly because my brother and his wife had been trying for almost a year to get pregnant and hopefully it had finally happened. "Shawn gonna be a Daddy?" I asked excitedly, closing the folder on the rest of the paperwork inside. I would look at it all later tonight.

Dad confirmed with a bright smile and nod of his head. "Veronica went to the doctor today because she's been sick for almost a week."

"Yeah, that's why they didn't come for dinner last Sunday, remember?" I reminded him excitedly. "I'm so excited to be an aunt!" Aurora patted me on the leg to get my attention. "What, sweetheart?" I asked her as I brushed some stray curls off her face.

"Nono sick?" She asked as her brother came to stand next to her.

I shook my head at both of them. "Nono is growing a baby in her belly but she's okay." I explained the best I could since they were so young.

"Baby?" Aiden asked with wide eyes.

"Yep, she's growing a baby just like Nellie is growing one." I explained, using my horse that was pregnant as something for them to relate to so hopefully they could understand what I was trying to tell them.

They both grinned big and began jumping around in their excitement. I think they got it. I turned back to my father who was smiling at my kids. "They're not gonna know what to do with another baby around to compete for yours and mom's attention." I said as I smiled at him. "So, Shawn and Ronnie are wanting to build on his spot?"

My dad shrugged. "I don't know yet but it's a possibility because he said they wanted to move back before Veronica got too far along and uncomfortable."

"That would be great if they built a house out there too. It's going to be awfully lonely over in my spot all by myself with just me and the kids." I said, sticking my lower lip out slightly. Greene Farms operated on 130 acres but my dad owned 150 acres with twenty of the acres being zoned as residential and the other as farmland. Our spots were scattered out across the land, far enough apart to give us our privacy but also close enough together that we could get to one another if the need arose. "Can we talk about all of this later? I want to get home to help mom with dinner and you still need to make a stop at Monroe farms to check on their goat." I reminded him as I stood up which stopped my kids from their antics. "Tell Papa bye so we can go see Nana." I told them as I headed for the front to gather our stuff and shut the computers down for the day.

Within ten minutes I had the office closed down, kids loaded in their seats, and pulling out onto the highway to head home. When I turned off the highway onto our gravel road, Kershen Road, I couldn't help but smile. I was giddy at the thought of living in my own home with my kids but was also nervous because I had never done it. "Home?" Aiden asked from the backseat. Looking in the mirror I smiled at my boys reflection in the mirror that was attached to the headrest of the backseat since their seats were still rear-facing.

"Yes sir. We're almost home." I told him with a bright smile. "Mr. Otis and Mrs. Patricia are coming over for dinner too." I told them as I slowed down in front of the grazing pasture that had been designated as my spot when I was just a baby.

He cheered in the backseat with a big toothy grin covering his face.

Once I passed what would be our home by this time next year I headed further down the road until I spotted the driveway that led to the farmhouse I had been born and raised in. "Home sweet home." I told the kids as I turned the car off in the driveway, reaching over to grab the file folder my dad had given me earlier from the passenger seat.

"Nana." Aurora cried out as she tugged on her seatbelt straps.

With a look and throat clearing from me she stopped her tantrum before it ever really got started. I made quick work of their straps and let them climb out of the car on their own and start making their way to the porch where my mom and Patricia sat talking. While the kids headed for the front porch and my mom I grabbed all of our bags from the back. I still used the same diaper bag that Maggie had gotten me when I was around seven months pregnant with the babies. It resembled a duffle bag with a gray and white chevron pattern with Aurora and Aiden's names stitched into the top flap. Babies in general required a lot of stuff when you left the house with them and I had double so the large bag worked perfectly for us. I grabbed their bag, my purse, and my backpack since I had some reading and note taking to get done this weekend and followed my kids.

"Hey Bethie, how was work?" Mom asked as I stepped up onto the front porch.

I smiled at her as I bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek in greeting. "Work was work. Dad is headed to the Monroe's then on his way home. Do you ladies need any help with dinner?" I asked as I repeated the greeting on Patricia.

Patricia patted me on the cheek as I pulled away from her. "Dinner is in the oven staying warm, sweetheart. Just sipping on my famous peach tea while we wait on the men to get finished for the day." She told me with a wink as I stood up straight. Her 'famous' peach tea wasn't just flavored tea, it had about equal amounts whiskey as it did actual peach tea.

"You two take it easy on that tea while I go get me and the babies washed up for dinner." I told them with a wagging finger as I opened the door of the house, urging my kids into the house. The smell of dinner smacked me in the face and made my tummy rumble in anticipation of the delicious food that was making the house smell so good.

Aiden tugged at my hand with an eager look on his face. "Eat, Mama?" he asked softly.

Smiling down at him I nodded. "Yes sir, when Papa and Mr. Otis get here we'll eat dinner. Right now, let's go wash up and change into our eating clothes. Okay?" I asked as I opened the gate at the bottom or the stairs for them to start their climb upstairs.

"Okay." He said with a firm nod of his head before turning to focus on the stairs.

I quickly changed their chick magnet outfits into onesies that I didn't care if they got dirty or stained up before washing their faces and hands for dinner. I also took Aurora's hair down, running a brush through both of their hair. Aurora had shockingly curly red hair that she must have inherited from her father while Aiden's hair was straight and blonde with a slight reddish tint to it. Aurora had bright green eyes while, thankfully, Aiden shared my sky-blue eyes. It didn't matter who they got their looks from, my love for them wasn't impacted in any way. "It looks like we are just about dinner ready, huh?" I asked them as I guided them into my bedroom so I could change clothes and undo my braid to let my hair relax a bit.

They ignored me and ran to their bucket of building blocks I kept on the circle rug in the corner of my room that was their designated play area. I quickly changed into a pair of cut-off jean shorts, tank-top, and my flip flops before running a brush through my long hair. Once I was dressed I whistled to get my kids attention and nodded towards the bedroom door. "Who's hungry?" I asked them eagerly as I stood by the bedroom door to wait on them to catch up with me.

Dinner was a lively affair between two tipsy older women, two cranky toddlers, and two old men who acted like they hadn't seen each other in years. Once all the food had been ate and I was simply waiting on my kids to finish playing in their dinner I decided to bring up Daryl's proposition. "I was offered a deal earlier this week and I don't know what to do with it." I started as I looked between my father and Otis, who was like a second father to me.

"What's the deal?" Otis asked, all the joking and kidding gone out of his voice.

With a sigh I settled back in my seat and began to explain. Once I finished explaining the whole deal with Daryl I watched as my father and Otis communicated silently right in front of me. When they were done having their telepathic conversation my father turned to look at me. "Beth, did you have a chance to look at all the paperwork in that folder I gave you earlier?"

I shook my head and raised an eyebrow at my father. "Not yet but what does that have to do with this?" I asked curiously.

"Everything. That folder not only contains your house plans and five acre plot but it also contains the new deed to the farmland you run." Dad explained as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the edge of the table. "I'm ready to retire and enjoy my time with Nettie, you kids, and our grandkids so we have done a lot of rearranging of things around here. When you graduate college this entire farm minus fifteen acres will be solely yours. Just like the clinic and vet practice is solely Shawn's. You have such great vision for this place so don't start doubting yourself now. If you think it's a fair deal then you take it. If you are worried about the future then do a short-term agreement. If you don't like the deal at all then tell the man to get lost. I love you, Elizabeth Anne Greene, and I trust you to do what is best for this farm and this family." He told me before pushing away from the table and standing up. "But, right now, I think it's time for me to get my tipsy wife to bed. Otis." Dad said with a nod in the other man's direction before going around the table, kissing my kids on top of their messy heads, holding a hand out for my mother, and disappearing down the hall.

I simply gaped after him before turning to look at Otis. "Otie, I can't do this all on my own." I whispered nervously, reverting to the childhood nickname I had given him.

The large man smiled across the table at me. "Yes you can, Bethie. You are an amazing young woman and can do anything you set your mind to. I'm not going anywhere yet but Patty has been nagging me to retire also, ever since Nettie let it slip that Hersh was talking about it."

Shaking my head I felt my eyes well up with tears. "I'm not superwoman, Otie. I absolutely cannot run this farm by myself. I need you and Dad here to help me with everything."

He laughed as he shook his head. "Beth, you have been running this farm by yourself for over a year now. You just never realized it."

"I haven't." I whispered softly as I glanced at my kids who were smearing the last bit of their peach cobbler all over their trays and their faces.

"You have. When was the last time I placed any of the orders around here? When was the last time I handled any of the phone calls regarding farm business? Who manages the breeding of all the animals? Who picks what pastures to graze in and which ones to plant? Who picks the crops for crop rotation?" He rattled as he pointed a finger at me. "You do all of that while taking care of two beautiful toddlers, overachieving at college to graduate with double degrees, and working part-time at the clinic. You've got this, Beth. Stop underestimating yourself, we all stopped underestimating you a long time ago. You have an amazing vision for this place and you are the only one that can make it happen. So get to it." He said as he hefted himself from his chair. "I'm gonna get Patty home before she hits the floor." He said motioning to his wife who had laid her head on the table once my mom left the room. "We all believe in you, Bethie, and love you unconditionally." He whispered as he helped Patricia stand up. "See you bright and early in the morning."

I sat there stunned into silence long after they left. It wasn't until a disgruntled whine came from Aurora that I realized I was still sitting there running their words over and over through my head. "Bath time then bed time for you two. Let's go." I told them as I took their trays off their high chairs and sat them on the table. "No touching anything." I said as I helped them down one by one, grabbing a hand each and guiding them up the stairs to our bathroom. My mind was overwhelmed with everything I had found out today but taking care of my kids gave me something solid to focus on for the time being so I didn't go absolutely crazy. I quickly washed their hair and bodies before taking a seat on the closed toilet to let them play for a few minutes before we started their bedtime routines. While watching them I pulled my phone out to text my sister to see if she was in the know.

Did you know?

…

Maggie!?

…

Margaret Nicole!?

FINE! Yes they called me in to discuss it all a few weeks ago. I told them I didn't want any part of the clinic or the farm, just my plot for when we get ready to have a family.

Why would you not say anything to me? You know how I feel about things of importance just being thrown at me.

They made me promise, Bethie. It's a good surprise though. You deserve this.

It's not fair though, Maggie. This farm is all of ours once Mom and Dad are gone. Not just mine. With Shawn getting the clinic and me getting the farm, what are you left with? Nothing. That's not right.

That farm is all yours, Bethie. You went to college TWICE to learn all the intricacies of running and operating that farm. Nobody could have blamed you if you never went back after your horrible experience but you chose to anyways.

But what about you? What do you get?

Peace of mind that my brother and sister are getting what they have worked so hard for. I am where I want to be, Beth. Glenn and I have the pizzeria and café and that is my dream now. We all want this for you and the munchkins.

Okay. Thank you seems to not be appropriate for this.

It's perfect. We all love you and are so proud of you, Bethie. I'll see you guys in the morning.

Love you too. See you in the morning.

As I tucked my phone back into my pocket I caught a yawn from Aurora which was my cue to wrap up bath time. Half an hour later both babies were dressed and laying in their cribs with glazed eyes. "Goodnight my babies. I love you." I whispered to them as I placed their book back onto the bookshelf and stood from the rocker where I sat to read them their bedtime stories.

I stuck the baby monitor onto my back pocket and made my way back downstairs to clean up our dinner dishes since my mom had imbibed in a little too much alcohol to take care of it. Raking all the table scraps onto one plate I stacked the rest up so I could carry them all to the kitchen in one trip. Clearing the dining room was my first priority so I made several trips to the kitchen carrying dirty dishes and putting the left-over food away before pushing the high chairs back against the wall, wiping the table off, and sweeping any mess up off the floors. Once the dining room was clean I headed for the kitchen to finish cleaning up but was surprised to find my mom standing there sipping a glass of water. "Mom, what are you doing up?" I asked as I organized the dirty dishes on the counter so that I could make quick work or rinsing them to load into the dishwasher.

"I couldn't sleep knowing the kitchen was still a mess but I see now that I had nothing to worry about." She joked as she sat her glass on the counter with the other dirty glasses. "I love you, baby girl."

Stopping what I was doing I went and wrapped my arms around my mom in a tight hug. "I love you too, momma."

We stood like that for several minutes, just soaking in each other's embrace. "Let's get this kitchen cleaned up so we can get to bed, you've got a busy day tomorrow."

I nodded as I pulled away from her. "Daryl is supposed to be here for morning chores to see how our animals are raised and to discuss the business deal he has presented us with." I explained as I began rinsing the glasses out to place in the dishwasher.

"I'll make a little extra for breakfast then." She said as she placed the food into the refrigerator.

Immediately I began shaking my head. "There is no need for that, mom. It's all business."

"No sense in being rude, Beth. If he's going to be helping with the morning chores he deserves to eat a good breakfast afterwards. He can decline if he wants but you, Elizabeth Ann Greene, will not be rude to the young man." My mom told me with a pointed look in my direction.

"Yes ma'am. I'll extend the invitation when he gets here in the morning." I told her as I poured the soap into the dishwasher before shutting the lid.

My mom smiled at me as she wiped around the sink before rinsing the rag and draping it over the middle of the sink. "Good girl. Goodnight, Bethie. Love you sweet girl."

"Love you too, Momma. Goodnight." I told her as I flipped the lights off and headed upstairs to crash. Once upstairs in my bedroom I pulled out the folder my dad had given me earlier from under the kids diaper bag and went to sit in the middle of my bed. Opening the folder I began flipping through the small stack of papers, looking for any and all papers pertaining to the farm. I found the paperwork showing where my dad had separated the farm from the residential plots and named me sole owner of the entire 130 acres of farmland. There was also another deed that for my five-acre residential plot. At the back of the folder was an envelope with my name scrawled on the front in my mom's handwriting that I sat aside because I was overwhelmed emotionally for the day. It was hard to grasp that in a few months I would own and be solely responsible for the 130 acres that had been in my family for several generations but that is what's happening.

I had massive ideas for the farm to grow our business but I had been nervous to say anything about them and even more so to mention them to anybody. Currently we ordered our animal feed from a farm in Douglas, Georgia that specialized in organic animal feed. They shipped it to us once a month in 55 gallon barrels. Growing and producing our own animal feed and organic bedding was just one of the things I wanted to do on the farm. That would be one less bill we had throughout the year. Another thing that would save on operating costs would be to collaborate with the local high schools and college for volunteer and intern opportunities in return for educational credits. This would reduce the need for paid farmhands. Of course, I would never get rid of Otis but the other hands typically only last a season or two.

Enlarging the garden area so that we could sell our flowers and crops to the local restaurants, stores, and markets was another idea. Adding to the few fruit trees we had to enlarge that production was another idea. Planting nut bearing trees was another idea. Growing up the farm was just a cattle farm with a home garden because the main focus was on the vet clinic but I had slowly added other animals over the past few years which was a great start. But it was just the tip of the iceberg of the ideas I had to make this farm something my parents and kids could be proud of.

Placing the papers back inside the folder I tucked them into my nightstand drawer before getting ready for bed. My farm days typically started at 5 o'clock in the morning which meant I got up about 4:30 so I had some time to get woke up and drink some coffee before I started my workday. As I slid beneath my blanket, I began mentally planning out my day tomorrow. Daryl's main interest was our animals so that would be our focus while he was here then I would tend to regular farm business after he left for the day.

With everything that had been thrown at me it was no surprise that I tossed and turned all night until my alarm sounded at 4:30 dragging me from my restless slumber. Dragging my tired body from my warm bed I dressed for the day in an old pair of jeans a thrift store t-shirt that was a few sizes too big before stomping my sock clad feet into my boots, winding my hair up into a messy knot on top of my head, tying a knot in the side of my shirt, and winding a bandana around my messy knot. Once I was dressed I grabbed my phone and baby monitor before making my way across the hall to peak in n my sweet babies who slept through the night thankfully. Pressing a soft hand on each of my babies I smiled to myself because despite the circumstances of their creation I was eternally blessed to be their momma. Quietly making my way downstairs I smiled when I saw my momma filling my coffee mug with steaming coffee. "Morning, Momma." I whispered as I pressed a kiss to the side of her head as she handed me my cup.

"Morning, sweet girl." She whispered back as she leaned back against the counter. "Do me a favor and take it easy on the young man that's coming to help out this morning. Okay?"

I looked at her over the rim of my mug as I took tentative sips of the hot beverage that got me moving so early in the mornings. "I make no promises." I told her between sips. "But I'll try my best."

Momma nodded just as a set of headlights swept across the room. "That's all I ask. Have a good morning out there. I'll ring the bell for breakfast." She told me as I grabbed two oranges from the fruit basket and a couple granola bars from the drawer before heading out the door, leaving the baby monitor on the counter for my mom.

I met Daryl Dixon in the driveway as he climbed from his truck. "Morning." I told him as I offered him an orange and a granola bar. "Breakfast. My momma insisted." I told him, knowing full well that my mom was about to prepare a whole big breakfast for when we got done with morning chores.

"Thanks." He mumbled as he pocketed the granola bar and began peeling the orange. "What's on the agenda for this morning?"

Smirking to myself I headed for the barn. "Since you are concerned with our animals I figured we would start there. I can take care of everything else once you leave." I told him as I unlatched the barn doors and began shoving them open.

"Thanks for that but I didn't plan for you to rearrange your day just to accommodate me." He explained as he grabbed the other door, shoving it open and securing it in place while I did the other one.

Heading down to the stockroom I explained. "I haven't really rearranged anything to accommodate you except doing stock inventory and every weekend ranch stuff. The animals always get my special attention on the weekends since I'm not around much during the week." I told him as I began filling the horses buckets with their feed. "First things first, we feed the horses and allow them to eat while we go make our feed and water rounds with the rest of the animals. By the time we get finished checking all the water troughs and feeding everybody these guys will be ready to turn out to pasture for exercise and grazing while we clean their stalls."

"Okay." He said as he grabbed two of the feed buckets. We had ten horses on the property that we used to plow the fields with to cut down on our bills and impact on the environment. Breeding our horse was another income revenue that I had brought to the farm since I began putting my two cents worth in. We made a decent income on the foals we bred because we had good quality stock for work horses and the money we save by not using the big machinery paid for all the extra food we had to purchase. "What's in their feed?" He asked me as he dumped one of his buckets into Buster's food trough.

I began to explain the things that went into our horse feed as we continued dumping feed over the stall doors.

Daryl

By the time I heard a bell sound out from where I stood holding the gate open for Beth as she herded the sheep into a new pasture that they would graze on for the next week to let the other pasture regenerate I was exhausted and thoroughly impressed by everything I saw. "What's that?" I asked Beth as she walked by carrying a baby lamb in her arms.

"Breakfast." She said as she kept walking so the last few stragglers would follow her and their friends into the new pasture.

I raised an eyebrow at that because I had thought the orange and granola bar she brought me earlier had been all the breakfast I would be getting until I left. "You mean to tell me that the orange and bar you gave me earlier wasn't breakfast?" I called out to her as I shut the gate behind the last moseying sheep.

She looked at me and shrugged. "If it's the first thing you eat in the morning isn't it called breakfast?"

Laughing at her I reached down to pet a few of the sheep that would need shearing soon. "I suppose so. What do you do with the wool from these guys?" I asked as I looked around at the herd of roughly 30 to 40 sheep varying in age from a few days to a few years.

"We sell it to Tyrese and Karen Foley down in Zebulon for a fair price which includes the shearing of the sheep." She explained as she walked over to where I was standing, still holding the baby lamb in her arms.

I pointed to the baby resting comfortably in her arms. "You aren't leaving him here with his momma?" I asked curiously as I opened the gate so we could step out of it.

She shook her head. "No, his mother wasn't anywhere around when I began moving the herd so I'm going to take this little lady up to the house so my dad can look her over and my mom can fix her a bottle to eat. She looks to be under-weight already and only a few days old. My mom said to invite you to breakfast so you can join us if you want or you can go home. The choice is yours." She said as she began walking the path that led back to the big white farmhouse that stood sentry in the middle of the property.

"Go home and pass up a good home cooked meal? No thanks. I think I will join you, if you don't mind." I told her as I caught up to her fast pace.

She shrugged her shoulders as she looked at me. "I don't care one way or the other but fair warning this is my kids and my momma so be nice and watch your language. I won't tell you twice." She warned as we rounded a bend in the trail and came into view of the front of the house.

"Yes ma'am. I'll be a good boy." I teased as I fell into step behind her. Looking at her walk towards the house I couldn't help but admire the way her jeans fit her petite little bottom. She didn't even look like she had carried kids much less twins.

Apparently my teasing rubbed her the wrong way cause she stopped suddenly in her tracks causing me to bump into her. My hands automatically grabbed onto her hips to keep both of us from falling to the ground. She spun around, shoving my hands off her hips as she glared at me. "You can take this seriously or I'll uninvite you to breakfast." She stated firmly. "And don't ever put your hands on me unless I ask you to."

I held my hands up in defense. "I didn't mean anything by it, Beth. I know how to be respectful, believe it or not. The Horvath's worked hard to teach this old dog new tricks, trust me." I explained quickly.

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm sorry." She apologized before turning around and continuing towards the house. When the porch came within view the screams of "Mama!" could be heard all over the property I was certain.

"They're lively early in the morning." I commented as she quickened her pace.

With a glance over her shoulder she smiled at me. "Saturday's are the only day of the week that they wake up without me being right there. They'll calm down fairly quickly once I get up there though they'll be clingy until my sister shows up to collect them. Do you have any kids, Daryl?" She asked as she pointed to the porch where her kids were standing there waving at her.

"I don't. How old are they?" I asked pointing to the excited kids standing there with an elderly woman that I assumed was their grandmother.

Beth smiled as she scooted over to allow me space to walk next to her on the path. "Just turned twenty-one months. It's hard to believe that they are almost two years old already." She said with a shake of her head.

"I'm sure you and their dad will make it a birthday to remember." I said sincerely.

She immediately shook her head. "There dad isn't in the picture. At all. It's just me and my family."

"Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry." I said as we neared the house.

"It's fine. I'm surprised you didn't already know that tidbit with the way gossip runs in this town." She said as she waved at her babies who were waving at her eagerly.

I shook my head. "Don't pay much attention to gossip because growing up my family was usually part of that gossip and most of the things the folks were saying about us wasn't true."

"The thing I hate about this gossip is that it affects the rest of my family and the only thing I'm at fault for the decision to give life to those innocent babies instead of murdering them before they had a chance to live." She said vehemently.

Raising an eyebrow at her choice of words I began to speak when she shook her head. "Don't ask. Ready for breakfast with the Greene's?" She asked as she placed a smile on her face.

"I suppose so. I've already met two of y'all. How many more can there be?" I asked as we rounded the huge oak tree that stood in the middle of the yard.

Her laugh did little to dispel my nerves but I couldn't question her further because she was attacked by two little red-headed bundles of energy. I reached forward to take the baby lamb from her so she could hug and pick up each of her kids. "Thanks." She whispered to me as she stood up with a kid on each hip.

"No problem." I told her as I followed her the last few feet to the front porch where her father sat next to an older version of Beth. "Mr. Greene." I told him as I stepped forward to shake his hand in greeting before turning to the lady sitting there smiling at our interaction. "Mrs. Greene, I presume?" I asked as I extended my hand in her direction.

The woman smiled brightly at me. "You presume correctly, Mr. Dixon. It's nice to meet you but please call me Annette or Nettie." She said as she squeezed my hand gently.

"Daryl, please. Thank you for inviting me for breakfast, Miss Nettie. It's a pleasant surprise for sure since I thought the orange and granola bar was gonna be breakfast until I left here." I told her as I squeezed her hand gently in return.

Beth scoffed from behind me. "Throw me under the bus why don't you, Daryl!"

We all laughed at her mock outrage before heading inside the house. Breakfast with the Greene's reminded me of all the breakfasts I had shared with the Horvath's. When I pulled out of the driveway after the best breakfast I've had since returning to Georgia I couldn't help but smile broadly to myself. Beth Greene was a hard young lady to win over but I had done it and the signed contract resting in the seat next to me proved me correct. Not only had I gotten the contract with her farm signed and in my possession she also gave me the contact information for the Foley's that sheered their sheep for the wool. I was feeling pretty content with how things had been going and felt that once my store was up and running that I would have no problem stocking it or making a profit from it.