Sunday went as normal as possible for Beth. She thought about how she had to tend to the cows. If it was raining, snowing, bitter cold or simmering hot, she had to do her job. For milk she didn't drink. She thought about what Rick said, about selling all the animals. She only wanted Nelly back, because that was her father's favorite horse.

After doing her outside work, she took a cool shower and spent the day with Jo. That was their day together. In the back of her mind was Miss Jenner's voice, saying she thought Jo may be autistic. If that were the case, she needed to devote all her extra time to her de facto daughter. Over one hundred acres of land…maybe she could sell some of it. The late October heat wave lifted, so the days were more comfortable.

Nothing was open on Sunday. The majority of business were closed for "family" day. An obscene slap in the face to those who didn't have a family. Anymore.

She turned on Jo's cartoons and powered up her computer. After looking at the prices for cattle, she was speechless. She didn't know they were worth that much. The cow pen she would keep. She thought that after a thorough cleaning it could be a place to relax. Her granddaddy and daddy built it with their own hands. The chicken coop was bought at a store, and the pigpen was just a fenced in. She never told her parents, but she hated the pigs. She always thought of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and was scared that she'd fall into the pen. She was tired. Bone tired. She was tired of dealing with shit all day. Stepping in shit to milk the cows. Shoveling shit to clean the cow and pig pen. Cleaning up the shit from the chickens. Andrea. The queen of shit. She loved her job, but wanted to teach, not be a puppet who tried to show seventh graders how to appreciate classic literature when half are texting in a language she'll never understand.

A mid-day text from Rick made her smile. "Had a great time. Hope to see you again soon."

She thought that maybe she could finally ask Andrea for a personal day and start to chip away at the mountain of work she had in front of her. Maybe Rick could help. She didn't want to ask him to do too much.

As she drove to work on Monday morning, she made several decisions. She'll sell the dozen cows, the thirty pigs and two dozen chickens. She printed out the going rate for Holsteins, Dexters and two Lowline Bulls. She would be happy to see the pigs go, American Yorkshire, and two Heifers. The dozens of chickens could go too, along with the coop. The land was large enough for her to permantly park Maggie's car in her parking spot, and buy one of her own. All the farm equipment…tractors, fertilizer spreaders, harvesters, mowers and blowers. Stuff she didn't know how to work. Stuff that was just collecting dust. She couldn't handle a one hundred acre farm by herself. She knew that. She tried to all these years, but she couldn't. She could handle the house, and a much smaller piece of land. Maybe have a life with Rick. Maybe a few dogs. And Nelly. She wants Nelly back. She wants her life back.

She got to the school with a smile on her face. When she walked into the office Andrea was waiting by the sign in sheet.

"Good morning Principal Harrison. Hope you had a good weekend." Beth said, with confidence.

She folded her arms across her chest and said "Well. I seems like you had a good time. You have a smile on your face."

"Yes I do." Beth said, deflecting any hostility that Andrea was trying to throw her way.

"Do you plan on seeing him again?" She asked, as her voice sounded louder as the anger on her face was more than evident.

"What I do on my personal time in my personal business, Principal Harrison." Beth said, as she confidentially walked away and headed to her classroom.

Andrea was hot on her heels, and followed her until she got inside the classroom.

"Are you gonna see him again?"

As if on cue, the intercom paged "Miss Greene" to the office. Beth locked her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk, then went back to the office, Andrea was her shadow the entire time.

There was a stunningly beautiful bouquet of flowers, in a glass vase. Amy and Jacqui were watching as Beth's face lit up and pulled the card out of the arrangement.

"Have a wonderful day. Hope to see you soon. Rick."

Andrea was hovering over her, trying to get a peek at the card.

"They're from him, aren't they? Tell me." She was so mad she almost spat.

"Have a great day everyone" Beth said, as she took the glass vase and walked away.

Beth sent a text to Rick, thanking him for the flowers. He texted back, saying that he's off on Thursday, and maybe he can swing by and take her out for lunch. She happily agreed, and the date was set.

She nervously spoke to Sasha, who wanted details about what happened and what's going on. Beth offered to have Sasha over to her home that evening to talk about everything.

Beth smiled as she left the school at the end of the day, avoiding eye contact with Andrea. She got back to her home, the house she still shares with her parents. Her older sister was there, and she couldn't wait to tell everyone about the handsome police officer who stopped in just to see her. She gleefully mentioned how Rick put Andrea in her place.

After dinner, Sasha and Beth were sitting at the kitchen table, talking about Rick. Sasha wanted to know all the details. While Beth was talking about Rick, Sasha pulled up the Kings County website, and found Rick's picture.

"Oh my god...he's so handsome! And you should have seen Miss Harrison. She was so mad."

"This him?" she asked.

"YES! Oh my God, Sasha, and he's interested in ME! Can you believe that...a guy like that being interested in me."

"He's cute."

"He's so nice. He lost his family like two and a half years ago. That's how I met him, from that grief support group I go to. Jojo loves him."

"How many time have you been out?"

"Once. Just one time. We can't go anyplace because of Jo, so we went to Chuck E cheese. He was so cool. Then we went to the mall and bumped into Andrea…Miss Harrison. They went to high school together, he always calls her Andrea. And she was so angry when I got the flowers. He was here and told me to use the deadbolts and be safe."

"Well, if he's a cop, and he already has a loss, he's probably gonna be protective. And why can't you go out on a real date?"

"I don't have a sitter. Nobody I can trust."

"Hello! Girl, I'm right in front of you."

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Really? C'mon girly."

The two ladies laughed, then Sasha told Beth she needs to think about changing her clothing. "Sundresses are cute, but you wear too many. C'mon. Let's see what you have."

It was sweltering in Beth's bedroom, as the relentless Atlanta heat wouldn't let go of its grip on the area. Sasha opened a few windows, then turned around to see what kind of clothes Beth has.

"Most are Maggie's. We were the same size."

"We have work to do. No more sundresses. What size bra do you wear?"

Beth shrugged her shoulders, so Sasha turned her around and lifted her shirt to read the tag on the back. "Okay. 34C. you've got some nice boobs. You have to show them off. That bra looks like its ten years old. I'm gonna stop at Victoria's Secret and get you some real underwear. Don't make any plans this Saturday. We're going shopping."

"I can't. Jojo..."

"Got it covered. Don't worry."

Sasha got Beth's shirt and pant size, and said she'd take care of everything.

On Thursday, Beth showed up to work wearing a pair of black pants, small heel shoes, an ivory colored shirt and a brown scarf, which Sasha tied around her neck.

At lunch time, she stopped into the office and told Amy she's stepping out for a while. Andrea appeared out of nowhere, and demanded to know what was going on. Beth tried to avoid Andrea and any conversation they would have, but she was stuck.

"Just going out for lunch, Principal Harrison."

"With your cop boyfriend?"

"What I do with my personal time is my personal business."

Andrea was stammering for the words to say, when the office door opened and Rick walked in.

He walked over to Beth and told her she looks beautiful. Then he turned to Andrea and asked if there was a problem.

After a few tense moments, the older blonde shook her head no.

"Great." Rick looked at Beth and extended his arm for her to take, and said "Let's go."

Saturday night, the early November weather was starting to cool things off. Rick showed up at the Green farm for a proper date, since Sasha was able to watch Jo.

The third date. Make it or break it.

After a romantic dinner and a walk around the park at dusk, they thanked Sasha and were alone. Jo was asleep in her bed, and Rick and Beth were on the porch, weeks making a difference between smothering heat and a cool, gentle breeze. Beth mentioned how her father never wanted to leave the farm, so after the accident, her parents and her sister were cremated and their ashes spread around the property.

Rick didn't want to push her. She didn't say it, but from certain bit and pieces of conversation he knew she was a virgin. He hadn't been with anyone since Lori. He didn't want the throw away relationship, that's not him. He wanted a future with her.

She went back into the kitchen to refill their glasses of iced tea. Rick's heart was pounding. When she came back out, he stood up and took the glasses from her hand.

She's pretty sure she heard him say, "come here," but before she even really knew what was happening, his lips pressed against hers. They both moaned a little at the long-awaited, long-anticipated feeling. Both of his hands were on the back of her head, pulling her deeper into him. She was numb; her hands stayed at her sides as she felt his tongue rub hers. She felt herself getting wetter with every movement of his tongue against hers. His lips moved across her face, stopping briefly at her ear and then down to her neck, she was visibly trembling, and had butterflies in her stomach. She reached her hand around the back of his neck, and pressed her forehead against his.

"Rick…" she said, her voice lower than it usually was.

"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. I wanted to do that. I want a future with you, Beth."

Their eyes met and locked onto each other.

"Do you want to come inside?" She asked, after a few moments.

Rick smiled, and said "yes."