“I bet you find it slow as molasses around here.”
“Oh no, we love it!” Dot worried she’d offended her and rushed to make up for it. “Cedar Falls sets the perfect pace.”
“If you like small towns and a strong community, it’s just about perfect.”
“I agree. And I haven’t even been to one of the farms yet. What can we bring?”
“Just your appetites.”
THE GIRLS METdownstairs and assessed each other’s outfits.
Harper had nixed the idea of plaid and had on wide-leg khakis, a white button-down under a Kelly green cotton cardigan, and her well-worn ankle boots to give her some height. She’d put on a little “Sunday supper” makeup and her hair was held back by a scrunchie.
Dot wore skinny jeans tucked into tan knee-high boots with a flat sole, and a lavender cashmere turtleneck. She arranged her hair in a sleek ponytail and put a hint of pink gloss on her lips.
Not surprisingly, Mary was the most dressed up. She had on black knit leggings, over-the-knee kitten heel boots, a hot pink silk blouse with pearl buttons, a gray suede blazer, and her large gold hoop earrings. Red lips, lined eyes, and defined brows completed her look.
“What?” she asked, noting Dot and Harper looking at her with their heads in a dog tilt.
“You are definitely dressed for agriculture,” Dot teased.
“And where did you get those skinny jeans—from the vintage store?” Mary shot back.
“Hey, these are back in! I’m glad I kept them from high school.”
Mary looked at herself in the entryway mirror.
“Do you think I should change?” Mary wasn’t typically self-conscious.
“No! You look... the part. Let’s go or we’ll be late.” Dot grabbed the bottle of Duckhorn they’d bought as a hostess gift, and they headed out.
THE FARM’S LONGdriveway was lined with sugar maples, which were just starting to bud. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves. The gravel road to the house was bumpy, and mud flicked onto the undercarriage of the Jeep as Mary drove slowly to the house.
Mary turned off the music. They were only about thirty minutes from their house in Cedar Falls, but it looked like another world.
“Wow. It’s beautiful.”
“So serene,” Harper said, sitting cross-legged in the backseat.
They passed several cows lining the fence.
“Look at these cuties!” Dot said, pointing them out.
The driveway curved in a loop around a big oak tree in front of the Taylors’ stone and brick ranch-style home. To the left was a large red barn and several smaller shed-type buildings, about ten yards from the house. On the right, a large tractor sat just inside a big metal garage that had its doors rolled open.
“Welcome!” Grace called as she came out of the house, waving one arm high in the air and shielding her eyes from the sun with the other. She was dressed as she’d been at the bookstore, in a long-sleeved flannel shirt, jeans, and lace-up boots.
Two big yellow Labs bounded around her as they barked at the Jeep.
“Did I overdress?” Mary wondered aloud before they got out of the vehicle. “They said Sunday supper!”
“Oh, no, not at all.” Dot glanced into the backseat to meet Harper’s gaze and winked. “I’m sure there’s a wedding we can drop you off at later.”
“Puppies!” Harper had always wanted one, but her parents had never given in. She got out of the car first, excited to pet the dogs and glad she’d remembered to take an allergy pill before they left the house.
Once they were all out of the Jeep, Dot provided introductions and handed the wine to Grace.
“Why, thank you. I’ll see if we have a corkscrew. Not much call for one around here!”