“We should think about hiring an interior designer,” Ada suggests to Enzo on the way to visit a dairy farm on Sunday afternoon.
Enzo glances over at her from behind the wheel of his pickup. “Why do we need a decorator when the house is perfect as is?”
“Most of the rooms could use a fresh coat of paint. A decorator can help us pick out paint colors and give us guidance on combining our furnishings.”
He lifts his hands off the steering wheel, letting her know he won’t argue. “Whatever you want is fine by me. I’m staying out of it.”
“How’d did I get so lucky?” Ada stretches across the console to kiss his cheek. “I love you, Enzo Medici.”
He smiles at her. “And I love you.”
Ada settles back in her seat. “I still can’t believe we got the house,” she says, and for the rest of the hour-long drive, they discuss the logistics of taking ownership of their new home.
Shady Creek Creamery is a small farm located just outside of Roanoke. The owner, Sally West, a middle-aged woman with a large frame and shock of bright red hair, is waiting for them on the front stoop of her quaint farmhouse.
“I set up the tasting in the barn.” She gestures at the red rustic barn at the end of the short gravel drive. “Head on back, and I’ll meet you there.”
The tasting comprises artisan goat cheeses produces by Shady Creek Creamery. Sally offers them samples of normal cheeses like feta and blue and chèvre and a host of varieties Ada has never heard about.
“I’m impressed,” Ada says. “I consider myself a cheese snob, and you have way exceeded my expectations.”
Sally beams. “I’ll give you a considerable discount and provide free once-a-week delivery if we can work out an exclusive agreement.”
Ada taps her chin as she considers her proposal. “I can promise not to sell other goat cheeses. However, for the sake of variety, I’ll plan to offer some cow cheeses.”
“Of course,” Sally says. “And I know a few farmers who make the top-quality artisan cow cheese. I’m happy to provide their names.”
Ada looks over at Enzo, who shrugs, leaving the decision to Ada. “Can you agree not to sell your cheeses through any retailer within a fifty-mile radius of my wine shop?”
“Hmm. I don’t know about that. You’re asking a lot.”
“After six months, if you’re not satisfied with our sales, we’ll reassess the situation.”
Sally hesitates a minute before extending her hand. “That sounds fair. We have a deal.”
Ada walks toward the barn door. “We’re hoping to open on October first. I can confirm that date in the next week.” She loops her arm through Enzo’s. “We’d love for you to be at the celebration.”
“That’s exciting. I’ll come if I can.”
Sally walks them to the truck, and they wave to her as they drive off.
Ada offers Enzo a high five. “This is so exciting! We got our own exclusive farmstead cheese line.”
He grins as he makes a left-hand turn onto the highway. “Who knew you were such a tough negotiator?”
“I learned a thing or two from Daniel over the years.”
A mile down the road, Ada’s phone vibrates with a call from Bud. “Ada, you need to get over to the equestrian center now. There’s something wrong with Glory.”
The bottom falls out of Ada’s stomach. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s exhibiting signs of colic. I’ve already called the vet. She’s on the way.”
Ada glances over at her fiancé. “Enzo and I are leaving a cheese tasting in Roanoke. We’re an hour away. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“I’ll call you if anything changes,” Bud says.
Ada drops the phone in her lap. “Drive faster. Glory’s sick.”
Enzo looks at Ada with concern in his dark eyes. “Sick, how?”
“Bud thinks it’s colic,” Ada says and turns away from him.
Leaning her head against the window, she closes her eyes and prays for Glory’s recovery. Sixty minutes feels like sixty hours, but they finally arrive back in Lovely around five thirty. They pass the vet’s pickup truck as they are pulling into the equestrian center.
Enzo parks his truck, and they hurry into the stable to find Bud standing outside Glory’s stall, cooing encouraging words to her.
The sight of her horse lying on her side with labored breathing tugs at Ada’s heartstrings. “What did the vet say?”
“Lindsay’s not convinced it’s colic. She drew some blood. We should have the results in a couple of hours.” Bud turns away from the stall. “It’s gonna be a long night. I’ll make us some coffee.”
Ada presses her face against the stall bars. “Go home, Enzo. There’s nothing you can do here.”
Enzo places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I’m not leaving you, Ada.”
The minutes tick off the clock. If she’s this concerned about her horse, what will it be like when their child is ill? At least, she’ll have Enzo by her side. And Enzo makes everything better.
Bud returns from the house with a thermos of coffee and a small basket of warm ham biscuits. Ada is too worried to eat, but Enzo gobbles down three.
It’s almost eight o’clock when the vet returns. “We detected arsenic in Glory’s blood,” Lindsay says with a troubled expression. “We’ll need to test your water supply, but since none of the other horses are sick, we have to consider the possibility someone poisoned her.”
Ada gasps, and Bud tenses. “Who would do such a thing?”
Hot flashes of anger surge through Ada’s body. “Stuart did this.”
Bud turns toward Ada, his face set in stone. “That’s a very serious allegation, Ada. Why would you say such a thing?”
Three sets of eyes are on her, waiting for her answer. “Because he threatened me.”
“Excuse us a minute.” Bud takes Ada by the arm and marches her out the back of the stable. “When and how did Stuart threaten you?”
“On Thursday. He was waiting for me in the parking lot after you and I met.”
“And what did he say?”
Ada thinks back to the encounter. “I don’t remember his exact words. But he’s upset you’re leaving me the equestrian center. He thinks it’s rightfully his.”
“How does he know about that? Did you tell him?”
Ada shakes her head. “Enzo is the only person I told. Stuart threatened to make my life miserable if I don’t disclaim the property.”
Bud pulls a hand down his face. “I’m sorry, Ada, but I find this hard to believe. Stuart is not a vengeful man.”
“Naturally, you would believe your legitimate child over me.”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side, Ada. But I think maybe you misinterpreted what he said. I know my son.”
Ada grits her teeth. “And I know what I heard. By the way, I don’t want your farm. And I don’t want to work for you either.” She brushes past him on her way back inside.
“How are we going to treat her?” Ada asks Lindsay who is in the stall, kneeling beside Glory.
“We aren’t.” Lindsay gets to her feet and emerges from the stall. “The poison will eventually work itself out of her system. In the meantime, I’ve given her medicine to help ease the symptoms.”
Bud joins them. “Should someone stay with her tonight to monitor her?”
Lindsay stuffs her stethoscope into her backpack. “She should be fine. She just needs to rest. Call me if she isn’t feeling better by morning.”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Ada says. “Thank you so much for coming to our rescue on a Sunday night.”
Lindsay offers her a warm smile. “You bet. Get some sleep. There’s nothing you can do for her here.”
Ada spends a few minutes with Glory while Enzo and Bud speak in hushed tones outside the stall.
“What did Bud say to you?” Ada asks on the drive home.
“He’s worried about you, and he’s going to talk to Stuart.”
“He’s wasting his time. Stuart will only deny it,” Ada says as tears blur her vision.
Enzo takes her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me Stuart threatened you?”
Ada wipes a tear off her cheek. “Because I’m tired of family drama. I’ve had enough from the Loves to last a lifetime. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about it anyway.”
Enzo brings her hand to his lips. “Not at all. You can always come to me with your problems. That’s what being in a relationship is all about.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She moves closer to him and rests her head on his shoulder. “Bud is right about one thing. I’ve known Stuart since we were kids, and he never seemed like the vengeful type. I made the mistake of not taking him seriously. And now Glory is paying for my mistake.”
“Maybe Stuart isn’t the one who poisoned Glory.”
Ada’s phone lights up with a text from Stuart. “Here’s the proof we need,” Ada says, and reads the text aloud to Enzo. “Boo hoo. I heard Glory is under the weather. Next time, she won’t be so lucky.”
“You need to show that to Bud,” Enzo says, jabbing a finger at her phone.
Ada lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m not a tattletale, Enzo. I should never have said anything to Bud in the first place. The last thing I want to do is come between Stuart and Bud. I thought things would be different this time around. Why can’t I have a normal family with loving parents and siblings?”
“Every family has its issues, Ada. Even mine, and I was an only child. Your troubled past will make you a better parent when the time comes.”
“Damn straight! We’ll teach our children that family comes first and to always look out for one another.”
Enzo smiles over at her. “There’s that fighting spirit I love.”