Christmas with my Three Best Friends (Lucky Lady Reverse Harems)

Chapter 27

27

Shay

T he Hendersons’ farm is a different form of therapy. Being out in the cold winter air, surrounded by so many friendly animals… it’s doing things to my soul. Wonderful things I needed, clearly. Maeve is my favorite of the whole bunch. She’s an old goat with a large brass bell hanging around her neck, her coat white with soft brown spots. I sit on a bench, oblivious to the lowering temperature while she snuggles up to me, always ready for another handful of sunflower seeds—of which I have plenty in my pockets.

Cassandra laughs as she watches two of Sherry’s kids prance around her. Sherry is the matriarch of the goat family, and to the Hendersons’ surprise, she birthed a couple of babies just last month.

“My God, they’re like quicksilver,” my friend quips as the kids dart across the snowy pen before they run back to their mother. “It’s a shame I can’t take them home.”

“Maybe we could build a farm of our own,” I reply, only half-joking. “You know you’ve always wanted to retire somewhere north of Seattle. We could totally pull it off.”

The Hendersons are busy in the horse stables, but they allow us to roam around the place as we wish, especially since most of the animals are already confined to their spacious enclosures for the coming evening. We’ve been out here all day, only going into the farmhouse to eat and use the bathroom. I thought I’d have trouble with the cold, but honestly, I haven’t felt this good in a long time.

“You know what? A farm isn’t the craziest idea you’ve had,” Cassandra says. “I could have a couple of children of my own, so yours will have company.”

“Cousins. Sort of.”

“Yeah. I mean, who needs men, right?” she laughs.

I need my three men. It’s hard to envision a future without them, but I suppose I will have to prepare precisely for that. As if sensing my sadness, Cassandra comes closer and sits next to me while the kids continue their head-knocking close by. She leans into me just as Maeve nuzzles my pocket for more seeds, making me laugh.

“You said you got some offers from other gyms,” she reminds me.

“Yeah. My West Key clients actually recommended my services to other friends of theirs,” I reply, remembering the emails I read through earlier. “I’ve got enough people interested to actually start my own nutrition-focused business. I think it’s funny. I didn’t imagine I’d be able to branch out like this… so soon, I mean.”

“You’re an excellent nutritionist, Shay. You’re a superstar in your field, remember?”

I can’t help but smile. “I’d almost forgotten.”

“Well, this is your reminder. You already have so many happy and satisfied clients, honey. They were bound to brag about you to other folks who may need your services. And I’m sure there are plenty of gyms in Seattle who would pay serious cash to have you on their team. See? You were worried about your career.”

"I really need to stop second guessing myself and have more faith in my abilities without the guys propping me up,” I say.

Cassandra nods. “Exactly. I know it’s scary to think about branching out on your own, but you don’t have to jump right into the fire.”

“Slow and steady,” I respond with a nod.

“That’s right. And the same applies to every aspect of your life. I’m glad you’re getting job offers, babe. I’m glad you’re seeing there is life outside of West Key. It will help you with your decision making process when you’re ready.”

I’m glad, too.

For a while, I’d worried there might not be much waiting for me beyond West Key. I’d worried I would have to hold on to the ship, even if it sinks. But Cassandra just said something I also inwardly believed—there is life outside of my business with Jax, Marius, and Richard. And should I decide to leave and carve out another road ahead, nothing can stop me. It won’t mean I failed.

It will hurt deeply, sure, but if it’s the right and healthy thing to do for myself and my baby, I will do it without hesitation.