“I don’t know about that....”

“Well, I do! Is that what you think? That Peyton is just a poor girl who has wanted some rich stuff her whole life?”

“I admit, I considered that possibility.”

“Well, I think you’re very shortsighted. Maybe blind. I’m going to do you a big favor. I’m going to get the kids and take them out to my house. I’ll get them fed.”

“I have to take them with me to the game tonight. I’m the team doc, you know that. You’re going with me, right? So if I’m needed for an injured player, there’s someone for the kids?”

“Of course I am. But right now I think you should do yourself a favor and research a couple of things. You don’t know your girlfriend. She knows you, but you don’t know anything about her.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“Start by researching farms,” she said, pointing at the computer. She pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “Maybe Oregon farms.”

“I’ve been to the farm, Devon.”

“You went to the farm and still didn’t see it? Remarkable. I’ll see you at the house. If you have time, run by your house and grab some hoodies for the kids—it will probably be cold out there tonight.”

“Sure,” he said. “See you in a while.”

“Google, Scott.”

“I have some patient notes to look over.”

“Suit yourself,” she said. And then he thought he heard her mumble something that sounded like idiot as she went out the door.

Stubbornly, he sat at her desk, looking through his notes on the computer rather than getting online. He’d keep the office open for a little while longer in case someone stopped by. He finished his charting, but it was too early to go over to Devon’s to drive them all to the game....

So he looked up Oregon farms. Whoa. He read that the industry was worth over five billion dollars? Okay, fine—divided by several thousand farmers, right? Chief producer of Christmas trees, pears, berries, right up there with potatoes. Most of the farms were family owned.

He plugged in Lacoumette and came up with lots of references. Big family, involved in local and community services, business and politics. There was the winery—Uncle Sal, as he recalled. Lacoumette Farms? Oh, boy. It was one of the biggest farms in Oregon. So big that it would dramatically affect the agricultural economy if it collapsed.

Then there were articles about their product. Pears, potatoes, berries, wool. One of the most successful family-owned farms in the state, its profits were estimated in the millions.

But Peyton had told him how she grew up. They were all required to work very hard. Paco took them from the breast to the field. She worked through college. The house was not ostentatious——it was an ordinary farmhouse. Modest. It was built to accommodate a very large and ever-growing family, but it was far from upscale. The trucks he saw around the place were old and looked like hell. And now that he knew Paco and Corinne, he found it hard to believe they spoiled their kids, flung money at them. Their kids were forced to earn their way.

Damn, he thought. She’s right, Peyton’s right. When we talk about this, I’m going to feel really stupid.

He realized he’d been jealous of Ted’s car, for Christ’s sake. He wouldn’t have one of those cars if it was forced on him! So, how was he going to explain thinking Peyton would be drawn to it? He’d been jealous of Ted, his tall good looks, his money, his car and all that diminished him and caused him to act like a fool.

This wasn’t going to be easy to fix. Especially since he was a fool. And there was no excuse for it, either. If he thought about it for thirty seconds, he knew Peyton better than that. She was genuine and valued the things in life that were really important! She liked the feel of small children hugging her legs, cannoli delivered in a brown sack by a man who knew about her sweet tooth, a walk on the beach, a road trip with hours alone to talk.

He shut down the computer, locked the door and went to the house for hoodies. While he was there, he texted Peyton. I really miss you. I wish you could go to the football game tonight. There was no response, but then, why would there be? She hadn’t been in touch too much, and he hadn’t done too much to encourage her to reach out more.

He went to Devon’s house where the kids were all eating their dinner. Devon was standing in the kitchen working her way through a hot dog. “Want one?” she asked.

He shook his head. “What do you have going on this weekend? Like from tomorrow morning to Sunday afternoon?”

She shrugged. “Same old stuff. House, shopping, kids, et cetera.”

“No big social events?”

“No, why?”

“I might need a sitter. Overnight.”

“Oh? What are you doing?”

“I think I better take a drive north. Up to the farm.”

“You took my advice? You actually listened to me?”

“I didn’t look into her. I looked at her, but not into her. I’m a schmuck.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying,” Devon said. “I’ll keep the kids. But you’re going to owe me.”

“I know. I’ll owe you. I already owe you. But I think I’m in trouble here. And if I don’t get her back, something inside me is going to die.”

* * *

It was very rare that Peyton was the only one of the Lacoumette children at the table with her parents. Matt, the divorced brother who worked the farm and lived nearby, was the most frequent dinner guest. He took many meals at his mother’s table because the cost was low, and though he wouldn’t admit it, it comforted him. But Matt was not there this night, so it was just the three of them. Her father talked about potatoes and berries for a while, then he asked about that fancy doctor and his kids, so she told them everything.

Paco snorted and filled his mouth with more food. Corinne said, “Was there no other family?”

“Spread around. I met Ted’s sister and brother-in-law, and it was obvious none of them were close. They didn’t rely on each other for anything—why would Krissy rely on them during the scariest time of her life?”

“A family that works together comes together in the hard times,” Paco pronounced.

“At least Ted takes it all very seriously now. I think he’ll become a better father.”