his hands through his hair. He remembered Daisy telling him compromises would need to be made and questions would need to be answered. The first of those questions was how much of himself was he willing to give to make this relationship work?
He could see that his brother was patiently waiting for his response. “That is the big question, isn’t it?”
“Seems to me it is,” Daniel agreed. “Do you have an answer?”
Did he? Asher weighed his options. He loved Daisy. It’d taken him long enough to admit his feelings. To uproot his entire life for love seemed drastic and unreasonable. Could he do it? Should he?
“Asher?” his brother prodded.
“I could teach.”
“That’s always been an option. The university would welcome you. The question is if that is what you want.”
Asher straightened and the truth came to him. “Yes, if it means I can have Daisy in my life.” It was then that he knew. Whatever Daisy decided, he would give his notice to the Explorer cruise lines. His “vagabond days” were over. They had served their purpose, given him the life experience he’d craved. The time had come to move on and share his love and passion with students who would go out into the world and make a difference the way he’d always sought to do.
Daniel grinned as if he’d known what Asher would decide all along. “Good luck tomorrow, little brother.”
Asher had the strongest feeling that he was going to need it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Everly woke to sunshine beaming in the bedroom window. The clock showed it was after eight. In farm country, that was midmorning. Tossing aside the covers, she leaped out of bed and dressed in jeans, a thick sweater, and boots before bounding down the stairs feeling guilty for being so lazy.
Her mother was busy in the laundry room off the kitchen, sorting the wash, when Everly burst into the room.
“Mom,” she said, “you should have woken me.”
“Why? My guess is you had a lot on your mind when you went to bed. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Better,” Everly said. “It took me until after three to fall asleep.”
“Did you make a decision?”
Everly had to think about it. “Not really. I figure I’ll put it on the back burner until we get through the holidays. This isn’t something I want to decide on the spur of the moment. If I do sell, I’ll want a have a plan for what’s next.”
Her mother nodded and then went back to sorting clothes. “You know your father and I will support you, regardless.”
“Thanks, Mom,” she said and then asked, “What can I do to help?”
“I was thinking of making a big pot of spaghetti for dinner. Would you mind getting the meat out of the freezer and bringing me up a couple jars of canned tomatoes?”
“I’m on it.” Everly raced down the stairs to the cellar where the family stored the jars of home-canned produce that came from the large garden her mother kept every summer. Some of Everly’s favorite memories revolved around the garden. Eating fresh strawberries warm from the sun, the red juice running down her chin. Shelling peas with her two sisters on the front porch swing and snapping green beans.
Her mother’s recipe called for the sauce to simmer on the stove all day. When she was a kid, it had been one of her favorite dinners. Her mother knew that and was cooking this meal especially for her.
As she came up the stairs, she heard Jasper barking. Glancing out the window, Everly noticed a strange car parked in the yard.
“Are you expecting anyone?” she called out to her mother.
“Not me, but your father might. He’s got a couple heads of beef he’s looking to sell.”
Turning away from the window, Everly set the frozen hamburger and canned jars of tomatoes on the kitchen counter. Knowing the spices her mother used, she reached into the cupboard and brought down the basil, oregano, thyme, and granulated garlic.
“I’m going back upstairs to comb my hair,” she called to her mother just as the back door opened, letting in Jasper, her father, and Asher Adams.
Everly froze, unable to move.
“I take it you know this young man,” her father said, directing the question to her.
Her voice had completely deserted her.
“Daisy?”
“I know him,” she answered, after an awkward silence.
Her mother came out of the laundry room and looked from Everly to Asher and then back again. “Is this the guy you didn’t want to talk about?” she asked in a