was coming this week, and it felt like everything was miles away from being done. Maybe Parrish could help me watch Marigold while I did some painting to the outside of the house. Thankfully, the little clapboard home was so small, I could get to it all myself with a simple stepladder, but it would still take a pressure washing followed by a couple of coats in the bad spots. And I couldn’t even really start on that until I patched the problem areas.
Parrish stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Hey, hey. We don’t have to do this if it stresses you out. I just thought… I mean… you talk about the girls a lot, and I know they’re important to you. I wanted to share that with you.” He swallowed and looked away for a second. “You know, like a fiancé would do. In… in case they ask, like… what you’re into.”
I could tell he only added that last part to cover up for being interested in something I liked, and I had to admit to it making me feel ten feet tall and bulletproof.
“Thank you for wanting to share it with me, whatever the reason,” I said roughly. “It’s real nice of you, and you’re right. They are important to me.”
It hadn’t been easy to admit out loud. I was used to keeping personal info close to the vest, but with Parrish, I didn’t want to hold back. I didn’t want him to be doing this huge favor for me and getting jack squat in return.
I opened the gate and held it for him while we slipped through. As soon as it was closed behind us, I gestured to the left. “That’s the pen and the coop.”
My jaw was tight. Old habits meant I was bracing myself for judgment. It was embarrassing that someone like me went all out on something as silly as chickens.
“Oh. My. God.” Parrish said before clapping his hands to his mouth. His eyes widened, and he looked between me and the coop and back again. “Did you make this?”
He sounded hushed and reverent, and I could tell from his expression he wasn’t simply pretending to be impressed. My chest swelled.
“Yeah. I mean… I bought the plans online…” I ran my hand through my hair. “I made a few modifications, but it’s mostly from the plans.”
“Sweet Moses on a graham cracker, Diesel, this thing is amazing. This is…”
“Nicer than my house?” I asked with a nervous laugh. “It’s called the Pullet Palace even though I obviously have more than just pullets here.”
“Obviously,” he said faintly, wandering around the outside of the enclosure. The girls preened for him, strutting along the fence line clucking at him. Lloyd shot Parrish the evil eye and then glared at me for a beat before turning and wandering off. Meanwhile, Uncle thrust his chest out and began squawking to get everyone’s attention.
“Aren’t you a pretty boy?” Parrish said to the little rooster.
“That’s Uncle. He has a bit of a Napoleon complex,” I explained. “Ignore him.”
Marigold giggled when Brenda shook her plume of head feathers and scared Trixie, causing her to jump and flap her wings. One of the flapping wings knocked over one of my newest pullets, and I let out a growl of warning.
“Simmer down, all of you.” I opened the hatch so I could go in and check on the little pullet. She was okay, but a little shaky. “Shh.”
“What’s that one’s name?” Parrish asked.
“Actually, I haven’t named her yet. Maybe you can name her?” I turned to hold the slender bird out to him and realized he was staring past me. I followed his eyes to see Rhonda on one of the swings.
I cleared my throat and placed the pullet back on the ground. “We’ve probably had enough chicken fun for now. Why don’t we head on back insi—”
Parrish’s voice was soft with awe as he continued looking around at all of the chickens and taking everything in—all the hard work I’d done to make them happy and healthy, all the time and care I put into keeping them productive and safe. “You really love them, don’t you, Diesel?”
I must have swallowed some dust or something. I coughed again. “They keep me busy. I’m getting a little hungry. Why don’t I get started on dinner? Marigold is infatuated with the stacking cups you got her, so maybe she’ll let you build a tower she can Hulk smash. I swear we spent hours doing that