“Can I afford it?” I asked.
I’d had to invest 80 percent of my savings to buy into my uncle’s farm. Here it turned out I would have to put 25 percent down for an ag loan to purchase the property. Then I would need funds for the day-to-day operations. My other concern was that I had zero desire to run a farm. Getting the right management would eat into my profits. Mom would have to convince me this would work. Something I knew for sure was that, when it came to buying farms, Mom could be creative.
“Let me work on this for you. I think I can make this happen,” she said.
I had money coming in from the movie, so I wasn’t worried about the initial investment to buy the farm. The deal with the other farm was I had Mr. Hass and Uncle John to take care of the day-to-day. This farm was too far away from them for them to manage it effectively.
We finished breakfast and then went to church. Everyone wanted to know what happened in the locker room. I just said it was an internal issue and we’d worked it out. I don’t think many people were satisfied with my answer, but they weren’t getting me to talk about it.
◊◊◊
Fall was in the air. Some of the trees had started to show their colors as I drove through the park that bordered the farmland where the Pearson farm was located. I was a little anxious because today was the big day. Zoe and I had progressed to where she wanted to lose her virginity. For a guy, there’s a lot of pressure when you were a girl’s first. She would remember this for the rest of her life. I certainly remembered my first time. Looking back, it hadn’t been the best experience. Well, everything had worked out, but I wished I’d waited and been with someone with whom I had more of a connection.
With Zoe, I was never in a rush to move things along. I would have been happy if we just spent time together. I liked doing farm work with her and riding horses. She was easy to be around, and I never felt a need to do anything to either entertain or impress her. When we had finally kissed and then became more intimate, it had seemed to happen naturally. I don’t think she ever felt pressured. The most planning we had done was for today. Well, to tell the truth, I hadn’t planned anything. Zoe was in charge, as it probably should be.
My instructions were to show up, be dressed nice, and be prepared to take her out for a nice meal. I decided to have a little fun with it and wore my dress slacks the girls in Utah called my ‘fancy pants’ because they contoured to my backside. I had on a Jade sweater. I’d decided against a sports jacket. When I pulled up, Roc was leaning against a pickup truck, waiting. I think he wanted to watch what was about to happen.
“I hear you’re taking my sister on a real date. Do I need to ask your intentions?” Roc teased me.
“Careful, she can probably kick your scrawny butt.”
“Sometimes he forgets that,” Zoe said, surprising us both.
“Oh, my,” I said as she made her appearance.
Zoe was in a Calvin Klein dress that was not yet available. The reason I knew this was that I’d seen photos of Kara Tasman wearing that dress. It was going to be part of their Winter Line. The dress was a play on the early-sixties dresses you would’ve associated with Jackie O: straight, clean lines that Calvin Klein had updated by adding a belt to give a woman more curves. Her makeup and hair had also been done. If I were to guess, I would suspect several of my female friends had helped her prepare for this evening. The top culprits on my list were Gina, Brook, and Halle.
The smile on Zoe’s face told me my reaction had been spot on. I walked up to her and offered her my arm, which she took. I escorted her to her door and opened it for her. She deserved the full treatment. As we pulled away, I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Roc standing there with his mouth open.
“I think your brother thinks you’re hot,” I said.
“What makes you say that?”
“Did you see how he was checking you out?”
“You never looked away from me. How did you see that?” Zoe asked.
“As we drove away,” I explained, nodding at the rearview mirror.
“That little pervert. I think Roc needs a girlfriend.”
I wasn’t touching that subject.
“What’s the plan?” I asked.
“You’re taking me to dinner at the Covered Bridge. I’ll surprise you with the rest,” Zoe said as she grabbed my hand so she could hold it.
The Covered Bridge was just that, a covered bridge that was now a restaurant. The state had built a new bridge for the state road but left the covered bridge that was originally there. The current owners refurbished it into a restaurant. They were only open Friday through Sunday, and only had one seating per night. They had ten tables and a set menu. The family that owned it made up the staff, and the food was reputed to be excellent. He was a professor at State, and she was a banker.
I wondered how Zoe had obtained reservations. Rumor had it that the wait list to get in was three months long. The Covered Bridge was where you took your significant other for a special romantic occasion. When we arrived, people were waiting for the doors to open. I’d always thought it was for an older crowd, but there was a mix of people in their twenties and thirties along with the expected fifty-and-older couples. We were the youngest couple there.
While we waited, Zoe and I walked down to the river. The water was gently flowing, and fish would surface to feed on bugs as they fell into the water. I pulled Zoe in front of me and wrapped her in my arms from behind so we could both take in the sight. The only flaw that ruined the perfect setting was the sound of cars going over the new bridge nearby.
“David, do you think we’re moving too quickly?” she asked.
“Only you can answer that. If you’re asking if I like you, I do. I’m nowhere near ready for a lifetime commitment, and I’m not ready to settle down with a girlfriend. With that said, is there a possibility of us becoming more? I would say there could be.”
“I’ve always thought I would save myself for marriage,” Zoe said.
I understood that. She was brought up in a religious family. Then I thought about Peggy. I had waited for her because she wanted to wait for marriage. Then she slept with Mitch as soon as she broke up with me. I knew it was wrong, but I realized that if Zoe decided to wait for marriage, I wouldn’t see her for much longer. I would never pressure Zoe to do anything she didn’t want to do, but I wasn’t going to have another Peggy in my life, either.
“Zoe, I’m not here to change your mind. If you want to wait, then wait,” I said.
We heard the doors open and walked back to the restaurant. Each table had a view of the river. I was surprised when they had reserved a table that gave us the best view. When our server came to the table, I grinned because I recognized her. It was Karen, Gary Baxter’s girlfriend. During my freshman year, Beth Anderson had been infatuated with Gary. He ended up breaking her heart. Gary later dated Karen, who was the leader of the Chastity Club, a religious group at our school that preached abstinence. For some reason, I never was asked to join.
“Tonight we will begin with a farm stand mushroom and cheese tart. We serve this gorgeous mixed mushroom and Gruyere cheese tart with a green salad with warm walnut and pear vinaigrette dressing. The main course is prime rib with creamed horseradish sauce, garlic mashed red bliss potatoes, and asparagus with lemon butter. For dessert, you will have a white chocolate soufflé with raspberry sauce.
“For our diners under 21, we offer several nonalcoholic cocktails. I would suggest the salted Meyer lemon and sage press. It’s quite refreshing,” Karen said.
I looked over at Zoe, and she gave me a little nod.
“That all sounds wonderful. Thank you, Karen,” I said.