LOGINShare
EPILOGUE
Last Updated:
2022-11-14 01:48:25Related chapters
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER ONE
Darcy Matthews was known for being a tough party girl in the past. After a night of drinking too much Prosecco, the woman, now 26 years old and a mother, became paralyzed.I couldn't remember the last time drinking made me feel this awful; my mouth was dry, my head was pounding, and I was positive that I'd had some stroke while sleeping. To add insult to injury, I couldn't recall how I got home. What the hell? I wasn't even home! I slowly opened my eyes to survey the damage, and to my relief, I saw that I was in my living room; I wasn't in my bed, but I was at home. I was spread down on the rug by the fire, and although the rug was comfortable, it would cause me problems with my back in the future. As I struggled to keep my eyes open, I noticed that Kerry appeared to be lifeless while she was sitting on my sofa.My voice was so raspy that I couldn't even recognize it when I mumbled, "Kerry.""KERRY." Oh, sh*t, maybe she's already passed away!I didn't have the strength to get up and c
Last Updated : 2022-08-28THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER TWO
I spent the day with Lucas. I was filled with mom guilt since it was my final full day with him, and I spent it popping paracetamol and urging him to calm down. I regretted drinking so much the night before, and I felt like I was drowning in it."Do you want to go to the park with me?" As we played catch for the nine hundredth time, I asked him the question. His adorable smile spread over his face as he dashed off to get his shoes. I sent Saika a message to see how she was doing and to find out if she was interested in getting some exercise and being outside. Since none of my other friends had children, Lucas' only opportunity to interact with another child was through Saika's dog, Rufus."Holy hell, how are you even managing to stand?" When Saika came up behind me as I sat on the park seat, she asked what I was wearing. I told her I had just put on ripped jeans, a t-shirt, and my Ray-Bans. It was one of those instances in which you thought you looked fabulous, but, in reality, others
Last Updated : 2022-08-29THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THREE
As soon as I stepped into the renovated barn, I was shocked. It was up to date and very tidy. I walked back out to the car to carry some things in, and while I did so, I sought the cranky farmer. Since he appeared to be of an age that prevented him from being the farmer himself, I concluded he was a farmhand of some type. In addition, the farmer was aware that we were going to arrive, and he was also aware that we were going to evaluate his property, so I assumed that he won't be as impolite to us when we first met him. When looking for a job, I researched and found out about this farm. It was a long-established and reputable farm that had won numerous honors for its products and maintained good standards for its animals. The farm was not known to have ever failed an inspection.Kerry continued to whine as she pulled her large luggage inside the building while muttering, "I can't believe that jackass didn't offer to assist with the baggage." "I will be submitting a scathing review for
Last Updated : 2022-08-29THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FOUR
Beep, beep, beep, beep, When I opened my eyes, I believed I was dreaming, but as soon as I did, I realized that the loud droning of a horn was still in my ears."What the heck is going on?"I managed to pull myself up and check the clock; it was five in the morning. I staggered to the window, where I could hardly keep my eyes open when I saw him. It appeared like the guy was sitting on a tractor and making as much noise as he could manage. How immature of him! Little did he know that I wasn't bothered by noise since I had a child who was two years old, and so I was an expert at tuning out distractions. I got up and returned to bed, where I promptly slept off again until the alarm woke me up at 7:30."Did it dawn on you this morning what I was trying to tell you at the crack of dawn?" As I walked into the kitchen, Kerry questioned me. She was sipping slowly from a huge mug of coffee as she sat there.I chuckled and said, "The moral of the tale is that you should never fuck with a farme
Last Updated : 2022-08-29THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIVE
When I answered it, it was Kiran on the other end. I quietly left the rowdy pub to take it with me and went outside."Hi," I said, sounding as unassuming as I could manage. I secretly hoped that my guilt at envisioning another man wouldn't be obvious to everyone else. "How is the newborn doing?""He's doing well and had a productive day at the nursery. I was in bed by seven, so you didn't really miss out on anything.""Aw, I really do miss him. Tomorrow night, I'm going to make an effort to call and tell him a tale before bed. Because my workplace had recently arranged for some networking drinks to take place tonight, I am obliged to go with all of the most eligible farmers in Edinburgh. There is no response. What exactly was the matter with my husband?He was unharmed until he eventually uttered, "Sounds like hell." "I will let you proceed with the rest of your evening then. Remember that you're supposed to work, so don't go too wild.""What exactly are you trying to say with that?"
Last Updated : 2022-08-29THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER SIX
I open my eyes and have no idea where I am, but I do know that I am not in my own house, and within moments, the events of the previous evening flood back into my mind. The potential harm I may have caused sends shivers through my body. In addition to the fact that I am still wearing my top, my lower half also appears to be whole. The question is whether I dare turn back and see my current location. And what I am doing here, or who I am with.With trepidation, I tilt my head away from the wall, but all I can see is a cozy bed and a wall. There's a glass of orange juice next to my bed and dark navy sheets that smell like Rory when I flip over. When the thought occurs to me, "What if it's poisoned?" I sit up and drink the juice in one sitting. He may lock me up in a farmhouse and beat the soles of my feet into submission, like in the movie "Misery." I return the remaining liquid to its place and step back onto the hardwood floor. Our room's window looks out into the barn where we're st
Last Updated : 2022-09-26THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER SEVEN
I remain silent and allow him to elaborate on his "favor." From how he walks and moves, I can tell he is uncomfortable asking for help."I need some extra time to do the farm evaluation. Here we go, then! I wish he had been more interested in Coprophilia."Why is that?" I lose it; I can't keep my temper from flaring. I had a sudden pang of guilt, wondering whether he tried to sleep with me to get this favor.To the papers before him, he averts his gaze. I'm not in the best place mentally; my dad passed away a month ago, and I've been left to cope with everything on my own.I knew a farm was changing ownership, but I didn't know it was this one. There was no acceptable reason to fall behind in work; problems at home were not acceptable, nor were the inherent dangers of working on a farm.The speaker said, "Look, I don't believe we can - "Just ignore my question; it's none of my business. Perhaps a disastrous first evaluation is needed to prove to everyone that "I can do this."As his
Last Updated : 2022-09-26THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHT
I see Rory driving his tractor in the field next to the huge house as I wave Kerry goodbye from my car. I drive there to inquire about the best time to lend a hand. I am confident in my plan as I head out to the field. I'm not an idiot; I realize this is completely against my values and morals. I'm a judgmental married woman who can't fathom the allure of extramarital affairs for both sexes. I felt sorry for the kids caught in the crossfire and angry at the homewreckers who had intervened and enabled it to happen.But as I draw nearer and watch the grin spread over Rory's face as he recognizes me, I remember why I can't say no. He pulls over to the side of the road beside the fence and parks the tractor. As I climb the fence to look at him closer, I groan and roll my eyes at the logical part of my brain.As in, "When would you like me to drop by?" I ask.In an hour, we can all sit down for a meal together."Oh, ok." Here, I'm just experimenting with fire. I give him a smile back and w
Last Updated : 2022-09-26
Latest chapter
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT EPILOGUE
In the third year..............It's the middle of July, and Rory and I have just gotten married on our land. The morning was beautiful, with the summer sun shining brightly, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers from the fields all about us. The evening's marquee and food preparations are lovely. The tables have been decorated with green and white flowers to bring the outdoors inside. The tent's thin planted trees provide the impression that you're still outdoors. It's better than my wildest expectations.Kerry exclaims, "Oh my my, what a lovely wedding," although she is currently in her own "wedding mood" after recently becoming engaged to her fiancé of two years, Liam. We all agree that the two belong together because they are so cute. Kerry could not have found a better match for herself. He is hilarious, kind, and forthright. Since he and Rory are such good friends, they can share a pint at the end of a fantastic double date.Saika, whose daughter Lilly is running aro
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX
I dare not watch as Rory attempts to pin down the man. I shuffle up the stairs toward the knife, which is shining there. Upon hearing the approaching police sirens, I look up to see Rory on top of the man, pounding him. Blood is splattered everywhere, and it's unclear whether it's Rory's or the other man's.I haven't even had time to take in my surroundings before a police officer starts shouting at me. Can I check on you? Do you have any wounds?It's just fine, I keep repeating to myself. Upon being helped to my feet, I discovered my leg was bleeding; I must have caught it on something during my fall. The man is handcuffed, and a cop has his knee in Rory's back as they lie on the ground. "Rory! Is he alright? When the police arrive, I yell at them. I next turn my attention to the vehicle in which Lucas is riding. I hoped he hadn't seen anything when it took me to place him in the car till the police arrived (which felt like an eternity). He's sleeping when I arrive at the car, so I
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE
Kiran appears to have calmed down after hearing the divorce news; I've initiated the process, and he seems content with it; nevertheless, we must wait two years after the divorce is finalized before we can formally apply for anything; at least he is aware of this delay. Three weeks from now is Christmas, and if he wants to participate in all the festivities Lucas will be hosting, he will need to be near Rory. I want him to hang out with Rory to show Kiran what a decent person Rory is; Rory is a good person; he doesn't want any harm to come to Kiran, and that's why I like him so much.The old house is still not far enough along for Rory to be staying there, so he's been spending most nights at mine instead while it's chilly outside. Even while he insists everything is great, the last time I was over there a few weeks back, the temperature was so low that his tap had frozen.What would you like for breakfast, big man?His eyes fall on Lucas.Lucas yells, "Eggs." Including sausage.The d
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR
The doorbell's ringing jolts me from my restful slumber. Getting awakened is the worst, especially if you're in the middle of a fantastic dream. I'm shocked to see Kiran standing there as I open the door. When he stands with his fists on his hips and his nostrils flared, it's clear he's not happy. He seemed to have gotten out of bed and come here straight away. You don't look nice!" As we enter the house, I invite him in. As in, "What do you want this early?""You've got my undivided attention because I need to know your rationale for entrusting my youngster to your lover.I turn around to face him, and while he looks me over, I zip up my robe. Please excuse me, I had to go for a while, but Rory was here, so it wasn't a problem.Kiran exclaims, "You bet it is a fucking issue."Really? I have to shake my head to believe it. You are being an idiot about this, I tell you."Oh, I'm being a dick. I think you're violating the rules you made," I lied."Kiran, I have been with Rory for a very
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE
Things are starting to get renovated. Rory is seldom seen outside the house, and Lucas thoroughly enjoys his frequent visits. Though I haven't gone into details, Lucas knows that Rory's house will eventually be his permanent residence, and he seems fine. In the room Rory eventually settled on, he guided Rory through deciding where to put up bookcases and where to set up the bed. Despite my efforts to discourage him, Lucas will not stop brooding over the empty stable until he has a horse.I must leave now, as Saika is visiting for the weekend, and I have planned a girls' night with Kerry. Rory is off doing something with one of the guys he works with, while Lucas is with Kiran.When asked, "Hey, where are you going tonight?" Inquiring as he wraps his arms around me from behind, Rory is like having his own hot blanket.There is no plan other than "meal than a couple bars."He leans his head back on my shoulder as I massage his face. We're curious, "How about you?" I ask.I just don't fe
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO
After nine months of worry and stress, Rory has finally been able to sell the property. He finally takes possession of his new home today. He chose a shabby old house that would take him a decade to restore to living conditions.'Come on, Darcy, hurry up. I can't wait to see it,' he calls up the stairs. I have never seen him so impatient as now, so I'd better be ready. I find it hard to share his enthusiasm for his idea; to me, it seems like a complete and utter failure.About five minutes later, he leaves the main road and drives onto the property. It's just as horrible as I feared, yet he seems to notice something I'm missing. Stopping in front of a yellow stone structure, he exclaims, "Wow, look at this." The building, as it turns out, has some quite remarkable original sash windows. "It's airtight, wired for electricity, and plumbed into a nearby stream for water, but it's missing the gas hookup."Do you feel up to the task at hand?I guess it's too late if I'm not," he says with
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE
Rory shares Lucas's enthusiasm for opening presents, and the two of them have a great time giggling together on the floor.Rory says, "Happy birthday from me, big man," and as he hands him the gift he has so carefully wrapped, I can't help but be impressed. As Lucas opens his present, I see Rory's reaction.Lucas squeals, "A tractor!" as he jumps up and throws his tiny arms around Rory's massive shoulders.The question, "Do you like it?" As he breaks apart from Rory, I inquire. I can't help but grin at Rory, who seems completely taken aback by the kid's reaction.Lucas rips open the enormous tractor and runs off with it, leaving his other presents strewn over the floor. "I think he likes it," I say.After tucking him down (with his new tractor), Rory and I settle for a movie night together. The constant beeping of his phone seems to bother him.Someone asks, "Who's there?" I ask. He seems to be debating whether or not to tell me the truth. "What is it that you're trying to conceal?" I
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY
Rory has swung by to join the birthday boy and me on our way to Lucas' celebration. I'm overwhelmed, and Rory comes to the rescue, all heroes in shining armor and whatnot. He collects the goody bags and cake from the party and puts them in the trunk. After I spent twenty minutes fussing with Lucas about his new shoes being too tight, he finally got them on his feet.Are you kidding me? As he encircles me from behind, I ask him why.He jokes, "As real as they come, baby." Now that he's here, he's starting to feel at home and discover his niche. Although the farm hasn't sold yet, he's doing quite well. He must devote his free time outside of work to maintaining control of the finances. I wish he had more time off, but I feel he's just busy no matter what's happening. Once the farm sells, he plans to buy a fixer-upper and trade one set of worries for another. Maybe he has ADHD or something, but the guy never stops moving!"Kerry texted to say she'll be late," Rory replies, glancing at my
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE
We leave the restaurant and head to the local watering hole. By the time we sit down, the place is packed, and there are no available tables. Kiran is with Di, and I can't help but notice his glares; they're making me extremely uneasy and, judging by the furious expression on her face, I suppose Di has noticed as well. What's up? How are you doing? I inquire of Rory, who is still hushing up a bit.What about you?" Really, was that a huge surprise to you or what?"I know," I mutter, pouting my lip. "How can she not see that he's a dick?"Eventually, she'll learn that guys like that always fail. The combination of Kiran's intense gaze and embrace makes me very vulnerable, so I brush off Rory's advances. He notices and gives me a suspicious look; I lean in close to explain. I mutter, "It just feels odd with him watching." Rory looks at Kiran and decides to approach him.'Hey Kiran, are we all right?' The question comes from his lips. Rory isn't swayed by Kiran's nod of agreement, even th
