At Home on Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball [12]
“Maybe we could use the money from the wine to hire somebody to clean out the pools,” Lori suggested hopefully. “You know, a professional.”
“Wouldn’t cost but a couple of hundred dollars to fix up that little ole place in the woods,” added Noah.
“Sorry, guys, the money is already spent,” Cici said. “On taxes.”
Lori sighed. “Well, it’ll be nice to see them again. To have a conversation with someone who, you know, remembers the Internet.”
Noah said, “Is this meeting over? I’ve got to tune up the lawn mower.”
“French Revolution,” Lindsay reminded him. “Fifteen pages.”
“It’s in my head.”
“It had better be on paper by nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”
He returned a wave that might have been acknowledgment, agreement, or dismissal as he took the stairs with a leap and trotted across the lawn.
Bridget said fondly, “Recent difficulties aside, he really is a good boy.”
“He’s come a long way,” agreed Lindsay.
“Thanks to you,” Cici pointed out, and Lindsay shrugged modestly.
Lori said, “You know, there’s a lot to be said for doing what you’re good at.”
“Oh-oh,” murmured Cici, “I recognize that tone.” Nonetheless, all three women turned their attention to Lori with a look of polite interest.
“Like Noah, for instance,” Lori went on earnestly. “He’s really good at lawn mowers and hoes and chain saws. You should go with your strengths. Do what you’re good at.”
Bridget inquired helpfully, “And what are you good at, Lori?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Lori answered with enthusiasm. “And you know how much I love this place and want to contribute.”
“Oh, yes,” agreed Bridget.
“No doubt about it,” added Lindsay.
“Absolutely,” from Cici.
“But I’m a business major,” Lori pointed out. She took a breath, her eyes brightening with expectation as she came at last to the pièce de résistance. “That’s what I’m good at. So what I’d like to contribute is—a business plan!”
The three women were silent for a moment, appearing to consider this. Then Cici said, “True enough. You were a business major. But did you actually take any business courses?”
Lori looked momentarily at a loss. “Well, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t come up with a good business plan.”
“Of course it doesn’t,” Bridget assured her. “I’m sure you’d be just great at it.”
“But what would we do with it?” Lindsay inquired.
“Make money!” explained Lori happily. “Listen, I know how expensive this place is. I think I can find a way to make it pay for itself, and I think I can do it without going back to college.”
Cici drew in a sharp breath, and Lindsay and Bridget immediately turned their attention to their glasses of iced tea.
Lori rushed on before Cici could speak, “Just hear me out, Mom. I know we’ve had this conversation before, but I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. The whole point of college is to find your calling, right?” Cici opened her mouth to reply but Lori didn’t give her a chance. “Well, I think I’ve already found mine!” She made a sweeping gesture with her arm, her face lighting up. “This place, this house, living off the land and communing with nature . . . I have a chance to do what other people only talk about doing!”
The three women shared a quick and secret look. Hadn’t they said almost the same words when they had decided to leap into this adventure? Wouldn’t it be somewhat hypocritical—not to mention selfish—to deny the younger woman her chance at finding what they had found?
Sensing her advantage, Lori pressed on. “College isn’t for everyone, you know. Look at you, Mom. You worked your whole life in real estate—”
“I went to college,” Cici pointed out sharply.
“But you didn’t have to,” Lori said. “That’s the point. And Aunt Bridget married a college professor; she didn’t become one. And even if Aunt Lindsay was a teacher her whole life, now she’s an artist, which is what she always wanted to be, and you don’t have to go to college for that! All of you are doing what you always