* * * *
Joe’s smile widened as they walked toward the farmhouse. Partners. Ed had called them “partners.” He glanced at Ed and caught him staring with a cheesy grin on his face. “What? You look like the cat that got the cream over there.”
Ed laughed. “I was just thinking the same thing. You look so incredibly happy right now.”
Happy? Hell, he was floating on cloud nine. More so over the “partners” comment than anything else, but everything in his life was coming together perfectly. “This is great. It really is. It’s been very well run. It’ll be so easy to step in and take over.”
“Yeah.” Ed surveyed the land. “I’ve got a really good feeling about this place.” He looked into Joe’s eyes. “Shall we consider the final decision made? We’ll do this?”
“God, yes. There isn’t a thing anybody could say that would make me happier than those words.” He laughed. “It’s funny, I was perfectly happy with my life yesterday, but the thought of going back to it now is almost depressing.”