My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 405

Nadia

I stacked the last of the dinner plates and turned to the sink, water already running. Behind me I could hear Father shift in his chair.

"You know, if we sell the farm equipment as is, we could probably get a good price," he said. "The plow still has some life in it."

Mama crossed her arms. "It's not just the equipment that's the problem. It's the fact that the crops aren't coming up. After all the work you put in."

He sat back. "It's fine, a bit behind, same as every year around this time. You can't blame me for the weather." His tone was short, impatient. I turned my attention to the soap-smeared dishes, giving him space.

"I'm not blaming you," Mama said sharply.

"Sounds like you were."

She sighed and walked over to pick up his empty bowl. "The neighbors' crops are growing just fine, Edran. They're not 'behind.'"

"Well, maybe they're not contending with the problems I am," he said, his voice rising. "You don't think I know what I'm doing?"

Mama went quiet for a moment, just looking at him. Whatever was on her face, it wasn't patience.

"I don't know what you're doing at all," she said, her words brittle. "I know you spend hours out there and come home with less to show for it every season, and every time I ask you, I get the same three sentences and nothing else. I am so tired of being managed instead of told the truth."

"Because I have to provide for my family," Father said, his face reddening. "And you know why I need to provide."

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