Chapter 2 - the phone call

Troy had been away for a few days on a business trip when Emma got the phone call. She had just got in from her morning jog, before the heat became too much, and she was fresh out of the shower when she heard the vibration of the cell phone from Troy's pants in the basket, ready to be taken to the dry cleaners.

Troy had many cell phones for his different business interests and Emma was surprised to see that the battery had lasted so long in this one, considering Troy had not been here since Monday. She clicked to receive the call, wondering how many times this possibly irate client had probably tried to call her husband.

"Is Mr Griffith there?" asked a friendly lady down the phone. Her accent was clearly southern, Emma reasoned silently.

"No," Emma replied. "He's out of town. May I help or take a message for you? I'm his wife."

"Oh yes!" the lady perked up, "Troy told me all about you! He said he can't wait to bring you down here to see the place! I was just calling to let him know that the sale has gone through today. Congratulations - it's all yours!"

Emma didn't have a clue what the lady was going on about, but she wasn't about to admit that. It didn't do to sound ignorant. "Oh yes," she fumbled, "of course, we're buying that..." she paused, hoping the lady would finish her sentence for her.

"It's such a wonderful farm!" the lady cooed. "Seven hundred acres!"

Emma's jaw dropped. Troy dealt in advertising and production companies. What the hell was he doing buying a seven hundred acre farm in Texas? Wasn't he supposed to be winding down his business now?

"What the hell?" snapped Emma as she got Troy on the phone twenty minutes later. "You bought a seven hundred acre farm? IN TEXAS!"

Troy's voice seemed shocked to have been caught out. "I was keeping it as a surprise!" he tried. "I wanted to bring you down here this weekend and show it to you."

"A farm?" spat Emma, unimpressed.

"Please," Troy pleaded. "I'll get my PA to book you on a flight this afternoon. Let me explain myself in person."