My dad groans. “I’ll be happy when that crush wears off.”
Mabel has a crush on Jonah? My eyebrows pop in surprise as I peer over my shoulder, just as the supposed object of her affection comes into view, having removed his outer clothes and hat.
I’ll admit, he’s far from bad-looking, even with all the hair. If only I could take a pair of scissors to him . . . My fingers twitch just thinking about it.
And then Jonah’s words from earlier ring in my ear—his claim that I’ve been picking everyone apart since I got here—and guilt has me turning away from mentally grooming him.
I find my dad’s gentle gray eyes watching me keenly.
“So? How was your day, Calla?”
Simon’s words echo inside my head.
Is he running? Or are you chasing him away?
You can’t control him, but you can control how you act toward him.
“It was . . . good.” Aside from the tongue-lashing from his right-hand man over there. I press into the potatoes. “Quiet.”
He nods slowly. “I suppose it’s a lot different from what you’re used to.”
“Yeah. A little bit.” I smile my agreement. How many days will I be able to survive out here, before I long to be back in my city? Or any city, for that matter.
“Did the truck give you any problems? Getting into second gear has been a bit sticky lately.”
“Uh . . .” I glance at Agnes questioningly, to see the subtle head shake. I guess she didn’t tell him that I can’t drive. And, obviously, neither has Jonah. Should I?
Things are already uncomfortable between us; I don’t need to make them more so by pointing out all the things he doesn’t know about me right out of the gate.
“Nope. No problems.”
“Good . . . good . . .” His head bobs slowly. An awkward moment stretches.
“Did Calla’s suitcases come in?” Agnes asks.
“Right. About that . . .” Dad scratches his graying hair, hesitating. “They couldn’t make room for them on today’s flight.”
“You’re kidding me!” My disappointment swells. “But I need my clothes! My rain boots!”
“We can do another load of laundry tonight,” Agnes offers.
“Yeah, I guess,” I mutter, though that’s not the point. “How could they all of a sudden not have room?”
“There were some last-minute supplies that needed to get to one of the villages today. It’s just the way things go around here.” My dad gives me a sympathetic look.
“Food. Medicine. You know, real necessities,” Jonah adds, his tone laced with amusement.
“We’ll get your things in tomorrow.” Agnes smiles with assurance, even as she adds, “Probably.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Billy’s taking really good care of it all.”
I grit my teeth and return my focus to the potatoes while I take a calming breath and work my frustration out, because there’s nothing I can do about the luggage and bludgeoning Jonah to death with this potato masher would put a damper on dinner.
“Hey, Aggie. I grabbed these for tonight.”
“Wow! First flowers from Calla. Now this?”
A familiar clanking sound against the counter has me turning in time to see Jonah set a six-pack of Budweiser cans down.