Sidecar Crush

“I need you to be honest,” I said. “If you’re getting sick, you need to call me. If you feel worse, tell me about it. Let me help you. It’s worse for me to find out later that you were sick. Even if I can’t make it home, I can still call around and make sure you have the help you need. And if you don’t, I’m going to bribe Betsy to spy on you and report back.”

The lines in the corners of his eyes deepened when he smiled. “All right, sweetheart. I will.”

“Promise?”

He laid his calloused hand on mine and squeezed. “Promise.”

We finished our breakfast and I stayed a while longer. He needed to rest, so I didn’t bother him, but I didn’t want to leave, either. I sat out on the front porch in his rocking chair and gazed out at the trees. Listened to the breeze. It was a nice day—not too hot. Would have been perfect for a dip in the lake. Or a walk through the woods.

Where would Jameson and I have gone today, if we were still kids? Probably the woods. We’d always liked to go exploring when it wasn’t too hot. Maybe he’d have shown me a new climbing tree. Or a bird’s nest he’d found. He’d been so good at spotting things that other kids missed.

I ran into town to make sure my dad had plenty of groceries before I had to leave. I stocked up on things that would be easy to prepare. When I got back to my dad’s house, he was sound asleep. He needed his rest, so I didn’t wake him. I left him a note assuring him I’d call to check on him when I got back to L.A.

I felt heartsick over having to leave my dad. And Bootleg. I needed some comfort food, so I texted Kelvin to let him know I was going out to eat at Moonshine—with or without him. He texted back to say he’d go with me, so I drove out to the cabin to pick him up.

Moonshine was a landmark in Bootleg Springs, with some of the best food you could hope for. A smiling Clarabell, with her brassy red beehive hairdo, seated us in a booth near the window.

“My goodness, Leah Mae Larkin,” Clarabell said when she came over to take our orders. “It is so lovely to see you back here in Bootleg Springs.”

“Thanks,” I said. “It’s nice to be home.”

Kelvin raised an eyebrow at me. “Home?”

“Bootleg Springs is always home,” Clarabell said with a wink. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll have the meatloaf and mashed potatoes,” I said.

“Do you have anything that’s gluten-free?” Kelvin asked, still eying the menu.

“Hmm,” Clarabell said, tapping her pen against her chin. “I’m afraid here in Bootleg we’re not opposed to keepin’ the gluten in our food. Might I suggest a salad?”

“Just order something,” I said. “Get the open-faced turkey sandwich. It’s to die for.”

“You know I don’t eat things like that,” Kelvin said.

I sighed. “It won’t hurt you to cheat once in a while. It’s not like you actually have a gluten intolerance.”

“I get bloated,” he said in a low whisper.

Clarabell looked like she was trying to smother a grin.

“Salad,” he said. “Dressing on the side.”

“Will do,” Clarabell said and took our menus.

“Do you still need to pack, or are you ready?” Kelvin asked. “I want to get moving.”

I traced a little scratch on the surface of the table. I knew what I needed to do. I’d thought about it all day. But I also knew Kelvin was going to argue.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” I said. “I don’t think I should leave yet.”

“What?” Kelvin asked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I think I should stay a while. My dad is getting sick again. If he gets worse, he might wind up back in the hospital. I don’t feel comfortable leaving him alone.”

“Leah, he’s been taking care of himself for how many years?”

“He wasn’t sick for most of those years,” I said. “I don’t have any jobs coming up, so it’s not like I have anywhere else to be.”

“Not yet,” he said, his mouth twitching in a grin.

“What’s that smile for?”