Page 57 of Still Love You

Willow labels everything. When we were dating, I bought a variety pack of condoms just to mix things up and Willow divided the different kinds into plastic bags and labeled them. So yeah, she organizes and labels everything.

"I bought them a label maker for Christmas last year," she says, "and they didn't use it."

"Which just proves they'll never use your spreadsheets."

She sighs, her shoulders slumping. "That's probably true." She perks up again. "But I can still make them. I love making spreadsheets. I think it's fun."

"You do know how nerdy that sounds." I smile.

"It's not nerdy. It shows that I'm smart." She presses her palms against my chest and smiles up at me. "A smart, naughty school girl. I even like to dress like one."

"Yeah. I remember." I pull her against me as the image of her wearing that short plaid skirt fills my head. "You should wear that again."

"I will." She pushes me back. "But for now, I'm going to get started on those spreadsheets."

The naughty school girl image disappears as I remember what we were talking about.

"No. Willow, don't."

"Why not?" She picks up the paper sack that held our lunch.

"Because you'll hurt your parents' feelings. Doing this might make them feel like you don't think they're smart enough or capable enough of managing their business."

"They won't think that."

"They might. Why don't you talk to them before you do this? Don't just start going through their office. You wouldn't want them going through your room without asking, would you?"

"No. I don't even like them going in there."

"And your parents wouldn't like you going through their files."

"I guess you're right. I'll talk to them before I do it." She reaches up and gives me a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight."

When she's gone, I walk over to the trailer to find Carl. He needs to tell Willow the truth before she finds it out herself.

Before I reach the trailer, my phone rings. It's Dan, the doctor I became friends with when I was overseas. He's forty, divorced with no kids, and worth several million thanks to a large inheritance and good investments. I left him a message a week ago and never heard back.

"Dan, hey, how's it going?" I sit down on one of the picnic tables since the workers are now back in the fields.

"It's going well. I've got a couple more weeks here and then I'm heading home."

"How's your leg?"

"Much better. I finally got rid of the cane."

Dan's leg was injured when a snake bit him. It was a poisonous snake that almost killed him. We were working in a remote village in India and one morning we went to get water. Dan set the bucket down near some tall grass and when he went to pick it up, a snake bit him on the leg. I heard him yell and when I got to him, the snake was slithering away and Dan was writhing on the ground in pain. Then he passed out and I didn't know what to do. I knew the snake was poisonous but I didn't know how to treat a snake bite.

Our base camp had a medical clinic but it was a half mile away. I knew Dan needed medical treatment right away so I picked him up and carried him all the way back. The doctor said I got him there just in time. He would've died if he'd had to wait any longer for medical care. He was in the hospital for a week and then had to use a cane to walk.

To thank me for what I did, Dan gave me his pickup truck. When I got back to California, his sister, who's housesitting for him while he's away, had the truck ready and waiting for me, including the paperwork.

So that's how I got the truck. But I didn't tell Willow or my mom that because they don't need to know. They'd freak out if they knew about all the dangers I faced when I was volunteering. One time I was even shot at by a group of protestors who didn't like the organization I worked for. They were shooting at my entire group, not just me, but still, it's something my mom doesn't need to know. Or Willow.

"When I didn't hear from you I was starting to get worried," I say to Dan. "I almost called your sister."

"No need to worry. I'm fine. I just wasn't able to get into town to make a call until today."

"Thanks for the truck. It's been great. I still can't believe you gave it to me."

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