Page 24 of The Breakdown

“I could show you how to check the email from the website and how to respond to people who have interest. That way you could keep tabs on your visitors and interest every day.”

“That does sound good,” June said. “What do you think?” she asked Vaughn.

“Sounds okay to me. It would sure help me out. I don’t have time for the website as it is. Nor do I know what I’m doing.”

“So we’ve understood,” June said. “Not that I’ll be much better. But somebody’s got to do it.”

“I can help you for as long as I’m here,” Natalie said.

“We’d appreciate that,” June said.

“And by the time I’m gone, you’ll be an old pro at it.”

“That sounds great, but I don’t like the word old,” June said with a laugh.

Natalie lowered her fork as if she’d done something wrong. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Vaughn looked as alarmed as June felt and she spoke. “She knows, Natalie. No need to worry.”

“Yes, child, I was only teasing.” June patted her forearm, concerned at how browbeaten the poor woman seemed to be. She looked like a scared little rabbit. Good God, what had her ex-husband done to her?

Natalie set her fork on her plate and sat quietly. If she was trying to recover, she was doing it inwardly. June refilled her tea and encouraged her to drink.

“A little extra tea never hurt anyone.”

“Thank you.”

“You need to stay hydrated as well as fed.” She eyed her half-eaten taco. “Eat up, darlin’. It’s getting cold.”

Natalie seemed to slowly snap out of her cloudy mood. She lifted her taco to her mouth and finished eating it without speaking. Benny and Greer started up again, both of them yammering on about something or other as they went to the stove for more beans, tacos, and rice.

“You boys save one more taco for Natalie,” June said.

“Oh, no, I’m fine,” Natalie said. “Really.”

“Then save one for me,” Vaughn said.

“There’s two,” Benny called back.

“Good,” Vaughn said as she bit into her second taco. She chewed carefully, her gaze fixed on Natalie. She looked worried, like she wasn’t quite sure what to do to make Natalie feel more at ease. June tried to remedy it on her own.

“Vaughn will show you more of the ropes around here after lunch. After you show her the website.”

“That sounds great,” Natalie said. “And I was thinking about what you said this morning. About the eggs. I could gather them in the mornings for you. If you like.”

June felt her eyebrows lift. “Why, that would be wonderful. Wouldn’t it, Vaughn?”

“It would. I only hope Diablo likes her better than he likes you though.” She grinned as she took a bite of rice. “He’s pretty territorial.”

“Oh,” Natalie said. “I didn’t consider that.”

“I’m sure he’ll like you just fine,” Vaughn said after she swallowed. She winked at her and Natalie blushed. June noticed and hid her own smile. Natalie seemed to be greatly affected by Vaughn. She wondered if there was an attraction there. June didn’t know much about women loving women. Only what she’d seen with Vaughn in the past. But she did know that women loved fiercely and deeply. And she’d hoped for a long while now that Vaughn would find someone good and true to love her that way.

Was it Natalie? She didn’t know. But she did seem to be kind. If not a bit shy and reserved. Vaughn was right however, she had too much going on with her ex-husband to be concerned about anything else. Much less another relationship.

It was too bad though. June was growing very fond of her. And it seemed, if she was reading things right, and she usually did, that Vaughn was growing fond of her as well.

She’d have to wait things out and see. As her own mother used to say, only time would tell.

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