Page 88 of Obsession

My father laughed and leaned down to hug her while I awkwardly stood in place until she pulled me into her arms. Shewas surprisingly strong for her size and age, and I wondered if it was because of the honey.

“I have waited so long to see this picture,” she spoke nostalgically, cupping her hands under her chin.

I knew she was referring to my father and me, both of us present at such an important event for the town. He smiled, but I couldn’t.

“Iolanda, where do you want me to put these shelves? You have already used up all our space in the warehouse, for crying out loud!”

A man came out of a huge hall. Only now did I realize that we were behind the supermarket. The farmers were probably storing their produce there before the fair.

The man came towards us, and I had trouble recognizing him, unfortunately for me, he was just another stranger. But I wasn’t to him, that was clear, because the look on his face proved that he knew very well who I was.

“Look who finally showed up,” he laughed, pulling my father into a quick, tight hug. “I thought you were going to be here in the morning, Ris.”

Dad looked at his watch. Ris?

“It is morning.”

The guy narrowed his eyes.

“Yeah, we’re certainly not going to make a farmer out of you if you consider 10AM morning.”

It was my fault; he was already active at eight. He had waited for me, but he didn’t tell them that.

The man looked at me and I was sure he was my father’s cousin, Josh, but I didn’t have confirmation yet.

“Katherine, I’m so glad you’re here. We met when you were very young and I’m sure you don’t remember me. I’m Josh.”

He held out his hand to me, and I grabbed it, trying to force a believable smile. He had nothing in common with my father. Even though he was a baker, he looked like a farmer who spent his days in the fields. His skin was excessively tanned from the sun and his hair was blond and reached his shoulders. His eyebrows were blond too, and he was taller than my father and stronger, probably around forty-five years old. I wasn’t even sure by what relation he was my father’s cousin.

“It’s nice to meet you Josh, I’m glad to be here.”

I was not going to call him ‘uncle’, under any circumstances. I wasn’t ready and probably never would be.

Did he notice how funny my voice sounded? Not to mention the stupid poem I had spat out. Still, he smiled kindly at me, and I sensed no tension from him, so I tried to relax.

“Where’s Marta?” my father asked, and I assumed she was Josh’s wife.

“She’s at the bakery, looking after the sales today. We couldn’t afford to close the shop with all the tourists in town. My kids are here somewhere. Katherine, if you see two hyperactive boys trying to destroy everything, they’re Mario and Trent, my sons.”

I laughed.

“Leave my nephews alone, you were worse than those two.”

Josh rolled his eyes, and once again I felt uncomfortable in the middle of the conversation because these were people I was supposed to know, they were family, but I didn’t even know their faces until last week. It was obvious that they had welcomed my father back into their family, his progeny included.

Josh’s phone rang, and he had a short, tense conversation about an order of flour. After he hung up, he cursed over his lips.

“I have to pick up the flour at Michaelson’s. Marta has threatened not to cook anything for the fair if I don’t get her the damn flour.”

My father laughed when Iolanda slapped Josh on the arm for swearing a little too much. She was so small compared to him that he could probably pick her up with one arm.

“Wanna come with me, Ris? It’s only about thirty sacks.”

My father laughed again, then looked at me. Was I going to carry flour? Great.

“Don’t even think about taking the girl with you; Katherine stays with me. The truck with my honey will be here soon, and she’ll be a big help putting the jars on the shelves.”

Josh rubbed his forehead.

---