Page 39 of Wait in the Truck
While I’ve been lost in thought, Josie has brought more food—a bowl of cinnamon-stewed apples and a plate piled high with the inevitable hash brown potatoes that are customary to a ranch breakfast.
I nod, surprising myself when an easy smile reaches my lips. The feud between the Everett and Rivers families has gone on for a long time now and runs deep as a canyon. I don’t claim to know what’s in this woman’s head or her heart, but with her family’s dislike of mine, I wouldn’t have thought she’d treat me kindly or welcome me into their home.
But, calm as you please, she leans over the island and spoons some apples onto her own plate. “This recipe is my favorite.” With a wrinkle of her nose, she confides, “I have a terrible sweet tooth.” Looking over at me again, she questions, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I exhale hard, staring at my empty plate. “I was just thinking how strange it is to be sitting in your kitchen. We’ve been neighbors my whole life, but…”
Josie’s brows furrow, and she pauses. “You know, it’s nice to have another woman in the kitchen again. I’ve lived with these four heathens on my own since their pap passed.”
I chew on my lip and nod, still wondering how she isn’t chasing me out of her kitchen.
A second later, though, she lets loose a hearty sigh. “Listen to me, Sage. What the generation before you—your parents and Kade’s—have made a mess of isn’t your doing, nor your fault.”
I assume she means to reassure me about Kade and me being involved—because she obviously knows all about it—but the mention of our parents has memories from last night swirling sickly around in my head. My father’s raspy, booze-soaked voice in my ear.Alice. My stomach churns. On a ragged exhale, I breathe out, “Yes, ma’am,” then grimace. Not wanting to offend her, I quickly correct myself. “I mean, Ms. Josie.”
The stool next to me scratches across the floor, snagging my attention as she takes a seat. Knowing eyes wander my face. No matter how hard I try, I’m positive I’m doing a shit job of hiding what’s on my mind. Seemingly, with every breath she watches me take, it feels obvious what’s happened to me at my father’s hands. A shudder runs through me at the idea that anyone could look at me and know.
“Go on, now,” she murmurs, gesturing toward the food.
At the sound of a good-natured argument transpiring upstairs, I spur myself into action. Picking up the fork to spear a waffle, I then quickly add a piece of bacon, a small portion of eggs, and a sampling of Ms. Josie’s favorite apple recipe.
Giving a nod of approval, Josie serves herself, then stops to study me again, her lips pursing thoughtfully as a hint of a smile graces them. “You know, you look an awful lot like your brother. Same lips and bone structure.”
Frowning, I consider her words, bringing a mental image of Jonah to my mind.I haven’t ever thought I look anything like Jonah… but maybe it’s because we don’t have the same eye and hair colors, and those differences stand out. My heart clenches at the idea she sees a similarity, though, and for several agonizing breaths, I let myself remember my brother. His sunny disposition, his charming wit. I loved himso. The fact that he’s gone makes me ache in the worst way, wondering what he’d be like today all these years later. Would he and Lucy have gotten married? Would it not even be the slightest bit strange that I’m sitting here? Would there be a tiny baby in a high chair with Lucy’s sparkling eyes and Jonah’s strawberry-blond hair? I take a deep breath. And maybe more importantly, if Jonah were here, would I have suffered so much these last few years? My brother was my confidant and protector, always.
With a sad sigh, I tear myself from those thoughts, pick up my fork, and use the side of it to cut into the waffle. I glance over at Ms. Josie before mumbling, “I’m so sorry I’m in your way this morning.”
“Don’t you go apologizing. Kade asked if it would beokay, and I agreed, no hesitation. My door’s always been open for anyone who needs it.”
“Well, I appreciate it.” I pour syrup over my waffle before taking a bite. I chew thoughtfully, trying to figure out from the angle the sun is coming in the window what time it actually is. Ugh. My phone. It’s probably still in my room. I didn’t think to grab it before Kade and Rhett insisted we leave. I clench my teeth tightly together and swallow hard in an attempt to keep what little is in my stomach down. My gaze finally lands on an old clock on the wall. It’s already past eight. No wonder Kade is nowhere to be found.
“The boys will be back soon,” Josie offers. “In case you were wondering. They had some potatoes to tend to.”
I draw in a breath. “Okay, thank you. I’m a little out of it, I guess.”
“Under the circumstances…” She shakes her head, almost as if she’s thought better of whatever she was going to say. “Sage, can I say something?”
My eyes flick to hers, a swarm of bees taking flight in my abdomen at her tone. And even though I am scared of what she might be about to bring up, I quietly murmur, “Yes, of course, Ms. Josie.”
Patting her lips with a napkin, she tilts her head to the side for a moment. “It does my heart good to see you and Kade becoming close.”
My cheeks color, and I wonder if he said somethingspecific to her about me or if she’s drawn her own conclusions.
One fine brow raises on her forehead. “You know, Kade isn’t the only one of my grandsons who thinks a lot of you.”
I set my fork down, willing to wait to find out where she’s going with this rather than somehow sticking my foot in my mouth.
Her head bobs. “From what Rhett tells me, the two of you have built a pretty solid friendship since he’s been working with the animals at Lilac Meadows.”
I don’t think it’s a mistake at all how she doesn’t mention that Rhett’s been working closely with my father. Not by a long shot. “Oh, uh, yes, I suppose that’s true. We talk sometimes, but”—I lift a hand, sudden panic flooding me that she smells a new family feud brewing where there isn’t one—“we’re just friends.”
Josie grins. “I’m aware that it’s Kade who thinks the Idaho sun rises and sets in your eyes. I can tell by the way he looks at you.”
“Oh.” I wet my lips. “Kade is— He’s been?—”
“It’s okay, honey. No need to explain. He’s a good man, like we’ve tried to raise him to be.”
The thundering of footsteps on the stairs reminds me we aren’t alone in the house. A moment later, Cole and Jace skid to a stop as soon as they spot me. Miniatureversions of Kade, though I can’t quite tell them apart. They wear identical devilish grins.
