Page 50 of Shielding Maya

"How can you keep eggs without a refrigerator?"

"We don't wash them. That keeps the bloom intact and they don't require cooling. We've never had refrigeration up here, so that's how we've always kept them."

"Wow. I never knew."

"Stick with me, you'll learn a lot."

She laughed and he stopped slicing the bread to stare at her. She made life great.

30

Maya stepped into her warm shower and sighed. "Heavenly," she mumbled.

She closed her eyes and let the water wash over her. She shivered and turned the water temperature up.

Spending a bit more time than usual in the shower, she dried her hair, dressed, and ventured out to see who was around and what was going on today.

Tate and Myles were in the kitchen, finishing breakfast. Myles nodded, "There she is. She came home to clean up."

She shot him a dirty look and kept moving toward the refrigerator. "Good morning to you as well."

Tate stood and huffed out a breath. "Maya, when you have a moment, I need to speak with you."

"Sounds good. I'll be in as soon as I grab a cup of coffee."

She prepared her coffee, took a sip and closed her eyes as the hot liquid slid down her throat. "Ahh," she whispered.

Taking a deep breath she turned to Myles. "Go ahead, get it out of your system."

"Get what out of my system?"

"Jasiah."

She leaned her hip against the counter, held her cup in front of her and leveled her eyes on his.

"You think it's a phase?"

"Is it?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Really. I love him, Myles. He loves me."

Myles stared at her for a while. His emotions played across his face. His chest expanded and he let out a deep breath. "Okay."

She sauntered to the table and sat in the chair next to her brother. Placing her coffee cup on the table, she turned her chair to face him.

"I love him." She swallowed. "I've never been in love before. It's exciting and new and scary."

"You live different lives."

"I'm so very aware of that. As I walked to the outhouses this morning, my thoughts ran wild. There are obstacles. He won't live down here. He's their leader. His life is up there."

"Your life is down here."

"What's down here that keeps me from living up there?"

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