“Yeah. But….”
“But what?”
“He’s not looking for a wife.”
Rolling her eyes, she turns and looks out her window again. “I’m not looking for a husband. I’d just like to date someone for once.”
For once?What does that mean? I know she didn’t date in high school, but she must have had guys crawling out of the woodwork to date her in college. No, I shouldn’t stand in her way if Max is what she wants. “I’ll give you his number.”
“Oh.” She shakes her head. “I won’t call him first.”
“This is the new millennia, doll.” I chuckle. “It’s okay for the woman to ask the guy out.”
The look on her face is fierce. I want to laugh, but I’d better not. “I’m not calling him first, Nash.”
“Do you want me to call him?”
Crossing her arms in front of her, she huffs, “No, Nash. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
If it’s meant to be, it’ll be?I’m not sure how far that sentiment is going to get Isabelle, but I’m not about to push the subject of Max and Isabelle any further. I said what I thought I should say, and now I’m going to leave it be. I’m right, though, Max isn’t for Isabelle, but neither am I.
* * *
After I dropIsabelle at her car, I wait for her to start the engine and pull out onto the street. Then I follow her all the way back. Okay, before you all think that’s overdoing it, remember our farms are down the road from one another. Sure, when she turned right, ordinarily, I’d turn left, but I followed her until she pulled in her driveway, and I kept going, turning around when I could. Now, don’t ask me why I needed to do that; I’ve no idea. And the fact that I had to run back into town to pick Andi up from my mom’s is a moot point. I did what I needed to do.
Now that Andi and I are back at the house, I take a minute to look around the place. Walking through the living room, dining room, and kitchen, I see that Isabelle’s right. It’s dusty. There’s a ton of laundry, dirty and clean, in baskets on the living room floor. I never had the inclination to put the stuff away when I knew we’d just get it out again. But, looking at it with fresh eyes, I can see how bad it looks.
Upstairs, I peek into Andi’s room. Same thing. It’s tidy but dusty. My room isn’t as tidy, and just as much of the farm dust is on my furniture. Back downstairs, I poke my head into the bathroom and wince. Looking at it through this new lens, I can see itiskind of gross. “Huh,” I mutter to myself.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?” Andi asks from the kitchen counter where she’s coloring.
“Just noticing the house needs a good cleaning.”
“Uh-huh.” She sets her crayon down and hops down from the stool. “Here.” She’s holding a business card up for me to see. “Honeywell Happy House Cleaners. Owner Janine Baker.” I take the card from her sweet little fingers, pull my phone out of my back pocket, and make the call.
It takes only five minutes to book Janine for one appointment. She suggests we talk about doing it on a regular basis after she gets a look at the place and sees what needs to be done. I think that’s a good plan. Hanging up the phone, I turn to Andi. “She’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Good.” She nods, saying nothing else.
“Yep. Good.” I run my hand over the top of her hair. “You need a shower, girl.”
“I know.” She raises her head and looks me in the eye. A sweet little smile slides across her face. I know that smile. She’s trying to get by with something. “How ’bout I just wait till tonight?”
I got up extra early and took care of the chores I needed to get done this morning so I had time to take Isabelle to her car and for this. “How ’bout now? I thought we could go do something fun for a change, but I’m not taking you unless you get cleaned up.” Without a word, she puts her crayons away, jumps off the stool, and heads into the bathroom. I didn’t even tell her what we were going to do. I guess she’s just glad to get out of here. Me too.
16
Isabelle
As I’m aboutto put my homemade loaves of bread into Mom’s oven, my phone chimes. I peek down and see Nash’s name appear. “What the…?” Ignoring the text for now, I slide the bread into the oven, then pick up my phone.
Nash:Hey, taking Andi to see the movieFrozen 2in Emmetsville. Want to go with us?
I stare at the phone for a beat or two. It’s weird. This whole thing with Nash is weird. I mean, only weeks ago, the guy pretended not to know me. Now he wants me to hang out with Andi and him? But here’s the thing. I want to see that movie. I loved the first one. But I had plans to go kickboxing after I put a pot of stew on to simmer, because there’s nothing better than stew and fresh bread. My stomach growls just thinking about it and the fact that I need to work out so I can have an extra slice of bread without guilt. I look at the clock—10:30 a.m. Maybe I can do it all.
Me:What time?
Nash:1:00 showing
