“Do you have anyone else who shows up for you?” she asks.
“Not really. I send Neighbor Nora the link so she can watch the games on her computer when we play. She doesn’t sit well in the bleacher chairs there.”
Laney grins. “She watches your games? That’s the cutest thing ever.”
“She’s definitely cuter than your goat,” I say, grateful to talk about lighter subjects.
Laney turns to me with wide eyes. “Are you ragging on Pearl?”
“Is that the name of the goat that scared me when I was trying to scare you?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes. She’s a feisty little thing.”
“Until she hears loud noises and then freezes and falls over.”
“Was she born on the farm?” I ask, curious about Laney’s attachment to the small animal.
Laney shakes her head. “No, we got her and her siblings from a neighbor who was moving and couldn’t take care of them. But we usually get our animals from an adoption site that’s been around for a while.”
“There are animal adoption sites?” I ask.
She laughs and says, “Oh, just wait. That will be part of our conversation at dinner as well.”
“I can’t wait.”
CHAPTER 16
BURTON
We’re in a small restaurant, and it looks a little older than most in Salt Lake, but it’s got a homey feel to it.
The hostess sits us at a booth in the back corner. This feels a little like déjà vu, except the other couple isn’t Clark and Jessa.
“What is it you do, son?” Grandpa asks.
And the interrogation begins. Laney gives me a look like she’s sorry.
“I play lacrosse and work as a server at a restaurant in south Salt Lake.”
“What’s lacrosse?” Grandma asks.
“Well, we have sticks that have a little net on the end ofthem?—”
“Like a butterfly net?” Grandpa asks.
I tip my head back and forth. “I guess that’s a good way to look at it. The goalie has a very large net. Mine is smaller, and it’s how we pass and catch the ball as we run down the field.”
Grandma leans forward. “You’re running and throwing a ball at the same time?”
I smile and nod. “Yeah, we have to keep it away from the other team so we can score.”
Grandpa gives me a grin and says, “That sounds like something fun. I’d like to watch a game like that.”
I lean over, resting my arms on the table, and say, “You should come. The captain of our team is putting together a day of fun for lacrosse. You can learn all about it and then watch us in action.”
“They can hit each other with their sticks, too, Grandpa,” Laney says, raising her eyebrows.
