“Why are you standing there with your mouth open?” Lia grinned. “Let me guess. You’re doing the charades version of Oliver Twist’s famous line.”
“I’m not sure I remember that.” Coop frowned. He had tried to play charades with the group last summer but had done a pathetic job of it. His parents didn’t like playing games much, so he didn’t have a lot of experience.
“No way. You don’t know Dickens?” Lia frowned when he shook his head. She said, “You’ve lived a deprived life.” She picked up another pastry. “In the workhouse, the kids are practically starving and hungry all the time. Oliver gets up the courage to go up to the guy who runs the place and say, ‘Please sir, I want some more.’” She handed the treat to Coop.
“Did they give it to him?” Coop asked, curious now. He accepted the pastry.
“Nope.” Lia started packing the rest of the treats in a box. “They locked him up and then sold him as a servant to people who treated him so badly he ran away and ended up becoming a pickpocket in London. There’s a lot more to the story though. If you want to know what happens, I noticed a copy of the book in the library. You’re welcome to borrow it.” She closed the lid of the box and reached for a roll of ribbon. “What are you up to this afternoon?”
“I need to order a bunch of stuff for the garden,” Coop said, rinsing his hands again.
“You’re going into Payne?” She looked up, her expression bright. When he nodded, she asked, “Mind if I tag along? I want to check out what kind of pastry supplies they have. You have no idea what it’s like, working with my mom’s stuff. She only brought what she considered the ‘essentials.’” Lia rolled her eyes. “Having to use only her things was like working with stone knives and bearskins.”
“Didn’t seem to hinder you. It tasted just fine to me.” His remark earned him a smile, one that reminded him of the previous summer. “Do you have a passport? You might find a better selection on the Canadian side.”
“I don’t yet. I guess I’ll have to get one.” Lia began shifting the rest of the dirty dishes into the sink.
“Look here.” Coop pulled out his wallet and opened it. “You’ll want to get a passport card for around here. It’s cheaper and easier to use than a book.” When she grinned at the picture, he snapped the wallet shut. “Shut up.” He scowled. “They said I couldn’t smile.”
“Whatever.” Lia continued to smile as she filled the sink with hot water and soap.
Coop picked up the towel and dried the dishes as she washed. She chattered on about baking while they worked. He enjoyed listening to her, impressed with the passion she had for what she did. While he might prefer to work with plants, dirt, and stone, he understood the creative energy behind her words.
“Really, can I come with you?” She handed him the last dish. “If you don’t mind company, that is.”
“I’d love company.” Coop tried to sound pleased without overdoing it.
“I’ll grab my stuff and let my mom know where I’m going. She’s got something for me to do before dinner.” Lia already had her phone in her hand, typing something into it as she headed to the kitchen door that led to the back stairs.
“Hey,” Coop called, “you going to wear that apron?”
Lia spun around, the same laughter in her eyes that had first caught his attention in Sacramento. “Yeah, probably not.” She untied it and hung it on a hook. “I’ll wash it later.”
For most of the drive into Payne, they reminisced about the previous summer. Lia went quiet as they approached town, her hands toying with the straps of her purse.
“Something bothering you?” he asked.
“Well, yeah, actually.” She shifted in the seat a little more, bringing her knee up on the bench. “All that stuff about the ghost when we first got here, and now nothing.”
“Is that a problem?” Coop tried to pay attention to what she was saying and not the closeness of her knee to his leg.
“I guess not.” Lia stared off in the distance for a few seconds, seeming lost in thought. “It just kind of set up a … I don’t know.” She looked at him. “A different expectation for the place than what it’s turning out to be.”
“You’re not disappointed, are you?” Coop had wondered about the specter’s silence, and been relieved about it at the same time. It didn’t bother him; he didn’t care if the haunt never showed up again. Because of the lack of ghostly activity, his mum hadn’t felt the need to give further warnings. Mrs. Savage acted a little cool toward his family, but the little kids already loved Coop’s mother.
“I guess not.” Lia said.
“I did tell you he doesn’t show up very often.” Coop sensed her looking up at him again. When he glanced down at her, something passed between them. He didn’t know what, but it set his heart pounding. Her cheeks flushed as though she’d experienced it too, and she sat up, her expression confused.
Coop pulled his eyes back to the road, where they should have been anyway, and let out a soft, deep breath. What hadthatbeen? He darted a glance at Lia from the corner of his eye. It seemed like she had put up some kind of barrier between them. He might not be able to see it, but it was there. Why had she closed up?
As they drove into town, Lia continued to look out the passenger window. Apart. At first it irritated him.Shehad asked to come along, after all. For the company, she’d said. Things had been going so well before.
Coop hated playing games; he should just ask her straight out what was bothering her. He glanced over at her. What if he made it worse?Coward. He played it safe and kept his mouth shut, until he’d pulled into a parking place at the shopping center.
“I doubt we have a lot of options here for the kind of stuff you’re looking for.” He pointed to the grocery store. “If they don’t have what you want, your best bet is over the border or one of the bigger towns south of here. Let me know when you’re ready to go. I’ll be over there.” He nodded toward the hardware store.
“Thanks.” She opened her door.
