Mom patted the blanket as Dad took out sandwiches from the basket. “Come sit down you two. We can catch up on everything.”
“I got cucumber, sprouts, and lettuce sandwiches,” Dad said, “or a tofu turkey sandwich.”
We all looked at Chase expectantly. “Oh, um…how about a cucumber, sprouts, and lettuce sandwich.”
“Good choice,” Dad said. “I put a nice spicy sauce on it.”
We each chose our sandwiches and took a large bite.
“Do you like it?” Dad asked around a mouthful of cucumber.
Chase hesitated then nodded. “It’s very…crunchy.”
“Yeah, but what about the zing from the sauce?” Dad asked. “You like it?”
Suddenly, Chase’s face turned red and his eyes started to water. “Wh—what? What is that?”
“That’s a combination of Ghost Pepper and jalapeño,” Dad said, his chest puffing out. “It’s my secret sauce.”
“Sorry,” I said. “I probably should have warned you.”
Chase said nothing, just stared at me. At one point I thought he was trying to focus on my face, but I wasn’t sure.
“Have a chip,” I said, handing him a tin. “It might help.”
He reached inside the tin and shoved two chips in his mouth. After a few seconds he stopped chewing. “What kind of chips are these?”
“Dried yuca root.” I reached in and snagged a couple, shoving them in my mouth. “I love them. Almost as much as dried beets.”
Chase gave me a weak smile. “Of course you do.”
“So how long are you and Mom staying in Trinity Falls?” I asked.
“Until you get released,” Dad said.
“And,” Mom added, “until something is done about the vernal pool fairy shrimp.”
“I’ve already got some people looking into it,” I said.
“Good for you,” Mom said.
I glanced surreptitiously at Chase. “Are you staying…local?”
Dad made a show of looking around. “This looks like as good a place as any.”
Chase frowned. “Like you’re gonna sleep here?”
I bit my lip, knowing this wasn’t going to be good.
“You realize there are a couple motels in town, right?” Chase asked.
Dad scoffed. “I’m not paying someone to sleep indoors.”
“We’ve never slept at a motel,” Mom agreed. “We enjoy sleeping out under the stars, or if the weather is too cold, sleeping in the van.”
“But you can’t just find a spot, park your van and sleep there,” Chase argued. “There are ordinances that prevent—”
“We’re in the country,” Dad said. “Who’s gonna know?”
