Jonas reappears. “I think we deserve a beer. Want me to tow this back to your place first?” He nods at Bambi.
“Or you could leave it in the shop overnight?” Anders suggests, nodding toward the first of the two big sheds from which Jonas just exited. “I could bring it back in the morning.”
“That would be great. There’s no rush. I’m working tomorrow anyway.”
“What are you working on?” he asks as we walk toward the farmhouse.
“A primary school extension,” I reply.
“Cool.”
“It’s really not very exciting.”
“Why not?”
“There’s no design involved—I’m just doing a series of technical drawings—but at least I can do the work remotely.”
There’s a small wood off to our left and between the tree trunks a large pool of water is visible, glinting in the evening sunlight.
“I didn’t know you had a lake,” I say. “Do you ever swim in it?”
“Sometimes,” Jonas replies. “Why, you thinking about taking another accidental dip anytime soon?”
I stick out my tongue at him. “Next time, I’ll bring a swimming costume.”
“You should.”
I was joking, but I think he’s serious.
“I’m gonna take a shower. Tell Ma I’ll be over in a minute,” he says, trailing off toward the lake.
“Where’s he going?” I ask Anders with confusion.
“To his place.” He points at a log cabin by the water.
“Oh, I thought he lived in the farmhouse.”
“With Ma and Pa?” Anders snorts. “No.”
“How long has the cabin been there?” From its size, I’m guessing it’s only a one-bedroom.
“About fifteen years. Jonas and Dad built it using trees from the woods.”
“You didn’t help?”
He shakes his head. “I was away at college.”
“Did Jonas go to college?”
“Yep, agricultural college. He lived at home, though. Went in for classes.”
Anders leads me to the side of the house, opening up a mesh screen door and holding it back for me. I walk into a laundry room. There’s a gray dog bed lying on its side on the floor, covered with sandy-colored hairs.
“You have a dog?” I ask as he pulls the door closed with a clatter.
“Actually, she died a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
