I glance over at Bailey, who’s sipping her drink.
“Shall we go for a walk?” I ask on a whim.
We could wander to the Fredrickson farm now, but I shelve that idea as soon as it comes to me. Bailey hasn’t mentioned Jonas since our drunken night out at Dirk’s and I’ve wondered if she’s trying to put him out of her mind. If that’s the case, I don’t want to weaken her resolve.
“Really?” Bailey is unconvinced, but it’s a beautiful evening.
“Have you seen the pumpkin patch lately?”
“The pumpkin patch?” She pulls a face. “No.”
“Come on,” I persist. “The vines started flowering a few days ago.”
We head out onto the track and walk past the black barn to the field that butts up against the Fredricksons’ cornfield, the one that was struck by hail. The pumpkin patch is sprawled out before us, the blooms looking like yellow starfish in a sea of green.
“This is so good,” Bailey enthuses.
Unaffected by the view, she is talking about the cocktail.
I take a sip myself. “Did Casey not want to come out tonight?”
“Nah, he’s got Brett over.”
“They get on well, don’t they?”
“A little too well. I can’t get rid of him.”
“Do youwantto get rid of him?” I’m not sure if it was amusement or annoyance I could hear in her dry tone.
“No, he’s all right. He hasn’t outstayed his welcome yet. He’ll know when he has.”
She grins, but I wonder if it’s bravado. She hasn’t been married to Casey for that long, and unlike him, she is new in town.
Is Casey giving his wife enough time and attention? Is he doing enough to ensure that she settles in here?
I don’t feel comfortable asking her these questions yet. I have a feeling she’d laugh off my concern.
At least she has Dad and Sheryl nearby, so she’s not completely alone.
And she has me too, for now.
A vehicle turns down our road and, with a start, I realize that Jonas is at the wheel. At the sight of us, he slams on his brakes, a cloud of white dust enveloping his black truck, as well as my sister and me. We’re laughing and coughing as hewinds down the window. It seems fate has intervened and delivered him to us. Whether or not that’s a good thing, I don’t yet know.
“Ladies,” he says with a grin, his eyes moving past me to Bailey.
“Hey!” she exclaims. “How are you?”
“Not bad.”
“Where have you been?” I ask.
“Indiana State Fair. What’sthat?” He nods at our pink drinks.
“Try some.” Bailey hands him her glass through the window.
He has a sip and grimaces. “Boy, that’s sweet.” He passes it back.
“Oh! Can you hang on a sec?” I ask. “Your mum would love this cocktail. Will you take her some rhubarb syrup from me?”
