“Yeah. He’s in a better place now, but who knows if he would have spiraled.”
“I’m sure it’s helped, you being here.”
“It’s been good for me too.”
“Do you think it’s helped that your parentshaven’tbeen here?” I ask carefully as another torrent of laughter tumbles over to us from Bailey and Jonas’s direction.
Anders watches them for a moment before nodding, almost resignedly. “Especially Pa. He’s always been controlling. When we were kids, he used to drink a lot. Sometimes it made him angry. He wasn’t violent, but he could be intimidating. Jonas used to get me out the house and try to take my mind off it. We’d go down to the river or jump on our bikes and hit the motocross trail until we were sure Pa would be passed out on the couch by the time we got home. Eventually, Pa got ahandle on his drinking, but he still has a hold over us. We’ve never been close. You saw how nervous Jonas was about making any changes to the farm.”
I nod. “I’m sorry.” I blow bubbles into the water as I exhale in a rush, realizing I’ve barely drawn a breath as he’s told me all this.
“I’m just glad that Jonas has had some time here this summer without Pa breathing down his neck.” He glances at me. “Do you get along with your dad?”
“Better than we used to. It’s helped staying over here for longer.”
Dad and I sat out on the veranda together last night, actually. He wanted to know how my work was going and seemed genuinely interested as I filled him in, even though the sound of my own voice almost sent me to sleep.
“When are you going home?” Anders asks.
“I’ve booked a flight for early October because I have a wedding to go to, but I’ll leave sooner if I outstay my welcome. What about you?”
“I have to go back to Indy next weekend, but only for a couple of days.”
“For work?”
“I’ll drop into the race shop while I’m there, but I’m going for a friend’s birthday.”
“I’d like to visit Indy again at some point.”
“Come, if you like.”
“I wasn’t trying to invite myself,” I protest, even as a thrill goes through me.
“I know you weren’t.”
“Yo!” Jonas hollers at us. “Get your asses over here before we plan this whole damn movie night without you!”
“Is that what you’re talking about?” I call as we wade over.
“That and other things. Bailey wants to turn this place into a wedding venue,” Jonas tells Anders. “We might have to pay someone to break Pa’s legs so he stays up in Wisconsin for a bit longer.”
“Oh,stop!” Bailey scolds. “That’s awful.”
I don’t know if Jonas and Anders are taking Bailey seriously or simply indulging her, but we’re all smiling as she describes wedding photographs in front of the big red barn and out in the cornfields, floating candles on the lake, a reception inside the barn with festoon lights strung overhead, jars of flowers on every table, a live band, and hay bales for people to sit on.
I’m getting completely caught up in her vision, and then she cries, “You could even do up your cabin and offer it as the honeymoon suite!”
“Where wouldIsleep?” Jonas asks with a scowl.
“In the house, you idiot. Your parents will have left it to you by then.”
As they continue talking, I find myself scanning the water’s edge on the far side of the lake, where the cornfields climb the hill in the distance. An idea is taking shape inside my mind.
Tomorrow I might go into town and buy a new sketch pad.
25
I’m feeling hot under the collar. And it’s not because of the outside temperature, nor is it because I’m dressed inappropriately. In fact, I’m wearing my new denim shorts with a white T-shirt, so I probably couldn’t be dressed better for summer. No. It’s because I’m watching Anders at work with an angle grinder.
