“Honestly, I try not to think about it.”
“I understand, but you need to prepare yourself. Whether you like it or not, the day is coming when Ellie must go.”
* * *
The next day, Jack went to see Ellie during his lunch break. Despite the low odds of them staying together once the summer concluded, he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.
“Morning, Jack.” Clara came out to greet him. “What brings you by?”
Jack took off his ball cap and ran a hand through his hair. “I came by to see if Ellie was home. There’s something I wanted to ask her.”
“She and Sara are just wrapping up. You’re more than welcome to wait for her.”
Jack checked the time. “Thank you.”
“George got you working hard today?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve already made one trip, and we got two more this afternoon.”
“You keep that up, and you’ll be a rich man, sure enough.”
“Jack.” Sara stepped out onto the porch, flashing a toothy grin. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh hey, Sara. Long time no see. I came by to talk to Ellie.”
“Oh.” The smile faded from her face. “I’ve been meaning to congratulate you on catching that lunker a while back. George told me all about it.”
“Thanks, but I didn’t catch it. Ellie did. First cast too.”
“Is that so?”
Jack detected a hint of jealousy.
“I didn’t realize she knew how to fish.”
“She didn’t until I taught her.”
“How nice of you,” Sara said with a mocking smile. “Well, perhaps you could show me where you caught it sometime. I’ve been dying to get out on the water.”
“You know where it is,” Jack said. “It’s up at the head of Muddy Creek, near the bridge. I took you there last summer, remember?”
Sara frowned. “Oh yeah. Must have forgot.”
When Ellie came out, Sara slipped away without Jack noticing.
“So what’s the real story with you two?” Ellie asked as they stepped off the porch.
“What do you mean?”
“I see the way she looks at you when you come around, all googly-eyed.”
Jack held her hand and rolled his eyes. “I made the mistake of taking her fishing last summer.”
“Fishing, huh? Is that all?”
Wondering what she was driving at, Jack narrowed his brow.
They crossed the yard and stopped at the overlook. “I heard it was a little more than just fishing. Rumor has it you kissed her.”
