Feeling the heat of embarrassment fan my cheeks, I glared at the ground. “Okay,” I muttered. “I get it—I stink. Did you forget that I almost died recently?”
“Almost died?” Jordy continued to laugh. “Mate, that’s an everyday occurrence in this world—stop acting like you’re special or something.”
My head jerked up, my glare clashing with Jordy’s easygoing grin. But before I could think up a response, Doc was shoving a wide-tooth comb in my hand. “For your hair,” she said, giving me a gentle shove forward. “I’ll see you back at my place, alright?”
“Doc?” I asked, turning as she walked off. Was she really leaving me here with a complete stranger?
“Honey, I’ve got to get to the dining hall before they stop serving breakfast,” she said. “You want to eat, don’t you?”
“No worries,” Jordy said. “I’ll show you what’s what. We’ve got shampoo and soap, and even rubber duckies if that’s what you’re into.”
“Go on, Willow,” Doc called out. “Jordy is good people. I promise!”
Swallowing back the countless number of irrational fears swirling inside me, I turned back to Jordy.
“Is it because I’m an Aussie? That why you don’t trust me?” he asked, laughing. “We ain’t all criminals and convicts, I promise.” Still laughing, Jordy signaled for me to follow him, leading me inside the bathhouse, pointing out two wooden benches that sat on either side of the entranceway—one bench piled high with stacks of neatly folded towels and the other laden with toiletries. At least a dozen ceramic sinks adorned the entrance room, each sink with its own mirror and small shelf. Everything had been cleaned to a shine.
“Crappers are thataway,” he said, pointing to a room on the left. “And showers are thataway.” He waved toward a second adjoining room separated by a thick vinyl curtain. The curtain was pulled to one side, providing me a glimpse of at least a half dozen shower stalls.
“The water isn’t hot,” Jordy warned. “It gets pumped from the well, so unless it sits in the sun for a while, it’s usually pretty cold.”
Shaking my head, I mumbled, “I’m used to creek baths and showers in the rain. I’m still in awe that you guys even have running water.”
“Ahhh, yes,” he replied with a laugh. “I remember those days. Don’t worry—soon you’ll be whining about cold water like everyone else around here.” Flashing me another lackadaisical grin, he continued, “Anyway, I’ll get out of your way. Holler if you need something.”
Standing in front of one of the many sinks, wrapped in a faded-blue towel, still wet from my shower, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, not really recognizing myself. Lifting a finger to my face, I slowly traced the shape of my mouth. I looked different than I remembered—my cheeks were rounder and my lips fuller than the last time I’d taken more than a brief look at myself. And my breasts were fuller, I realized, glancing down at my chest.
Turning slightly, I ran a hand through my unbound and freshly washed hair. My hair had never been something I’d concerned myself with before. Never knowing when I’d be able to wash it next, I’d always kept it in braids in an attempt to keep myself as neat as possible. I was thinking about it now, though, as I gazed over the long length of curls, the tips of which were brushing my waistline.
I looked… surprisingly good, even with the bags under my eyes. A little older, too. In fact, the more I stared at myself, the more I thought I might resemble my mother. Brushing my fingers through my hair, recalling the feel of her gentle hands doing the same, I swallowed hard, shuddering through a sudden torrent of emotion.
As my expression crumbled, I turned away from the mirror, sucking in deep breaths in an attempt to not cry. I dressed quickly in clean jeans and a T-shirt, knotting the oversized top at my waist. Finished cleaning up after myself, I took a steadying breath, and headed out into the heat of the day.
Jordy was lounging in a beach chair just outside the bathhouse; noticing me, his eyes went wide as he scrambled to stand. “Feel better?” he asked.
My gaze switched to my feet. “Yeah.”
“Cool, cool.” His appraising gaze turned downright appreciative and I flushed under the intensity. Barring Lucas, I couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at me in such a way. “Hey, I really like your hair like that—you scrub up alright”
“Um, thanks…” Reaching to touch my hair, I quickly folded my arms over my chest. “I, um—I guess I should probably be getting back to Doc’s now.”
“I’ll walk you back,” he offered with a shrug.
“No, that’s okay. I’m sure you’re really busy—”
Jordy laughed. “You kidding, mate? I’m only busy working on my tan right now. Towels are washed, shelves restocked… ” He shrugged again. “Come on, let me walk you back. It’s no trouble; I’m happy to do it. I need to stretch my legs anyway.”
I glanced back the way I’d come—the shortcut through the trees—and then, with a reluctant sigh, agreed to follow Jordy down the path that soon led us into the heart of camp. At the first sight of people—a pair of women who only spared us a brief greeting—my unease doubled.
“Are you always this tense?” Jordy asked.
Surprised, my gaze shot to his. Out of all the colorful words that had been used to describe me throughout the course of my life, tense had never been among them. It was Logan who’d always been the tense one, who was always keyed up and on edge. Yet, even as I thought it, I was suddenly aware of the rigid way I was holding myself, of the downward turn of my mouth, and the nervous way I kept glancing around. Was this who I was now?
Unsure of what to say, I merely shrugged miserably in response.
As we looped around the center of camp, Jordy began pointing out different buildings, telling me about each. I attempted listening at first, but like everything else lately, it ended up being too much for me. While Jordy continued his tour, I gazed up at the clouds overhead, finding a formation that looked a little like a rabbit. And several others that had a definite resemblance to teacups.
It’s always teatime, I heard Lucas say.
