“You’re certain?”
Ella nodded once.“If you keep hunting.”
Lula almost smiled at that.“I will,” she said.
Ella adjusted another bundle.“These go first,” she added.“They won’t keep as long.”
“All right.”Lula moved them closer to the door.
Her fingers slipped on the twine.She tightened her grip and tried again.After a moment, Ella reached over and tied the knot for her without a word.
“Thank you,” Lula said.
Ella shrugged.“It needs to be tight.”
They worked a little longer.The piles grew clearer.
“For sale.”
“For us.”
“For later.”
Lula leaned back on her heels.“I didn’t think it would feel like this,” she said.
Ella paused.“Like what?”
“Like I’m running something.”Lula gestured at the space around them.“Not just helping.Not just...getting by.”
Ella looked at her then.“You are,” she said simply.
Lula nodded slowly.“I suppose I am.”
Ella returned to her work.“You should keep track.”
“Of what?”
“What you sell.What you keep.”
Lula frowned.“I don’t need numbers for that.”
Ella shook her head.“You will.”
Lula watched her for a moment.“You’d help me?”
Ella tied another bundle.“I already am.”
Lula let out a quiet breath.“All right.We’ll keep track.”
Ella nodded once, satisfied.
When they finished, the piles were clean and even.
Ella wiped her hands on her skirt.“Take these first,” she said, pointing to the sale pile near the door.“Before they spoil.”
“I will,” Lula said.
Ella moved to leave, then paused with her hand on the door.Ella stepped out into the cold and closed the door behind her.
