Page 12 of Bales and Brawn

They laugh again, and I don’t know how they can look so happy when Dad’s just had a fall and his fragility increases every day. A burning sensation rises in my chest and I wrench open the door.

“Nova,” I shout, and they all turn at the tone of my voice.

“I need you inside, now. Dad’s not well.” His face turns stricken as he hurries across the yard. I ignore the small flicker of satisfaction that I’ve broken up the little chat. Just like I ignore the black eyes that seem to track me. Nova passes me and I shut the door on them, hoping I can shut them out of my dreams as well.

CHAPTER SEVEN

DEVIN

The first person I see when I step off the bus from Sacramento late on Friday afternoon is Evelyn.

“Hi, Devin. How’s it going?” she asks as she walks with me towards the grocery store.

“Hello, Evelyn. I wanted to thank you for telling me about the job at Dawson’s farm.”

I tell her a little about it as we walk into the store.

“I heard you were staying there as well. Are you settling in well?”

“Yes, I’m enjoying it.” I think it’s going well. The work is fine and it’s busy. The customers are mostly nice. Zane, on the other hand, since the incident on Sunday, has barely spoken two words to me that haven’t been about work. Even though I’ve tried to talk to him several times. He just works on his machinery and watches me. Or at least it feels like he does, as he’s always looking my way when I glance over at him. Which I try not to do, but can’t help it. Of course Nova and Arlene are great, so I can put up with Zane’s coldness for a few weeks.

“That’s good. Tell Arlene I’ll be up on Monday,” Evelyn says before her attention alights onto someone else and I’m left to shop in peace.

I’m truly thankful for Arlene. Her bringing me some bits last week turned out to be an electric kettle, a toaster, a microwave, as well as a small fridge. So I’m pretty much self-sufficient in my new lodgings. It’s quieter than being at the Foggy Inn, and I’m enjoying it. My brothers tease me about living in a barn, though, and I had to put my mum’s mind at ease that I do have access to sanitation. It’s better and cleaner than some of the truck stops I’ve stayed at, but I didn’t offer her that information.

I choose what I need for the week. A supply of bread for toast, and of course some butter, along with some fresh fruit and vegetables. I grab a few of the ready meals the store is offering and take them to be rung up.

“So, you’re staying up at Dawson’s farm, are you?” the guy behind the counter asks.

“News travels fast around here.”

“It’s a small town. News like that is a commodity,” he laughs.

“Not sure I like being one of those.” I grin back at him.

“Why I’m actually asking is because Arlene’s tea has come in today and would you take it up for her?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you.” He hands it over and I stow it in my backpack. Evelyn’s outside the store when I leave, still talking, but I refuse her offer of a ride up to the farm. After two long bus journeys and a couple of hours in a classroom for my program, I’m glad of the chance to stretch my legs.

I notice Zane’s truck isn’t in the yard when I reach the farm, so I go straight over to the farmhouse and knock on the kitchen door.

“Hi,” Arlene says and invites me in. Nova is sitting at the table, his laptop open in front of him.

“Hi, Devin, we missed you today. A customer told us that some of Mikey’s alpacas had escaped. Zane’s over there now, helping them.”

“That sounds fun,” I say. I give Arlene her tea.

“Thank you, we need more now we have another tea drinker.”

“I can switch to coffee,” I offer.

“Don’t be daft.” She grins. “I was just joking. You can have as much tea as you want. I’m just making a pot now, so sit yourself down.”

I take a seat and Nova turns his laptop screen towards me.

“Look at these,” he says excitedly. I scan the page. There’s a lot of information, but I can see the headline—The Best Beauty Colleges in Sacramento.