“Maybe I will.”
“You said you’re nosy. You should ask him things. Not just about this, but other things, too. He’s always happy to answer questions about how things work here.”
“I have.” Rose starts digging again. The truck’s back tires are nearly clear of snow now. “And when he answers, everything he says makes sense. It all seems good and reasonable. But then …”
“But then?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess later, when I think about it again, I can’t always remember what it was he said that made so much sense.”
I adjust my grip on the handle of my shovel before moving just past Rose to start clearing out part of the dirt road that leads out of the hollow. “You just got here,” I remind her. “I know this place and our rules and the way we do things is different. Just give it some time.”
“Ugh. But that involves beingpatient,” she whines. “And I’m not good at that.”
Ilaugh. “Might want to talk to Sol about that in one of your Growth Sessions.”
“We have,” she says. “More than once. It’s something I’m supposed to be working on. But it’s sohard. Especially when I just—I want to feel like one of you. Like I understand the language and see the same things the rest of you see. I wanna feel like I’m really part of this, you know? It’s been a long time since I’ve felt part of something.”
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re already one of us.” I stop digging again so I can look at her. “I know the other girls have been trying to help you get comfortable here. But you can come to me, too.” I fidget with the handle of the shovel, wishing my hands weren’t gloved so I could play with the ends of my hair. Moments from Christmas, laughing with her by the fire, keep flashing in my mind. I try to push them away. Family. She’s meant to be like family, no matter how charming I find her. “I want you to feel like you belong here.”
Rose walks closer to me. The cold has her pale cheeks turning a shade of pink, and the tip of her nose is just a little bit red. Her black hair is a stark contrast to the sheets of white snow on the ground and coating the low, rounded mountains that surround us.
“Youmean that?”
“Of course. I like having you around.”
I am keenly aware of how close Rose and I are standing, both of us half leaning on our shovels, eyes on each other. I’m not sure whether it’s the chilling wind or the way her eyes pierce through me that makes me shiver.
She reaches up and takes hold of a strand of my hair that has fallen loose from my braid and tucks it back inside my beanie. I get that same relaxing tingle in my scalp again and pray that I’m not blushing.
And then, with a soft smile, Rose says, “I like having you around, too.”
“Oh.” It comes out as an exhale, her words causing something in my stomach to do a somersault.
“And Iamsorry if my nosiness makes me a pain.”
“You’re not a pain.”
She grins. “Like you said, I just got here. Give it time.”
We both laugh. She painted her lips red this morning, the way she always does, and the vivid crimson of her smile makes it impossible not to watch her mouth. It makes me want to make her laugh again.
Butbefore I have the chance, the door to the cabin opens, and Violet calls out to us.
“If y’all are done digging for the day, don’t just stand out there. Get in here and help with lunch.”
“Coming!” I call, almost relieved for the interruption as I stumble away from Rose, putting space between us.
We put the shovels back in the shed before heading inside.
“Hey,” Rose says as I close the shed door on our way out. “Wanna race back to the house?”
I narrow my eyes. “Didn’t you tell me you were a track star?”
“Starmight be a strong word, but come on, you played softball.”
“Not for a couple years,” I point out.
“Sounds like a coward’s excuse to me,” she teases.
