Page 97 of Pretty Thing

“Nice to meet you, Eden. I’m sorry that your weekend away has been interrupted. There is a big storm moving in up near my ice fishing camp, and I decided not to chance it.”

“Nice to meet you as well. Thank you for having us.”

“Not a problem at all. I hope you like card games. I don’t have television out here,” he says, and I nod.

“Love them, actually.”

“Perfect. Do you like steak and beans?”

“Yes, to the steak. Not sure about the beans.”

“Oh…you haven’t lived until you have steak with beans,” Jim says, hooking his thumbs through the belt loops on his jeans. He looks positively rustic in that mountain man or lumberjack kind of way.

“I do not agree,” Felix says, making a face, and I laugh.

“Can I do anything to help with dinner?”

“Sure, come on, I’ll put you both to work. It’s not often I get cheap labor.”

A few minutes later, music that is half static plays from a radio in the corner, and laughter fills the cabin as Felix and Jim poke at one another. I’m peeling potatoes into a pot because I can sit at the table and do it. Felix washes and cuts vegetables, and Jim uses a small inside grill to cook the steaks.

I look around at the photos closest to me and recognize Felix. He looks to be about six, standing between Jim and another man who has to be Felix’s father. The man looks so…normal. He has his arm around Jim’s shoulder while he holds Felix in the other, smiling for the camera. How can someone look so unmurderous and then do what he did?

My eyes travel from the photo to Felix, and I can’t help thinking about the guy in the diner. I don’t believe everything that Kris has accused him of, and I still won’t pin his father’s crimes on Felix. But…does he have the same capability for violence hiding under the surface?

Goosebumps cover my arms, and the hair stands on the back of my neck.

Shaking my head to dislodge the thoughts, I focus on my task.

Forty minutes later, the three of us are sitting around the table and enjoying the meal.

“So Eden, tell me…do you like the beans?”

I laugh. “I do, they’re really good.”

Jim laughs and claps Felix on the shoulder.

“See…you’re missing out.”

Felix just shakes his head.

“Tell me about yourself, Eden. How did you and Felix meet?”

My face falls, and just like that, grief sneaks up and grabs me, cutting off my ability to form words. Felix comes to my rescue. He clears his throat, jumping in to answer for me.

“We were in a really bad accident together, and I got Eden out of her car. The door wouldn’t open, so I smashed the window, pulled her out, and she’s been stuck with me ever since.”

Once more he glosses right over his own loss like just having to think about it is too much.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. When was this?”

Felix answers.

“Three weeks before Christmas. Eden lost both of her parents, and we’re trying not to talk about it while away. We just want to have a good time and not think about all the bad stuff that’s happened.”

Jim nods. “I’m sorry, Eden, my condolences. I won’t bring it up again.”

“It must be difficult for you as well,” I say, and Felix grabs my hand.