Page 95 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Yep.”

“River Phoenix.” He digs the stick in the ground. “Eddie Vedder.”

He stops and looks back at me. “The Pearl Jam guy?”

“Yes.”

“That's not an actor,” he says.

“You didn't say he had to be.”

He shakes his head, laughing. “Fine. One more.”

I grin. “Dave Longley.”

His eyebrow arches. “The weatherman?”

“He's cute,” I say as straight-faced as I can.

“You need glasses, pretty girl?” he asks, looking back down at the stick.

“Don’t disrespect Dave Longley.”

He turns back to me and smiles. “Future pets. Four.”

“Dog.”

“That's one.”

“Cat.”

“Two.” He holds up two fingers.

“Horse.”

He looks at me. “A horse?”

“I used to love to ride. When I get older, I want one or… five of my own.”

“You’ll have to teach me,” he says.

“I mean, sure.”

“Okay, one more,” he says, smiling.

“A Highland cow. White, with really long, shaggy fur. The kind where the hair hangs all over its face.”

He cocks his head to the side. “A cow?”

“Not just a cow. A Highland cow.”

He looks at me. “Okay.”

“White.”

He chuckles. “A white Highland cow.”

“With the really long fur.” I remind him unnecessarily and add. “And the hair has to hang over its eyes.”