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“Saying just the right thing.”
“Is that what I’m doing?”
She nods, her smile becoming something innocent, coy. We come upon the cabin and she stops in front of it, staring with reverence. “Wow,” she breathes.
“Pretty, huh?”
“Very. It’s so charming.”
“Indeed, it is. You want to see inside?”
“Doesn’t anyone live there?” Hazel asks.
“Yeah,” I say, looking back at her with a grin. “Me.”
She hesitates for a beat, standing there, and after casting a look about her, she follows me inside.
“This is really where you live?” She sounds impressed. And then, “So you were following me,” Hazel titters.
“What’s that?”
“I saw you park your truck outside the Hardins’, right before I…well you know, you were there.”
A warm chuckle comes from my chest. “Were you spying on me, ma’am?”
“No.” She blushes. She tilts her face away from mine, like she’s shy with me, or she’s eager to explore. Maybe both.
“You want some coffee?”
“Oh, sure!” Hazel brightens at that. We make easy smalltalk as it percolates. “How do you take it?”
“Just black.”
I pour the coffee and ferry it to her. “Can I ask you a serious question?” I ask.
“Sure.” She sips.
“I know why Rosie went to Seattle, but why did you agree to come here?”
“For one, it seemed really important to her. We’re like kindred spirits all of a sudden, and I didn’t want to let her down. She should be able to meet her real family.”
“And the other reason?”
“If I can be honest with you?” Hazel says.
“Absolutely, honey. I prefer it.”
“I wanted to…prove something.”
“Prove what?”
“That my real life is better?”
“Is it?”
“It’s certainly different.”
“That ain’t an actual answer.”
