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“And you think she might have given you a bogus address because... She doesn’t have one?” Matt couldn’t figure out why else she would. Or what could be going on.
“I don’t know. Kim and I talked about it. We said maybe she didn’t have one, but could she really be homeless? At her age? Plus there’s that boy that comes with her. Sometimes. Rodney. But I haven’t gotten to talk to him very much either. Somehow, when I get one of them cornered, the other would make a ruckus somewhere that allows the one I cornered to escape.”
Davis braced his legs and shoved a hand in his pocket. His eyes followed his wife, who held their baby, and showed her off to a group of ladies.
“Kim and I thought maybe she was just embarrassed about where she lives. You know, there’s a few poorer houses around Strawberry Sands. It’s not a very well-to-do area, and maybe she just didn’t want us to see how poor she was. But, the fact that I can’t get her cornered. I can’t get her brother cornered, and she just seems a little... shady. Distrustful. I’m not sure, but I get the feeling that if I push her too hard, she’ll be gone. And I’m afraid this job might be the only reason she’s able to eat.”
“I heard she goes into the diner by herself once in a while. That seems odd for a kid that old, but Griff might know more,” Luke offered, his brows drawn down.
“Yeah. I’d like to get it figured out, but I don’t really want her to know that I’m trying. Again, I don’t want her to slip away. If she needs help, I want to give it to her without causing her to run and potentially end up in a worse situation.”
“She does seem a little streetsmart, now that you mention it,” Matt said. “And you’re right, she’s elusive. I agree with you. She seems like the kind of kid that would disappear without a trace.”
“I’m not entirely sure that the kid that’s with her is her brother, either,” Davis said, and that honestly shocked Matt.
“It didn’t even occur to me to question that.”
“You’re too trusting, bro.” Luke laughed.
Matt supposed it was true. He’d worked on the farm all of his life, and the things he’d learned and knew were a lot different from Davis who’d been in business all his life.
It wasn’t that he knew less, it was just that the things that he knew were different.
“I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I haven’t wanted to pressure my wife about it too much, considering all she’s been through in the last few months.”
Davis grinned, but it was a grin that held a world of experience. Matt didn’t doubt for a second that Davis knew what he was talking about.
Matt also did not fail to notice the pride with which Davis said the words “my wife.” He wouldn’t have given a thought to it just a few months ago, but after the time he’d spent with Jubilee, he supposed he had been thinking more and more about a wife himself. An older couple walked over, and they didn’t get to continue their conversation as Davis introduced his wife’s mother and father.
Matt had seen them around town, but he hadn’t remembered their names.
He chatted for a bit, but then he and Luke just excused themselves.
“If you want to go talk to your girl, you’re going to have to brave Miss Heather. I love you, dude, but you’re doing that on your own. I’m going to go get me some chow.” Luke slapped him on the back, then strode away with a smirk.
Matt barely watched him go, because it was hard for him to take his eyes off Jubilee.
It wasn’t that she was so beautiful, necessarily. Although he found her compelling. It was just... He seemed drawn to her. Like his whole soul longed for her, and couldn’t be around her without wanting to be beside her.
He supposed if they ever got together that was a feeling that would wear off, or maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe that was the kind of feeling that a person nurtured into what constituted a good relationship. After all, a person could keep themselves from being ruled by their feelings. He didn’t have to want something in order to do it. If he were to ever get together with Jubilee, he would want that feeling to continue. That desire to be close to her, watch her, just enjoy looking at her.
Shaking his head at thoughts that at one point in his life he would never have considered thinking, he took a breath, fortifying himself at the onslaught he knew was about to encounter when he met up with Miss Heather, and pointed his steps in that direction.
Actually, Miss Heather might just play into his desires. After all, if he were looking at Jubilee, Miss Heather might try to get them together. Although, it was more likely she would try to match him up with her granddaughter Kristin.
Not that there was anything wrong with Kristin, she was a nice girl, but... She wasn’t Jubilee.
“Good evening ladies,” he said as he reached their group.
Jubilee turned her head, surprise in her eyes, and if he wasn’t mistaken, a little bit of panic there too. He couldn’t imagine what would cause that, and wondered if maybe he shouldn’t have walked over. Maybe she was afraid of Miss Heather.
Whatever caused it, the expression didn’t stay. It was replaced by a true smile of happiness. At least, he wanted to believe it was a true smile.
His was real.
The other ladies greeted him, but he had a hard time looking anywhere except for Jubilee.
“It’s a pretty night,” she said softly after he murmured greetings to the other ladies.
