AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“First off, I’m a guy, so life is often easier in that department. Second, this place belonged to our grandfather, KoKo. He’d take us camping. Real backwoods stuff where we carried all the things we needed on our backs for days at a time. It was fun and we learned that having an actual outhouse was something of a luxury.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Doesn’t sound like something I’d particularly enjoy.”
“Never say never. There’s nothing quite like sleeping under the stars.”
The words brought an image of snuggling with Joe beside a campfire. Maybe that didn’t sound so bad after all.
For a while Joe paddled in silence and she let her mind drift. Relaxing was still new to her. Most of the time it made her antsy and annoyed. This was different. Joe’s presence was at the heart of the difference. She didn’t feel useless or broken around him. While she was sort of useless and definitely broken, he didn’t appear to agree or care.
There was no pressure to be anything or anyone other than herself. Although she still had no idea who she was without her scalpels.
Joe’s question broke the silence. “Have you got everyone straight yet? There are a lot of us.”
She nodded. “There are, but I think I have it. The first night, I almost asked everyone to wear name tags.”
He laughed. “That’s not a bad idea. Did you venture out to Tansy’s fort yet?”
“We spent yesterday morning out there. It’s amazing. With everyone calling it a fort, I was expecting something other than a regular cabin.”
Joe laughed. “That’s Sam’s doing. Tansy was only twelve when we moved into the Rivera household. Her brain was already super-charged. She loved figuring out how things worked and making new and improved versions. She also liked to bounce between projects, following whatever thought popped into her brain.”
He paddled in silence for a few beats with a soft smile on his face. “She divided the space in her room into different sections for different projects. Sometimes she used pillows and chairs to separate things. The projects spilled out across the house. Sam started calling the project areas forts and it stuck.”
“You’re all so close. You have such a strong history together.” A history built from tragedy.
Joe nodded and turned the canoe around as they reached the end of the lake. “We do. Nico and I were best friends before our parents were killed. Moving into their home only strengthened our bond. Sam had moved in a few days before us and he fit right in. All of us were sixteen, so we all looked out for Tansy.”
“She’s pretty amazing.”
He nodded. “She really is. This place sat empty for so long. Now it’s thriving and expanding. The town is reaping benefits as well. She’s changing the world in the very best of ways.”
“I still can’t believe the town’s name is Phail.”
Joe laughed. “Why don’t we go into town for lunch? The diner doesn’t stay open for dinner, but Manuel is an amazing cook.”
She smiled but then hesitated. Joe frowned. “What’s wrong?”
She sighed. “I don’t know if I have the right kind of clothes for that. I mostly have leggings and t-shirts. A couple of sweaters.”
Joe set the paddle on his knees and leaned toward her. “No one gives a shit what you wear. This isn’t a big city filled with snobby restaurants or dress codes. You’re fine in exactly what you’re wearing now.”
She didn’t say she couldn’t do buttons or tie laces yet, but she knew Joe understood. He leaned forward and took her hand in his. Her messed up hand. She was sure it was a deliberate choice to let her know it didn’t bother him.
“Lia, I’d like to take you on a date for lunch. I don’t care about your clothes. I want to spend more time getting to know you.” That devastating grin of his popped up. “And I’d like to kiss you again.”
She smiled back. “I’d like that too.”
“So, it’s a date?”
When was the last time she’d been on a date? Years ago. But she wanted to go on this one. “It’s a date.”
A few minutes later, they waved at Tessa in another canoe. The zoologist was collecting data on turtle and frog species. Tracking communities, habitats, numbers, and more. While Lia found it interesting, it wasn’t something she could do as a career.
She’d only been there a few days, but she’d spent time with all of the women learning what they did. Fire investigation, animal behavior, carpentry, art, and all the scientific investigations Tansy had going. While she’d enjoyed the time learning about things, no sparks had flared to life. Nothing had shouted, Pick Me.
Other than Joe.
Maybe she’d spot something on her trip to town that would appeal to her. After all, if a town named Phail could thrive, she should be able to do the same.
