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Now I knew what this was for. She wanted information. “Things are fine.”
“Are they? I know how you are, Cain. You can’t love having someone come into your house.”
I only shrugged, and her frown grew.
“But still. How does it work? What room is she staying in? Is she as nice as she sounds? Are you trying to be nice to her?”
I blinked at the barrage of questions, surprised she was being so bold. Most of the time, people didn’t have the balls to ask me things directly. But Jackie wouldn’t talk, at least not about things that were deeply affecting me, which must have made me the last option.
“I’ll let her tell you all of that if she wants to.”
Kerry sighed. “Why are you such a locked book? It’s so hard to crack you.”
And it would stay that way. I wasn’t interested in overhearing anything else about myself, and if I could put a pin in it by not telling everyone my business, then that was what I would do.
“I’m just quiet.” It was the best answer I could give her.
I could tell she didn’t love it. But she didn’t stop me when I tried to walk away again, and I let out a sigh of relief when I got to the car. I was glad I could walk Eric to his classroom, but I hated every second of interaction thereafter.
It was going to be a long school year.
When I got back to the farm, Mollie was still nowhere to be found. I did more of my work in complete silence. It was nice, but I felt like I was on edge.
It was midday when I finished. I walked into the house to find herfinallyout of her room. She was on her laptop, looking at the screen closely. Her lips formed a pout as she typed.
“I thought you were gonna learn everything I do,” I said when I walked in.
“You get a break from that. Work has my attention.”
I frowned. “The farmiswork.”
“No, I know. But I also work for my dad in real estate. Apparently, there was something urgent that needed my attention.”
“Urgent like a tornado?”
She laughed. “No. Just a can of worms I opened. It’s an email thing.”
“What email could be so important?”
“You know, I’m not sure.” She sighed, but her eyes didn’t move. “I still have to do this, though.”
I didn’t know how people could go into an office every day and work the daylight away. That kind of routine had to be miserable, and I wondered if she enjoyed it or hated it like I would.
Then I shook off the thought. I didn’t need to wonder anything about the city girl who had invaded my home. She didn’t get a pass for doing one nice thing for me.
A knock at the door broke my thought process. I turned, hoping Waldren wasn’t back for more, but instead, saw a familiar brown braid.
“Jackie,” I said when I opened the door. “What are you doing all the way out here?”
“I’m taking a late lunch and thought I’d check in on you.”Her gaze roamed the space and then caught on Mollie. She lowered her voice when she spoke again. “Oh, is that her?”
“Yes. She’s working on emails or something.”
I heard the laptop slam shut. “Not when there’s a guest,” Mollie said. I turned to see her walking toward the door. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met.”
Jackie’s eyes were as wide as the moon. “We haven’t. Wow, you’re as pretty as Tammy said.”
Mollie’s cheeks turned pink. “Thank you.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and I couldn’t help but agree.