Page 52

Story: As It Was

“Don’t you think so, Cain?” She elbowed me, and I glared.
“Not answering that.”
My eyes snuck a glance at Mollie, only to find her already looking in my direction. I averted my gaze immediately.
“Telling,” Jackie said. “How are you liking the farm?”
“I love it, though I miss the berries.”
Jackie’s smile fell a bit. “One person can only do so much, especially with no support.”
Mollie didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, I know. Cain’s far too busy with the animals.”
I didn’t realize she’d thought that at all. I thought she’d wanted more out of me.
Jackie’s smile was back now. “Exactly. At least you see sense.”
“I’m trying to figure out the logistics of everything that bringing back the berries would take. Because unfortunately”—her eyes slid to her computer— “I can’t stay forever.”
“Why not?”
“I have a job back ho—” She stopped. “Um, back in Nashville. And I have to go back to that eventually.”
I narrowed my eyes as she spoke. She didn’t seem thrilled about the idea of going back, which didn’t spell anything good for me.
“That’s a shame, though I don’t think Cain would be too upset if you did leave.”
She laughed awkwardly. “Yeah, probably not. But now that I know the farm is open, I wanna do what I can.”
I crossed my arms. There wasn’t much for her to do, considering her knowledge level. I didn’t know if she had the ability to be out in the fields for long periods of time like Bennie had.
“I can give you some privacy,” she said. “I’m sure Cain has stuff to tell you.”
“Stuff?” Jackie asked. “Did something else happen?”
“And why would you assume that I would tellanyoneabout yesterday?”
Mollie rolled her eyes. “Because you don’t look like you want to throw up when she talks to you. So therefore, she’s a friend. And youshouldtell a friend what happened.”
She gave me a pointed look before disappearing down the hallway.
Damn her.
Jackie turned to me. “What happened? Did you piss her off or something?”
“What happened doesn’t have anything to do with her. Someone else came by.”
Jackie’s brow furrowed. “Who?”
“A man claiming to be Eric’s father.”
Her jaw dropped and she gasped. “What? Since when is his father even in the picture?”
“If it’s true, which I doubt it is, then just now.”
“What did you do?”
“I kicked him out.”

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