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“But you all share the land?” I asked.
Torrence and Kian caught up with us, the last of our conversation drifting back to them.
“Did Josiah show you the vegetables?” Torrence asked proudly. “Well, the gardens, really. We built these ones over the summer so it wouldn’t be so hard on the backs of our older members.”
I eyed the waist-high raised garden beds that looked to have been made from pallets. “They’re great. Good idea. Nobody needs a bad back before their time.”
Josiah nodded. “Indeed.” His gaze wandered back to me. “Will you be staying long? We could have a big community meal tomorrow if you’d like to meet everyone and learn more about the place.”
Alice grabbed my arm. “Can you stay? That would be so fun. I could introduce you to…” Her cheeks went pink, and she shot a glance at Josiah and then at her father. “Um…all the animals.”
She clearly meant the boy next door she had the hots for, but I wasn’t going to give her away. As much as I wanted to say yes, I shook my head. “I wish we could, but we really do need to get back on the road after dinner. We have a funeral back home we need to be at.”
Alice looked so crestfallen it made my heart ache.
“I’d rather stay here with you,” I told her, meaning it. I didn’t want to go back. A big community meal sounded nice, and I would have loved to have met the boy she was crushing on. “I’ll come back soon, okay?”
“Or maybe I could come visit you?” she asked hopefully.
“You’re always welcome,” I assured her. “You have my number now, so anytime you want to come to Saint View, just let me know and I’ll make up the guest bedroom.”
She whirled around to her father. “Can I, Daddy?”
“I think dinner might be ready by now.” Torrence clapped Josiah on the back. “You’re welcome to join us, brother.”
Josiah wiped dirt off his hands onto the back of his jeans. “Seems like you already have quite the full house tonight.”
“There’s always room at our table for you.”
“Come, Uncle Josiah,” Alice chirped. “Rebel’s going to tell us all about the gangs and drugs and prostitutes in Saint View.”
Josiah looked at the younger girl sharply and then at me. “Excuse me?”
I laughed awkwardly. “That’s not exactly dinner conversation.”
Josiah was distinctly uncomfortable. “I should think not. A young lady like Alice doesn’t need to hear of things like that. Brother Torrence, thank you for the invitation, but I’m required at home tonight.”
My father’s face fell, but he wiped the expression away quickly. “Of course. Another time, then.”
“That would be nice.” Josiah turned to me, and his mouth pressed into a line. “I hope you’ll spend more time with us out here, Rebel. It sounds like your hometown is not exactly…desirable.”
I didn’t say anything. Just watched him walk away.
Kian cleared his throat, his gaze on Josiah too. “Well, that was awkward.”
I shot him a look, but Torrence was already storming away, his younger daughter’s arm gripped tight beneath his fingers. He spoke to her in low tones, but it was clear from his expression he was unhappy with her for what she’d said.
Guilt seeped in. I’d embarrassed him.
I’d spent half my life wondering why he’d left. My mom had said it was him. He’d said it was my mom.
But with that one conversation, it suddenly felt like maybe he’d never brought me here because he was embarrassed by me.
35
CALEB
The crying was incessant.