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Chapter Twenty-Eight

JACK

“ W ay better than I expected,” I said as I finished the last bite of breadfruit. Norman had hobbled to the mess tent to join us for fried breadfruit. It was a relief to have him there because it helped ease the static charges that had been building between Ava and me.

After the scene in the forest, I’d remained there on my comfortable bed of forest floor litter for another half hour. The notion of Ava’s and my relationship was at the forefront of my thoughts. One moment, I’d laughed, thinking how absurd the whole thing would be, and the next, I asked myself why the hell not. I had a big answer for that. Ava had no interest. She’d made that clear, and that was all I needed to force it out of my mind.

“The river looked lower as I walked over here,” Norm said. “Do you think we’ll be out of here tomorrow? And I was wondering—” Norman looked down at his empty plate. “I’ve really made myself a burden this trip, haven’t I?”

“Not at all, Norm,” Ava said. “And you’ve been quite the trooper with your bad ankle. We had no ice pack or pain relievers, but you’ve powered through.” Both of our opinions of him had changed after his great confession. “We’re going to get you across, don’t worry. And yes, I think the river will be crossable tomorrow. I’m going to talk to Harold later this afternoon, so we can coordinate a pick-up time.”

“Can’t wait for some real food,” Norm said. His face popped up. “Not that this isn’t delicious.”

Ava chuckled. “It’s tastier than the rehydrated stuff, but let’s face it—a plate of nachos would go down a lot easier.”

I’d had my fill of breadfruit and got up to do the dishes. “I can do that,” Ava said. “You braved the tree climb. The least I can do is wash the dishes.”

“I can help.”

“No,” she said way too briskly and then seemed embarrassed about it. This had to do with the scene in the rainforest. Now things were going to be weirder than ever between us. “It would be better if you got a fire going.”

“Right. I’ll get started on that.” I put aside the sponge I’d picked up. “Need help back to your cot?” I asked Norm.

“No, but I think I’ll join you out by the firepit. I’m getting a little bored of my cot.” Norm stood up and hobbled out behind me. He sat down on a log with a plunk. “Not sure if the inflammation is down or if I’ve just hit the numb stage of healing. I remember breaking my arm when I was eight.” I looked back at him from the pile of kindling I was sifting through. “Jumped off a swing. Made a nice landing but then somehow still managed to launch myself forward right into the bottom of the slide.”

“Ouch.”

“Yep, hurt like heck for the first few days. They put my arm in a temporary cast until the swelling subsided. After those first few days, it didn’t hurt anymore. I told my mom I thought it was fine because it didn’t feel bad anymore. Never mind that I couldn’t move my fingers or wrist. Doctor said it was just numb, and that’s why it didn’t feel bad anymore. I think that’s what’s happening now. I’m sure I’ll have no problem walking across the river on my own tomorrow.”

I dropped the kindling into the pit. “You know, we’re not going to leave you here, Norm.”

“No, I know. I’ve just been enough of a burden that I wouldn’t blame you at all for at least thinking it. That bridge wouldn’t have collapsed if I hadn’t been moving across it like a slow, plodding elephant.”

I straightened and looked at him. “That’s not at all true. Trust me, I had a clear view of the whole disaster. The support poles on the opposite end could no longer keep a grip in the wet soil. They fell and the bridge slowly disappeared into the river. It had nothing to do with you.”

Norm smiled weakly. “That’s a relief. I kept going over it in my mind, and I was sure it was my fault. If you hadn’t grabbed hold of Professor Lovely …” He shook his head in dismay. “I can’t even think about it.”

I sat down next to him. It was obvious he’d been resting in his cot, staring up at the mosquito netting and convincing himself that he nearly got his professor killed. “You should have asked me sooner. You couldn’t have seen what happened because you were fleeing for your life. I assure you; my account is what happened, so take all those other theories out of your head.”

Norm looked relieved, and his smile widened as he stared down at his injured ankle and moved his foot slightly up and down. “You’re not as bad as everyone says,” Norm muttered.

I laughed. “Me? People don’t like me?” I asked innocently.

Some color drained from Norm’s face as he looked up at me embarrassed.

I elbowed him. “Kidding. I know my reputation. It’s good to know that I’m not actually as mean and grumpy as Scrooge.”

Norm was once again relieved. “Not at all. Robyn was the one person in lab who kept defending you. She said, ‘Nah, Professor Sinclair isn’t that bad. He’s just lovesick.’”

I laughed again. “Lovesick? Well, that’s one I haven’t heard. Why does she think I’m lovesick?”

Norm’s face regained color, even more so than was natural. “It’s nothing. Just something Robyn liked to say.”

“Well, I’ve been very impressed with Robyn on this trip, so I’d be interested to hear what she had to say.”

Norm seemed to be wishing he hadn’t brought it up. He looked up, glanced behind him toward the mess tent and then turned forward again. “Robyn said you were always angry and grumpy with Professor Lovely because you—you know—like when a kid teases his crush in class because he secretly likes her.”

“So, Robyn thinks I’ve got the emotional backbone of a boy dipping his crush’s pigtail into the inkwell?”

Norm’s brows bunched together in confusion. “She never mentioned an inkwell.” More brow scrunching. “What’s an inkwell?”

“Oh wow, I just felt my soul get pushed back to the nineteenth century. Never mind the inkwell analogy. So, Robyn thinks my attitude toward your professor is because of a latent crush?”

“It’s silly, I know. You know women and their romance stories. Ian and Robyn have a bet about it. She says the two of you will be a couple by summer. Ian says she’s nuts, that Professor Lovely would never fall for a guy like—” He turned his face back down.

“What? A guy like Scrooge?”

“Something like that. Anyway, forget it. Robyn doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

I stared out at the river. I could no longer see the rippling surface from where we sat, which was a good sign. The water level was dropping. “Actually, Robyn is even smarter than I thought.”

Norm’s face popped up. “Yeah?”

“That’s just between you and me, Norm. Not for public consumption.”

“I won’t say a word. After all, you promised to help me get switched over to the computer school.”

“I sure did. I’ll get started on that when we get back …” I looked over at him. “After I eat a plate of nachos. After Professor Lovely mentioned it, I can’t stop thinking about them.”

Norm rubbed his belly. “Me too. Greasy chips, saucy beans under a mountain of grated cheese, sour cream and guacamole.”

“A man could die happily after a plate of nachos.”

We both had a good laugh, and I returned to my task to get a fire going.