Page 41 of Traces Of You

“What would you like to drink?”

“Water is good,” he said. He stood up and got two glasses and filled them from the tap. He hadn’t bought her any water bottles and he’d seen her drinking it that way before.

“Thanks.” She took a bite of her burger and chewed. He could see her thinking and processing. He hoped it wasn’t to lie to him about anything, but he knew he wouldn’t get the full story either. “I’ve got an online business. It’s easy. Graphic designs and forms and templates. I was home alone a lot at night while Oliver was out or with his cousin and played with designs and set up a little store. New items get added every week. I don’t have to do muchmore. People buy and download it and the money goes into an account no one knows about. That’s the money I’ve been saving to leave. I make a few hundred bucks a week, give or take.”

“Good for you,” he said.

“I enjoy designing things. It occupied my mind. My form of doodling. I heard Clay talking about the barn and events. I can do fliers and stuff. Do you think he’d be okay with that? Your brother isn’t the easiest person to approach.”

He laughed. “He was never this bad.”

“What changed?”

He didn’t want to talk about his brother, but if she wanted to reroute the conversation to feel more at ease here, he’d let her take the reins.

“He hasn’t said. When he came back from the service, we noticed it. He’ll tell us if he wants or when he wants, but you can trust him. As my father said, he’s more bark than bite.”

“I’ll be staying far enough away to not worry about that,” she said. “But I do want to feel useful too.”

And Ford wanted her to feel as comfortable here as she had twenty years ago.

It’d take time, but he was positive with enough of it, she’d open up even more.

He knocked on Clay’s door two hours later. His brother opened it. “Are you going to move in now?”

He brushed past his brother with a bag over his shoulder. “No. But I’m not comfortable enough to be off the property.”

He went to the spare room he’d stayed in last night and dropped his bag on the bed and then came out to get a beer.

“How long is that going to take?”

Clay took the can of beer out of his hands, so he got another. “I don’t know. Hopefully not too long. Reenie told me more tonight. She’s got a better head on her shoulders than I thought.She’s a hard worker and just wants to live a simple life. She’s made some bad choices, or bad choices found her.”

“Don’t get too close,” Clay said. “I’m not sure you can handle it when she leaves again.”

He didn’t think he could either, but he’d sure the hell never admit it.

“Hopefully she won’t leave.”

“Seriously, Ford. Do you hear yourself? She’s running from an abusive relationship. You don’t know the full truth of anything she says. You don’t know her mental demons and you’re hoping you two can pick up where you left off twenty years ago?”

“Don’t be an ass. I’m not hoping that. We are both different people. But she’s not skittish around me. Mom said Reenie was relaxed at the cafe today too. She feels at peace and at home here. I know it. I can see it.”

“Not around me,” Clay said.

“Maybe if you stop sneaking up on her.”

Clay smirked. “I can’t help it. It’s part of watching out for her.”

“Which I appreciate. Mom doesn’t want her working seven days a week and she’s going to get bored. The more she has to do to keep her busy, the less she’ll be off the property. She does graphic design. I saw some of her work. She’d like to help you with the events.”

“And she can’t ask me herself?” Clay asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“She will. I’m giving you a heads up. I know you’re fussy about things, but her work is good. Give her a chance.”

Clay tipped his beer back for a long swig. “We all lost our chance and choice when you brought her here yesterday. We’d do anything for you, and you’re already half gone again.”

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