Chapter 19
Jake
“Hey pipsqueak.” I say to my niece as she bounds into the house. Amelia works all weekend and I offered to have Cami come stay here and help me make some of the goods I sell at the farmer’s market.
I sell mostly produce at the markets but every year I sell more and more goatmilk products, thanks to Henrietta.
Lotion, soap, soft cheeses, and just last fall I added bath soaks to the list. When Cami got in trouble a few weeks ago I talked to Amelia about having her come over and help around the farm a little bit more.
I don’t really need her help, the farm is at just the right size that I can manage it myself, particularly in the winter but I figured she could learn the ropes.
Maybe a little responsibility and time away from boys and phones and whatever else kids her age are obsessed with these days could help.
“Uncle Jake,” she whines, “I’m fifteen. Aren’t I a little too old to be called pipsqueak?” For some reason the contempt on her face makes me grin.
“Ah, but it’s not about age. You have to be this tall,” I hover my hand about three inches above her head, “to outgrow the name pipsqueak.” She rolls her eyes and I begin to think that this is how every conversation with her will go until she’s maybe twenty?
Maybe not even then, who knows. I try to bring it back to a positive interaction though and say, “want to learn how to make soap?” Her face brightens and I take it as a yes.
“Alright, I’ve got all the ingredients we need over here. I just need your help putting it together and helping me pick the scents.” She picks up her pace and practically runs into the kitchen.
“Whoa,” she says as she stops in her tracks.
“That’s intimidating.” All lined up in rows on the counter are the things we need to make soap.
Oils, goats milk, lye, essential oils, and other bottles of scents.
Normally I keep things pretty basic when it comes to scents but in an attempt to get Cami excited to help, I bought some more essential oils that are a little more exciting.
When I look at all the bottles on the counter…
it’s possible I went a little overboard.
Cami picks up bottle after bottle removing lids and sniffing. She makes a face and sets one bottle really far away. Okay, not that one I guess. Another few bottles later and she lets a sound of appreciation out and says, “this is the one.”
Strawberry kiwi was a new scent I picked up and it wasn’t one I was excited about. But, seeing the look on Cami’s face makes it worth it.
We spent the next hour making soaps and I tried my best to let Cami come to me.
After about twenty minutes of silently working I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“So, how’s school?” I drag out the word so and lift my voice at the end of the word school.
She’s not a kid anymore, she knows exactly what I’m actually asking.
“Well, I haven’t been to the principal’s office since I’ve been back, if that’s what you're asking.” Her voice has an edge to it, as if she’s awaiting a lecture.
“Let’s get something straight here, I’m your uncle. The fun one. A funcle some would say.” I shrug and give her a silly face.
“No one would say that.”
“Ouch,” I clutch my chest as if I’m mortally wounded. “What I mean is, I’m not asking so that I can get you to slip up and say something to get you in trouble. I legitimately want to know how things are since you’ve been back.”
She bites her cheek, a habit she’s had since she was tiny, and she drops the edge in her voice. “Well, Garrett has been keeping his distance,” she begins. I can tell she’s uncomfortable and I’m trying not to react in any way that might scare her off from talking about it.
“As he should be,” I say simply. I focus on what my hands are doing instead of looking at her face, letting her know it’s up to her to continue. Just knowing that Garrett is keeping his grubby hands off of her is enough to soothe my worry.
“His friends Zach and Mikey made a few jokes in the cafeteria on my first day back.” And just like that my level of worry is right back where it was.
“But, it was just words. For once, my mom’s advice worked because I ignored them and by the third day back they just stopped even looking at me.
Mom said it’s because I didn’t give them the reaction they wanted. ”
“She’s right,” I say, “although it pains me to admit that.” Cami laughs a little and the previous tension in the room eases.
“I sort of made a new friend out of it though. There’s this girl who is a year older than me, her name is Jamie and after all the rumors went around school she came to me and asked me what was true.
I told her the story and she looked like she was going to cry right there and said that Garrett tried the same thing with her last year.
No one knew about it though because she didn’t slap him,” she sighs, “and it was interrupted by a teacher walking in.”
“Did that teacher report it?” I hold my breath after asking because Cami being the second girl this dickhead targeted makes this patterned behavior and even scarier than before.
“She said he did. But nothing happened. But anyway, we’re friends now.
” She acts as if that means everything is alright but I can feel my heartbeat in my ears.
It takes all my might to keep my focus on Cami and soap making but make a mental list of the supposed men that I need to talk to when she goes back home.