Chapter 23
Jake
Cami jumps out of my sister’s car and for the first time in a while I see her smile as she bounds up the few steps to the porch and charges through the door.
I love the fact that I’ve been able to be in this kid’s life for the last fifteen years.
Just another reason to be glad I came back when Dad got sick.
“Hey Uncle Jake.” She says, breathless from running. “I’m going out to visit Henrietta.” Dropping her backpack on the floor she makes her way through the house and back out the sliding glass door to the backyard.
“Hey kiddo, nice to see you. How was your day?” I ask to an empty room. It brings a smile to my face though, to see her so happy today.
I go out the front door and meet Amelia on the porch. “Sorry, she was really excited to come over today. Like, more than usual.”
“Yeah, I could tell. I mean she said hi, but barely, before she ran out the back door and off to Henrietta.”
“She loves that damn goat more than you.”
I touch my chest, wounded. “Ouch, that hurts,” I say, “although you might be right.”
“Thanks for letting her stay over again. These late shifts are kicking my ass and I know she’s technically fine at home but I just want to play it safe until I know for sure she’s over that prick of a kid.
” Amelia rolls her eyes as if she wasn’t obsessed with a few pricks back in her day.
Although, maybe that’s why she can criticise Cami’s choices.
“You know it’s never a problem.”
“How are things with the new neighbor?” Amelia has a cheeky smile on her face as she gazes over in the direction of Scarlett’s house. My mind flashes back to Scarlett on my porch and my cheeks flush slightly. “That good, huh?”
“I literally didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to. You only turn that shade of red when you’re into someone.”
“I do not.” I protest. My cheeks burn hotter and I know I’m only adding fuel to her fire.
Her face scrunches, trying to hold back her utter joy from this moment and I do everything I can to push the blush away and resume being my typical sullen self. “Whatever you say big bro. Did you at least have a conversation with her?”
“Yes, and she brought over bread for me and Cami. Sorry, you’re out, loser.” Yes, I’m being immature but I swear Amelia just brings this side out of me.
Her smug smile transforms into shock as she exclaims, “She baked for you? When are you proposing?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t you need to go to work?” Amelia isn’t exactly known for her punctuality.
Amelia looks down at her watch on her wrist. “Shit, yes.” And without another word she hops back into her SUV and pulls out of the driveway like a nascar driver.
I’m still standing on my porch when I hear the door to Scarlett’s house creak open.
I always told Blaine I’d help him fix that squeaky hinge but he always said, “Nah, gives me a heads up when trouble comes walking through the door.” For a second I think maybe I should offer to fix it for Scarlett, but then I’m reminded how much she has insisted that she doesn’t need help.
So, I turn to go back inside when I hear Cami’s voice faintly from the backyard.
“Hi, Scarlett!” My chest tightens at the sound of my niece engaging with her.
I’m not sure why that is? Maybe it’s because the last time they did Scarlett thought that I was an abusive father and she needed to protect Cami.
Once that was settled she still felt like she needed to protect Cami and put me on my ass in front of her.
So to say I’m nervous about this interaction is an understatement.
Scarlett looks up from the ground and connects with Cami. She waves and says hello back and then disappears from my view. I hurry through the house to the back door to see that she’s making her way over to Cami, just like she did the last time.
I catch my reflection in the full length mirror next to the hallway.
My jeans and boots are dirty from morning chores, my flannel has a hole in the bottom of the right side where Henrietta thought it was a snack one day.
My hair has a slight bed head in the back from being overdue for a haircut and man, I feel like I look old.
With that hit to the confidence I walk outside to make sure my niece behaves with the new neighbor.
As I enter the backyard, I hear Cami say, “I’ve been practicing.” Not only does this kid look happier than I’ve seen her in years, she’s beaming with pride.
“Practicing what?” I ask as I come up beside Scarlett next to the gate to Henrietta’s pen.
Cami is on the inside giving Henrietta head scratches while she talks.
It does not escape me that we are in the same position we were last time and I take a solid step to my right, putting more space between me and Scarlett.
Cami’s focus changes to me and the pride slides from her face.
Makes me wish I hadn’t butted my way in just to leave it there for a little while longer.
“I, uh, I’ve been practicing what Scarlett showed me.”
“What? How?” I am stunned. You’re telling me my sweet little niece has been practicing hip tossing people to the ground. With who?
She looks sheepishly at her feet before answering, “My friend Alex has been letting me practice in the gym before school.”
Scarlett asks with a cautious smile, “Oh, who’s Alex?” My head shoots back to Cami because I’ve not heard of Alex before either.
“Alex is just some guy that I’ve been hanging out with most of the year. He just kind of joined our friend group. It’s no big deal.” I can tell she’s trying to appear calm and casual about it but her shy demeanor is giving her away big time.
“But he’s letting you throw him around?” Scarlett asks. Cami answers with a shy nod. “Do you want to tell her or should I?” It takes me a second to realize she’s directing that question at me.
“Tell her what?” I ask, genuinely perplexed. Scarlett rolls her eyes and sighs.
“Listen, I understand why she doesn’t know what I’m getting at but you should.” She looks disappointed and a little amused as she takes her focus from me back to Cami. “Babe, he likes you. Like probably a lot if I had to guess.”
“Well yeah, he’s my friend.”
“That’s not what she means.” I chirp, feeling annoyed that we cleared one boy obstacle just to get another one.
“Now you’re catching on,” Scarlett says, shooting finger guns in my direction.
“There’s not a boy out there that’s willing to feel emasculated by letting a girl throw him around if he didn’t like her at least a little bit.
” Scarlett crosses her arms over her chest. The wind picks up and I can feel the change in the air compared to just a few hours ago.
We’re supposed to get a snow storm tonight and as much as I thought the forecast was going to change, it hasn’t.
The temperature is dropping even as we stand here.
Cami looks like she’s contemplating something. She looks at me, then back to Scarlett before she says, “But my uncle let you take him down.” The audacity of this girl to call out such a thing. My cheeks flush and I hope that they were already red from the bite of the wind.
“That was different.” I begin to say at the same time Scarlett offers, “That was probably more of a challenge.”
Cami smiles at both of us and I swear I can hear the wheels turning in her head. Not going to happen kid.
“I’m sure he learned his lesson the first time and won’t let me do it again.
” Scarlett says. Is that a challenge in her voice?
We make eye contact and there’s a glint there I haven’t noticed before.
Is she flirting with me? She’s certainly enjoying watching me squirm.
I clear my throat and shift in my stance before changing the subject.
“Alright, well enough of that talk. We need to batten down the hatches for this storm.” I direct the comment at Cami but I wonder briefly if Scarlett knows what she’s in for.
At least once a year the lovely town of Valentine experiences a freak snow storm that blows in from the south and fills our little box canyon with snow.
It’s not unusual to get a few feet in a day or two and it never fails that the power goes out.
You’d think after this happening every year we’d find a way to beef up the grid and keep power on but nope.
Residents have just gotten used to preparing.
“I already gassed up the generator and filled up the cans but we need to get Henrietta in her coat, get the red lamp in with the chickens, lock up the greenhouse, and bring in a bunch of firewood. I split it all over the last few weeks, just need to drag it inside so it stays dry.” Cami nods her head and immediately goes to find Henrietta’s coat so she can get started.
“Wow, you guys are pretty serious about this storm, huh?” Scarlett says. The look on her face is one of amusement and I know now that she’s not prepared.
“Yeah, it happens pretty much every year so we’ve got it down to a science.
You need a hand to get ready? We’ve got four willing hands and some extra time today.
” I did my best to offer help in a neighborly way.
Nonchalantly. Not accusing her of being unprepared at all.
It doesn’t matter though because before I can even finish my offer she is shaking her head.
“No, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she says.
Every instinct inside of me wants to ask questions.
Does she have a generator? What is she planning to do for heat if the power goes out?
Which is really a when, not if situation.
Does she have enough food? A way to cook it without power?
What about water? I know she’s on a well with a pump because I helped Blaine a lot when the power would go out.
In fact, it became a ritual that he would just come stay over whenever a big storm was coming.
I would prep his house and do what I could to keep his water lines from freezing and then he’d stay with me while the power was out.
Sometimes it’d be a day or two, one year it was an entire week.
The news has been saying this one could be similar to that year.
I physically bite my tongue before I can start an argument with her.
Maybe, I don’t know everything and she really does have it all handled.
Or maybe she’ll learn her lesson the hard way.
Either way, I’ll check on her when the power goes out. Just to be sure.