by T. L. Haddix
“It’s nice up through here,” Eli said, watching the scenery. “The lay of the land reminds me of Firefly Hollow, where Grandma grew up. It’s at the foot of the mountain where she and Grandpa live now, which is less than a mile from Noah’s house.”
“Your house too, now,” Noah put in. “He moved in yesterday.”
“And we haven’t killed each other yet,” Eli teased. He’d told her about the move that morning, as well as his hope that it would be the final step needed to fully heal the rift between them.
Haley smiled, looking from him to Noah, who was grinning, and back. “I’m glad. This is our house on the left here, the one with the red and yellow flowers in the yard.”
Noah pulled into the driveway where she indicated. “Cannas. Grandma loves those things.”
“Not just Grandma,” Eli said. “You’ve got a crop of them growing, too.”
“Yeah, well. They’re low maintenance and showy. Holy cow. Look at those beans.” He pointed to the garden, which was about twenty feet in front of where they’d parked. “Are they mostly vines or do you have actual pods? I don’t know when I’ve seen such healthy plants.”
Haley smiled proudly. “They’re loaded down. I might have to take a vacation day or two to work them up. And you should see the tomatoes.” As she’d expected, her grandfather was on the front porch. “Do you guys want to come in? I imagine he’ll want to thank you personally.”
The brothers exchanged a glance and shrugged.
“Sure,” Eli said as he opened his door and got out carefully, then stood back to let her out. “Fair warning, though. If you let Noah near your garden, you might have to keep him tonight.”
When Noah glanced skyward and shook his head, she laughed. “You like to garden?” she asked as she headed for the ramp that led up onto the porch.
“Yeah. I have a knack for it.”
Fred was waiting for them. “There’s my girl. And who’s this you’ve brought me?”
“Fred Muncy, Eli and Noah Campbell. Eli’s my patient, and they happened to be going by when I was trying to start the Hulk. Guys, this is my grandfather.” She laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Brothers by the look of you,” he said as he shook hands with Eli, then Noah. “Thanks for getting her home safe. You boys looked at the piece of junk?”
Eli nodded. “Yes, sir. The engine block’s locked up, and there are metal shavings in the oil. Plus, Haley said the transmission’s been slipping. I’m sorry to say it’s probably past saving.”
Fred shook his head with regret. “I was afraid something like this was going to happen. Do you think it’s worth having it towed?”
“I don’t think it would hurt, but I don’t expect it would change anything, either. I’m sorry.”
“Eli’s a mechanic,” Haley told Fred. “And I have an appointment to meet with their uncle tomorrow to go over my options.”
“Who’s your uncle?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.
“Archer Gibson.” Eli told him the name of the dealership where Archer worked. “He’s been in the service department there for more than twenty years. We can get her a good deal. Archer will make sure of that.”
“What about you?” Fred gestured to the cane Eli was using. “You got hurt, I guess. On the job? What do you do?”
“Gramps! Don’t interrogate them,” Haley scolded. She looked at the brothers. “He’s not usually a curmudgeon. I’m sorry,” she said as Fred sputtered at her.
Noah leaned against the porch rail, crossed his arms, and grinned. “I’m not being interrogated. I’m used to protective grandparents. He’s out of practice, though,” he said, nodding at Eli.
Eli scowled at him over his shoulder, then turned back to Fred and pulled his pant leg up enough that the prosthesis showed. “Yes, sir. I was injured on the job. I spent the last eleven years working for Uncle Sam. This is Fido—got him as a result of a test drive gone wrong when a stupid dog decided to play kamikaze with our armored vehicle.”
To Haley’s relief, Fred’s face reflected amusement and some respect. “Fido, huh? Good name for it. Are you the patient who likes to read?”
Eli blinked. “Um, yes?”
“He is. Gramps, what am I going to do with you?”
Fred winked up at her. “I’ve got to keep you on your toes, girl. Boys, supper’s about ready if you’re hungry. We’ve got soup beans, ribs and kraut, and fresh cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden. Oh, and I made some cornbread, too. Some of the hot stuff for me, and the plain stuff for the girl here. She doesn’t like spicy food.”
Haley laughed when they exchanged a wide-eyed look. “I can almost see you salivating from here. Come on in, guys. I’ll change out of my work clothes, and we can sit down.”
“We don’t want to impose,” Eli protested as she held the door open for Fred.
“No imposition,” he called over his shoulder. “I made plenty. Come on, now.”
“You’re more than welcome,” she told them. “Don’t let us hold you up if you have plans. I will say that my Gramps does make some truly memorable ribs and kraut, though.”
Noah straightened and squeezed Eli’s shoulders. “That’s one of his favorite meals. Come on. Don’t be rude. How long has it been since you had ribs and kraut?”
Eli gave Haley a sheepish smile. “A while. Not a lot of pork in the part of the world I was in this past year.”
“Then by all means, you have to stay. I’ll leave you in Gramps’s hands while I change. I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t know whether she wanted to leave them alone with Fred or not. But they’d not seen terribly perturbed by his bluntness thus far, with Noah even appearing to be enjoying the conversation. However, she had to get out of her clothes or else she was going to pull her hair out. It had been a long day before the Hulk died, and she needed to get comfortable.
Eli was coming out of the bathroom as she opened her bedroom door a few minutes later. He made a quick survey of her outfit, a comfortable pair of shorts and a loose T-shirt.
“Feel human again?” he asked.
“I’m getting there. So what books did you get at the library?”
As they filled their plates, talk turned to the various books they were all reading. But when they sat down and Fred had said grace, the conversation moved quickly to the tomatoes on the platter in the middle of the table.
“This is huge,” Noah said, holding a slice up before putting it on his plate. “What is it?”
“That’s a pink Brandywine,” Haley said. “It’s the first year I’ve tried them, but it won’t be the last.”
Most of the rest of the meal, they talked about gardens and gardening. When Noah mentioned canning, Eli groaned.
“He swears he can teach me how to do it. I’m perfectly happy to just be a helper.”
“Being the helper’s the best job in the kitchen,” Fred told him. “You get to sample everything.”
Eli lifted his tea glass in a salute. “In that case, sign me up.”
“So about tomorrow,” Haley said once the laughter had died down. “What do we do about the Hulk?”
“If you’re comfortable giving me your key, we can drop it off to Archer on the way home tonight. He said he’s working tomorrow, and he can have the vehicle towed to the dealership so that it’s there when we arrive in the morning.”
“Knowing him, he’ll look it over as soon as it gets there,” Noah said. “If there’s any hope of resurrecting it, he’ll make sure that option is presented to you.”
“He’s your uncle, you said?” Fred asked.
Eli nodded. “Married to our Aunt Emma.”
“You all have a close family?”
Noah glanced at his brother. “We do.”
“It’s a big family, too, from what
I understand,” Haley said. “I met their grandparents at the library last weekend. They seem like really sweet people.”
Eli’s smile was solemn. “They are, and they’re good people, too.”
“Yeah, Grandma and Grandpa talked about meeting you all weekend, you know. Fair warning—you’re on their radar,” Noah told her.
When he and Eli both laughed, she narrowed her eyes. “Oh, no. You two are not pulling me into the middle of that mess.”
Eli sat back and spread his hands, grinning widely. “You’re the one who offered to help her learn to knit. You knew from what we’d said that they’re determined to match make. You can’t blame us.”
“What’s this?” Fred asked, looking keenly from her to the boys.
“Our grandparents have decided that twelve years is a long enough period of time to have to go without having a baby in the family. That’s when our youngest cousin and their youngest grandchild, Sadie, was born. They’re actively plotting to get all of us grandkids who are old enough married off. And they took a shine to Haley, so she’s now part of the plot,” Eli explained, his eyes twinkling.
“Ah, I see.” Fred tapped a finger on the table. “I might have to call them, see if I can lend a hand. Let them know what she’s looking for. Can you give me their number?”
Haley buried her face in her hands, her cheeks feeling hot enough to fry eggs. “Gramps, no… Not you, too.”
“Why ever not? I like babies as much as the next grandparent.” He chortled with laughter when she shot him a dirty look. “Whoo-ee, girl. That’s got you stirred up.”
Standing, Haley grabbed her plate and his and stalked to the sink. “I refuse to participate in all your all’s delusions. No.” She started the water running to wash the dishes.
“What do you have against babies?” Eli asked, his amusement plain to hear even though she wasn’t looking at him.
“I’m not listening to you,” she said over her shoulder.
Noah, who’d stood as well and was bringing her more dirty dishes, was shaking his head. “Too late. You know it’s too late. Just give in now. So what’s on your list of requirements? Maybe Eli and I can help with the search.”
If he and Eli hadn’t been so nice to her in helping her out with the Hulk, Haley would have splashed him with sudsy water. Instead, she settled on a narrow-eyed glare.
“We should be the ones doing the dishes,” Eli protested as he got to his feet. “That was some of the best food I’ve had since I got home, and there are a lot of good cooks in our family. Thank you.”
“If you try to get in here and do the dishes, patient or not, you’ll find yourself wearing these suds,” Haley told him, holding up her soap-covered hands. “You two, as ornery as you are, have more than paid any debt owed for the food.”
Eli held his hands up in surrender. “Fine. If that’s how you want it…”
“It is. I’ll have these done before we stop arguing about it,” she said. She was almost finished with the plates and utensils already. “Do you guys want coffee or more tea? Gramps?”
“We probably should head out, actually,” Eli said. “I’m sure you have things to do this evening, and we should get the key for the Hulk to Archer. If you’re comfortable with that.”
She dried her hands, then went to her purse for the key. “Of course I am. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate this.”
He took the keychain, his fingers brushing against hers in a way that made her skin tingle warmly. “I’m glad we can help. I’ll plan on picking you up tomorrow around nine thirty if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine.”
After they’d gone, the house felt empty and quiet. Fred had stayed out on the porch after saying good-bye, and once she’d finished cleaning up, she joined him. She sat down on the swing with a sigh and let her head rest on the cushion behind her.
“What a day.”
“I’m sorry, Haley-girl. I know you weren’t ready to have to replace that car just yet.” He reached over and patted her hand. “Will you be okay?”
“It’s part of life, Gramps. And yeah, I think I can manage the payment. It’ll make things tight, but we’ll make do.”
“Your Campbell boys seem like nice young men. I’m glad they were there tonight.”
She smiled. “They’re not ‘my’ boys, but I’m glad they were there, too. I don’t quite know what to think about them, about their whole family. Everyone I’ve met so far seems so nice and open. Honest. Helpful. It’s almost like they’re too good to be true.”
She’d had friendships develop with patients before. But there were very few people she felt like she could call on for help and they’d be there. Even though she hadn’t known the Campbells long, she felt like they were that kind of family. She had no intention of finding out, though. She already felt like she’d imposed on them too much.
“Oh, they probably have warts. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t good people. You don’t get as old as I am without learning how to read people, especially if you have to rely on them for things most people don’t have to. I’m not too terribly nervous about you being alone with Eli Campbell tomorrow. I do think the boy’s interested in you, though.”
Haley stared at him. “No. He’s only being nice.” She shook her head, refusing to believe Eli was being anything more than friendly.
Fred smiled. “Of course, girl. You tell yourself that if you need to.”
As they talked about their day and enjoyed the evening, she cursed the seed of doubt he’d planted in her mind. She’d just managed to get herself convinced that her own feelings for Eli were only friendship. She didn’t need to start questioning that decision now. After all, it wasn’t like it could lead to anything even if her grandfather’s suspicions were true.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eli was awakened Saturday morning by an eighteen-pound ball of fur. More precisely, he was awakened by the placement of Fig’s rather large paws smack dab in the middle of his chest, followed by her wet nose coming into contact with the tip of his own nose before she settled down on his chest with a loud, rumbling purr.
“Ugh. Morning, Fig. What time is it?” he muttered as he tried to pry his eyes open enough to see the room and the clock beside the bed. He finally managed it, groaning when he saw that it was only seven.
“Cat, you are an early riser for sure. Why don’t you go wake your daddy up?”
She kneaded his chest, instead, and chirruped at him.
Eli sighed. “Or stick with me.” He rubbed his eyes and tried to come awake. He didn’t really mind Fig’s presence. He’d always liked the creatures. They’d had cats while they were growing up though they’d mostly been Noah’s.
A few minutes later, he’d dragged himself out of bed and was showered. Noah wasn’t around when he went out of the bedroom, but a pot of coffee was brewing. Eli made a beeline for the pot.
“Nectar of the gods, Fig, nectar of the gods,” he said as he pulled a cup off the rack beside the coffee maker. She mewed up at him, then dashed toward the sliding doors in the dining room to chatter at something on the other side. A moment later, Noah came in, a basket of fresh garden bounty in hand.
“You’re up early,” he said.
“A certain young lady let herself into my bedroom again. Which is fine—I needed to be getting up, anyhow. Do you always get up this early?” Eli perused the basket, which Noah had set on the island that separated the dining room and kitchen. He grabbed a small green pepper, tomato, a yellow summer squash, and a couple of green onions. “Have plans for these?”
“I’m usually up fairly early, yeah. And no, no plans.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No.” Noah went to the sink and washed his hands. “What are you thinking?”
“Omelet. You in?”
“Sure. There’s premade bacon in the fridge, too if you want it.” He went to the other side of the island and sat down with a mug of coffee. “Big day today.”
“Yeah. I’m hoping it goes well enough.”
They’d discussed Haley’s situation and more on the way to Archer’s last night. The conversation had been revelatory on a lot of different planes.
“You know she can’t afford a new vehicle right now,” Eli said after they’d hit the main road.
Noah nodded. “I figured as much from what she said. But I thought PT’s made good money.”
“They do. But she has hefty student loans, and I guess the house has had to have a lot of repairs over the last few months. Big repairs and she’s had to finance them. At least that’s what Jeanne, the therapy assistant, told me. I picked her brain a little,” Eli admitted, relieved when Noah didn’t tease him for that. “I wish there was something more I could do to help.”
“You’re doing quite a bit more than I think she expected. I get the impression they don’t have a lot of help, Haley and Fred.”
“No. They don’t. He has two sons who live nearby, her uncles, but they’re fairly worthless. Again, according to Jeanne.” He stared out the window, his arm braced on the door as he rubbed his chin. “Why is it that some of the nicest people are the ones who get the shit-covered end of the stick so often?”
“Because life sucks more often than it should?” Noah answered quietly. “We can explain the situation to Archer. I’m sure he’ll be happy to help as much as he can. Short of you marrying her or something, though? I don’t know that there’s much more you can do. I’m sorry.”
Eli knew Noah was right. “Yeah, well. I can think of worse people to be married to.”
Noah coughed, having just taken a sip of water. “I know.”
They looked at each other, and Eli snorted. “I have to wonder what my life would have been like, what everyone’s life would have been like if I’d married someone like Haley.”