Page 64 of Homestead

What we have might always be more practical than anything else. A transactional agreement. But maybe we can learn to trust each other.

And maybe he genuinely values me—a lot more than I realized before.

11

Two months later,I take out my last two loaves of bread for the day.

I’ve made ten loaves in total today, and it’s taken from first thing this morning to midafternoon. It’s been a lot of work but hasn’t been a bad Friday.

Baking is still my favorite chore.

Plus today is even better because Jimmy will finally come home.

He’s been gone since Monday. It’s early harvest for the greens and root vegetables at the Santiagos’ farm. While it’s not nearly as intense as August and September, which everyone says are the most exhausting, rigorous months of the year, it’s still a lot of work because of the size of the fields. After the harvesting, new crops have to be planted, so the Santiagos need extra hands for the entire week.

Jimmy, as one of the most able-bodied men in the community, always gets called in to work first.

I don’t resent that fact in any way. After all, we get to reap the benefits of the produce from our neighbors, so it’s only fair we help with the work. I sent him with ten extra loaves of bread to help Maria feed all the laborers during the week, and now I’m going to bring ten more so everyone will have at least one to take back home for the coming week. It’s the least I can do.

My primary sacrifice, as far as I’m concerned, is being without Jimmy for the week.

He’s gotten better about leaving me on my own. He can leave for a day now without much anxiety, and a couple of weeks ago, he stayed overnight at his folks’ to assist them build a new outbuilding. It helps that I’ve been practicing with my gun, and I’m a lot more capable of defending myself than I used to be.

But five days is a long time, and he kept talking in circles about what he’d do—landing on the ridiculous suggestion of trying to come home every night—until I finally suggested that maybe Amelia Hurley could stay with me for the week.

She still lives at home, and while she obviously helps out, their household doesn’t rely on her labor. She’s stronger and more competent than me, and she’s become my best friend.

Jimmy was deeply relieved when this plan worked out, and honestly so was I.

I could do it. I’m sure I can. But I wasn’t looking forward to a week entirely on my own.

The week has been kind of slow, but it hasn’t been bad. Amelia and I have been able to do both my chores and Jimmy’s while still having plenty of time to hang out and chat. I never feel as safe away from Jimmy, but I haven’t been particularly nervous with Amelia here, even at night.

But I miss Jimmy. I want him to come home. The house hasn’t been the same without him.

“God, that smells so good,” Amelia says, coming back into the house from the yard, where she was checking on the animals. “Are you sure we can’t crack into one of those and chow down? I could probably eat a whole loaf right now.”

I laugh, pleased with the offhand compliment. My bread is getting better and better until it’s become a source of real pride. “If we did that, we’d have to make more, and I think I’ve done enough breadmaking for the week.”

“That’s for sure. Making one batch is enough for me. I don’t know how you’ve managed so many.” Amelia is grinning as she collapses back onto the couch. She’s tall and long-legged with dark skin, hair, and eyes. “I guess I’m ready to go home.”

I peer at her from the kitchen. “You’re not sure?”

“I don’t know. This has been kind of nice—being away from my parents. I mean, I’m twenty-four. In the old world I would have graduated college and started a career of my own by now. But nope, not now. Instead, I’m stuck living at home, milking a hundred thousand cows a day.”

A giggle escapes me, and I’m relieved to see that she laughs too. “I guess our choices are pretty limited nowadays. Both men and women.”

“Yep. We’ve got to do what it takes to survive, which means do the work that survival requires.”

“Life here is a lot better than I had before. I loved Grandpa, but I didn’t have anything else. At least here I’ve got things to do that feel worthwhile even if they’re hard. And I’ve had the chance to have friends and be a part of a community. I didn’t have that before. Life is pretty good here, at least compared to the way a lot of other people live after Impact.”

“I know. I promise I’m not really complaining.” She sighs and closes her eyes. “Maybe it would feel different if I had a home of my own.”

“Couldn’t you fix yourself up a little house?”

“Maybe?” She makes a face. “But I’m not sure it would be all that safe living by myself, and keeping a house is a lot of work for one person.”

“That’s what Jimmy always says. He could barely make it on his own. His folks wanted him to move back home after Mary died, but he didn’t want to give up this place.”

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