Page 40 of Bones

He put a row of thick slices on a double burner griddle and added heavy presses on top. The moment they began to sizzle, Victoria ran into the kitchen. Her pretty pink bow was missing,and it seemed she’d spent the morning in the mud because her fur was no longer pristine white and tan. Her front paws tapped rapidly on the hardwood floor like she was dancing a jig.

“You heard the vet,” Deke said as he put four slices of crusty bread into a toaster. “No more people food for you.”

Victoria let out a pathetic whine and yipped.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s insulting him.

Her aim moved to me, and she must’ve recognized a sucker when she saw one. She tilted her head before starting her little dance again. It was followed up with happy tail wags when she sat.

Andsmiled.

I had no clue dogs could smile, but there she was.

“Don’t fall for her shit,” Deke warned me.

I nodded, even knowing that I would be sneaking her a piece.

At least a little one.

He nudged me to the side. “Sit.” When I hesitated, feeling like I should help in some way, he added, “There were just some rabbits out in the garden.”

I’d never been an animal person. Okay, I’d never been around animals to know if I was an animal person. Yet I found myself quickly abandoning my desire to be helpful in favor of seeing rabbits. I scanned out the window and didn’t spot any. What I saw was far from a disappointment, though.

What the…?

Deke had mentioned a garden, but it’d been too dark to see much the night before. In the light of day, I saw it wasn’t just the small, mostly dead plot I’d pictured—one that mirrored my own pathetic attempt in Georgia. His was an expansive spread as far as I could see. And despite the frigid temperatures, the plants all seemed to be lush, green, and thriving.

Most of the greenery at my house was the ground cover and neatly trimmed bushes that Ryan preferred. He’d allowed me toplant some veggies and flowers behind the house, but even with the weather, the landscaper’s help, and my tending, it didn’t look anywhere near as healthy as Deke’s.

I grabbed the pen and notepad, quickly jotting down my question just as he approached with the breakfast.

How is your garden still alive?

“Got a green thumb.” He set down a plate of bacon, two heavily buttered slices of toast, and three different types of jam in front of me before going back to grab his own loaded plate.

It was too much food for me, but I was more caught up on the fact that he’d served me first for both meals we’d shared together.

Mealshe’dprepared.

That wasn’t the way the Gideons had ever done things. The one time Mrs. Gideon had tried to simply dish out her food before Pastor Gideon had begun eating his already prepared plate, she’d ended up locked away in her room with one of hermigraines.

One that coincidentally lasted as long as a black eye took to heal.

Ryan had always said it was his job to provide and mine to serve and support. On the rare occasion we went out to eat, he never asked what I was in the mood for before ordering for me—that part was necessary since I didn’t speak to anyone else. At home, food was dished out onto a single plate, and it was up to him how much I got when he was done. If I’d done my job and had visions that helped with his sermons, I was left with enough. When I’d failed, though…

Physical hunger was supposed to drive my spiritual hunger for redemption in the prayer room.

Since it took the guesswork out—and even with an empty stomach in the prayer room, it was less painful than the Gideons’ system—I’d never thought twice about it.

Not until right then.

Deke set his plate down before moving to fill Victoria’s bowl. When he turned back, he scanned me and the table in front of me. “What’s wrong? What do you need?”

I smiled and shook my head before gesturing to his plate and him.

“Don’t wait for me. Especially when you’re so hungry. Eat.”

Something about the surety in his voice and the emphasis he put on the words caused a buzzing in the back of my head. It wasn’t a vision, but it was as close as I’d had since the one in the woods.

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