Page 108 of Clara Knows Best

Dr. Wilder didn’t misunderstand. “Love.”

She was quick. No doubt about it. “Maybe.”

“You were very nice about him leaving, I thought.”

“Dad warned me not to make a big deal of it.”

“Ah.”

Clara forced herself to keep talking. “He said Jesse’ll come back when he’s ready.”

“Oh, I think so, too,” her mother agreed.

“Last time it took six years.”

“Not this time.”

Clara wished she could be sure of it. It felt awful, him leaving. She was regretting not saying anything to him—even if Jesse shot her down, at least he wouldn’t be totally ignorant of her feelings. Against every instinct, she’d backed off all week. Now she just had to have faith in her father’s wisdom.

“In fact, I’m willing to bet you one hundred dollars that he comes back within…six weeks.”

Clara looked at her, startled. “Really?”

Dr. Wilder smiled serenely.

“Okay, you’re on.” And surprisingly, she felt a tiny bit better. A very, very tiny bit.

42

“All right, the frying oil is ready,” Liesl announced. “Bring ’em.”

Clara brought the cutting board to the stove and they carefully placed tortilla strips into the deep avocado oil.

They were making chilaquiles. Her aunt had assured her that they were not complicated, but Clara hadn’t wanted to attempt them on her own. So far it had been a lot of roasting and blending—nothing too scary. But a massive pan full of oil was a little intimidating to a novice.

“Something smells good,” her uncle said hopefully, entering the room.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” his wife replied.

“That case, I’ll stick around,” Jim decided, going to wash his hands at the sink. “How’s life, Clara?”

Howwaslife? “Good,” she said briefly.

“That bad, huh?”

She treated him to some side-eye.

“I have teenagers,” he reminded her. “Don’t bother trying to fell me with a glance.”

She laughed reluctantly. “Sorry. It’s going fine. The office is closed until April, so I’ve been sewing a lot. I’m almost done with those dresses for the twins. And I’ve been exercising the dog like crazy. She has more energy than I thought possible.”

“Saw her out back a minute ago, herding my chickens.”

“Yeah, she loves it here. Dad’s horses just ignore her when she tries to round them up.”

“She’s pretty quick on three legs. When’s the cast come off?”

“Not for another month at least. I’ve given up trying to keep her immobile, though.”

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