Page 96 of The Apple Tree

“Do you like the headache in the morning?”

“Nothing two ibuprofen can’t handle.”

“You’re awfully small to drink hard liquor. A few ounces of this adds up to several cans of beer.”

“Must we do math tonight?” She stepped onto the bottom stair and reached for the bottle again.

I pulled it away.

“Hey!” She lunged at me as I emptied the bottle over the side of the railing.

“Shh!” I let the bottle fall to the ground so I could catch her.

“That was?—”

I pressed my hand over her mouth so she didn’t wake anyone.

“I need you to be quiet so you don’t wake anyone who might tell your parents about your jailbreak tonight. Do you want to be grounded again?”

Kneeling on the step between my legs, eyes wide, she shook her head.

I removed my hand from her mouth and brushed the hair away from her eyes. “You can’t be here,” I whispered, not wanting her to leave, but I knew someone could wake up and open the door behind me without warning.

She frowned. “You don’t want me here.”

“Baby, I want you everywhere I am.” I stroked her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “But that’s not a good idea right now.”

She turned into my touch, kissing my palm. “You can’t call me ‘baby’ and send me home.” She closed her eyes as my hand slid down her neck. “You can’t touch me like you did today and send me home.”

“I’m sending you home because I’m scared of never getting to touch you like that again if we get caught.”

Eve opened her eyes. “Let’s be brave together and not care what anyone thinks.”

I smiled. “I’ll walk you home.”

She stuck out her bottom lip.

“I’m going to bite that lip if you insist on tempting me with it.” I stood, taking her hand and whistling at Clifford, who was eager to follow us toward the hill.

Eve hugged my arm while we meandered toward her property, taking unhurried steps.

“I had fun making caramel apples with Josh today. When he giggles, I feel it in my belly like someone’s tickling me, and I can’t help but laugh too. But nothing will ever compare to the look on his face when I gave him Clifford. I know everyone is upset that I got him a dog, but A, he was free. C, Josh is so in love withhim. And D. Well, I don’t know what D is, but you can’t make me regret it.”

“A. No dog isfree. I will have vet and food bills. You skipped B because you’re drunk. And, of course, Josh is in love with him. He doesn’t have any responsibility for the dog.”

She dropped her head, moping along beside me.

I squeezed her hand. “I’m not happy about the dog. But the way you care about Josh and see the innocence and pure joy in his laughter means a lot. I used to think the same about him cooing as a baby. And the soup was amazing. I bet your grandma is proud of you for taking everything she has to pass along to you and gracing your friends and family with culinary love.”

“Culinary love?” She giggled. “I like that. And yeah, I think I’m her favorite, which says a lot because I know I’m not my parents’ favorite.”

“I don’t think parents have favorites,” I said as we reached the bottom of the hill and started up the last hill before the orchard.

“That’s because you only have one child. If you have another, you’ll have a favorite.”

I laughed. “Think so?”

“Yes. And don’t fool yourself. Fred is your parents’ favorite.”

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