Page 6 of Resilience on Canvas

God, he was making such a fool of himself. Robert turned to leave, and Henry’s eyes flitted back over to the candy shelf as an idea popped into his head. Before he could change his mind, he snatched up one of them Snickers bars and then caught Robert’s sleeve.

“Hey, uhm, here.” He thrust the bar into Robert’s hand, pulling back the moment their skin touched. He wiped his hand on one of his pant legs. Like maybe he could rub off the tingly feeling ofwantthat had settled there. “Take it.”

“How much is it?”

“No, I mean...” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “It’s free.”

“Oh. Why?”

“Just...” Henry paused. He hadn’t really thought this far. “I’m sorry for the, uhm, the Clara thing. And...”And I like you. A lot.“And I know yer always workin’ so hard on that farm of yers. It’s probably tirin’. Especially with the way things are right now.”

“Yeah, well, not much farmin’ for me no more. We planted a couple of crops, but they barely even make enough for us to eat. Especially once I sell a few in town.” Robert fell silent and clicked his tongue. “Ain’t like it was. Before.”

Before.

Back when their land was fertile. Back when most everybody had money to shop. Back when Henry had first taken notice of Robert tending to that farm of his when Henry had been trying out his family’s new Model A. He could still remember the way Robert’s bare torso had looked in the sun, slick with sweat from working that combine. Could still remember how he’d felt that stirring ofsomething, something he’d known he shouldn’t have been feeling, something he’d felt for other men but, before that point, had mostly been able to ignore.

Henry swallowed thickly and tried to force the memory to stop replaying in his head.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “About that farm of yers.”

“We’ll have some rain soon. God willing.” Robert tore the wrapper open with his teeth and took a bite. Holy hell. “Thanks for the candy,” he said, shaking the bar back and forth mid-chew.

“Uhm.” Henry blinked a few times. “Sure. Anytime.”

Hopefully not too often, though. Henry’s uncle would surely fire him. Or, maybe Uncle Bob would fire him soon anyway. Because that Snickers bar certainly wasn’t the first penny candy to turn up missing. Henry never could resist letting the schoolchildren take a piece or three.

Watching Robert leave, Henry took a few steps backward, not yet willing to turn away. Robert was... wow. Strong. Handsome. Confident. He wasa lotof things. And Henry couldn’t help but cherish this rare opportunity to stare. He hadn’t really seen Robert too much over the last few months, aside from when they were in church. Used to be that Robert would come to town with Clara every day, and the two of them would visit the store together. But now, Robert was probably busy with whatever there was left of his farm. He had no help no more, either, not with his father coming into town every morning, sneaking into one of the hush-hush businesses—places that were selling liquor that wasmuchstronger than beer—and not stumbling back ’til suppertime.

Henry was still lost in these thoughts when he tripped over his own two feet and fell on his buttocks, hitting the floor with a thud. The ringing of the bell that was hanging over the entryway as Robert left must have covered up the sound, because Robert hadn’t seemed to notice. Thank God. Henry blew out a long breath and scrambled to his feet.

One hour later, Henry closed the store. And then he walked back home, to his parents’ home, the home he still lived in eventhough he was twenty-six years old. And he tried not to fixate on the fact that he should have been living on his own by now. Worse, he should have beenmarried. With a kid or two and a family dog or something.

His parents were waiting for him in the kitchen when he arrived.

“Hey, son,” Henry’s father said, looking up from the newspaper. “How was work?”

“Fine,” Henry said, trying to keep his expression neutral so as not to show how rattled he still was.

“Mmm . . .”

When Henry’s father looked back at the paper, Henry felt a small pang of relief. Hopefully he could put off telling his parents that he wasn’t interested in marriage. At least a little longer. He took a step toward his room, but his mom stopped him, her hand settling atop his shoulder.

“We were thinkin’ that maybe we should have Clara over sometime. Get to know her a little better. We’ve barely spoken to her outside of church.”

Henry licked his lips as he considered how to respond. Part of him wanted to chastise her for entertaining the engagement. Why would you promise your son to someone you barely even knew? Why agree to this?

But Henry knew why.

It was because he was twenty-six.

Twenty-six and unmarried. Even though he was handsome. Even though he had a job.

And people were starting to talk.

Henry’s insides twisted into a knot, making him feel nauseated. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he shrugged off his mother’s hand and raked his fingers through his hair.

“Gee, I wouldn’t want it to be no trouble,” he said.

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