Page 62 of Stay With Me
Am: On my way. I should be there in less than 10.
I look up at Jess. “Am will be here in ten. Do you need to go to the bathroom or anything? I think you guys are going to get lunch before heading back to the farm.”
She closes her book and stands. “No. I’m good to go.”
We walk toward the kitchen. “I packed everything I think you might need and a change of clothes just in case you help with thefish and get wet. I also put money in the front pocket for lunch, but Am will probably pay.”
She tilts her head. “Do we let other people pay for us?”
“Um, sometimes, but it’s not because we can’t pay for ourselves. Just like sometimes we pay for other people if we’re out with them.” I don’t know how to explain this. It took me forever to understand the social cues on how this worked.
“I don’t understand.” She frowns as she puts her book in her backpack.
“It’s okay. It was confusing for me too, but you have more than enough money in your backpack for lunch.” I place my hand on her shoulder as I squat down. “Don’t think too hard about it. Also, you know that if you want to come home, you just tell Amelia, and she’ll bring you right back. You don’t have to stay anywhere you don’t want to. Okay?”
As she nods, there’s a knock on her door. With my hand on Jess’s shoulder, we walk to the door and open it to a smiling Amelia.
“Hey!” she says, then looks at Jess. “Are you ready to go? We’re going to have the best day!”
“Yes, I’m very excited. I told Luna I was able to read about your farm with Ms. Cassidy at school, and I have a whole list of questions,” Jess tells her with a serious look.
“I’ll do my absolute best to answer all your questions. Do you have everything you need?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Perfect! Let’s head out.” Am holds her hand out for Jess.
Jess looks at me with a smile as she takes Am’s hand.
“We’ll be back around dinner, but I’ll text you before we come this way,” she says with a wink as she turns and walks away with Jess.
As they get in Am’s Jeep, I close the door and look at the clock. I still have some time before Noah gets back.
Time to distract myself with cleaning.
TWENTY-NINE
Luna
Cleaningdidnotcalmme down how I hoped it would, and I’ve read the same sentence for the last fifteen minutes. I set my Kindle down on my lap with a sigh.
Nerves wreak havoc on my stomach as I fiddle with the corner of the case on my Kindle, my mind racing.
Is what I’m wearing okay?
Is this really happening?
It isn’t long before I hear the sound of Noah’s tires coming up the driveway. I peek through the window as he climbs up the steps.
He walks inside and closes the door behind him. “Hey, baby, was Jess excited to spend the day with Am?” he asks, setting the bags he’s carrying on the island.
“Yeah, apparently, at school, she asked Cassidy if she could read about aquaponics and has a list of things she wants to talk about.”
A smile takes over his face as he walks toward me. “She might be shy, but I love her thirst for knowledge.”
“Yeah, I know it should be a good thing, but one day she’s going to know more than me, and I won’t be able to help her,” I say as I rub my hands on my thighs.
“I think every parent feels that way at some point. My mom used to tell me to do my homework my way, and she would do it hers, and that’s how she would check it.” He sits next to me, pulls me close, and kisses my forehead. “Want to eat some lunch?”
