Page 6 of Apple of My Eye
Me: I couldn’t ruin it. *Sent with invisible ink*
Evan: Ruin shmuin. I want to be eating lasagna. When can I come.
Shari: Evan, don’t visit without me. Lou—it’s OK to apply to buy out the neighbor’s farm. It’s not likeyouare the one making them bankrupt.
Evan: Well?.?.?.?my regular person inside job doesn’t start until September so?.?.?.?maybe I should just pop up to the farm and make sure Lou tells her parents.
Shari: OMG DON’T GO WITHOUT ME.
Evan: Lou, you know that fall festival thing you always talk about.CAN I COME. Plz I miss you. *Kiss emoji*
Shari: You can’t be serious.
Evan: Sorry I’m not that sorry. *Sent with invisible ink*
Evan: You’re on yourEat Pray Lovejourney anyways.
Shari: Emphasis on the eat and love.
Evan: Eloise, we can make little seed pods for the kids at the festival like we did over the summer.
Shari: You are horrible. You know she can’t resist showing little kids how to farm.
Evan: YOU’RE THE ONE GOING TO EUROPE, BITCH. *Sent with invisible ink*
Shari: You could have come with me if you weren’t such a coward.
Evan: Speaking of cowards. *Sent with invisible ink*
I gasp at my phone. ‘He did not!’
Evan: On that note, I need to tell the man in my bed to get out of my bed. *Sent with invisible ink*
Shari:?OMG have you been texting in front of him this whole time? That’s rude.
Evan: He’s ASLEEP.
Shari: Good luck with that.
Evan: *Peace sign emoji*
Me: A COWARD????
Me: I rly love the seed pod idea though.
‘Lou!’ Mom shouts up the stairs. ‘Dad wanted to know if you could help him in West. Are you done with that school thing you had to do?’
‘Yes! Coming!’ I heave myself up and shut my laptop.
‘I still don’t understand how you have more schoolwork,’ she says, as I pull on my dusty farm boots. She follows me outside, a bright afternoon sky, the breeze ruffling our hair. A chickadee squawks from its perch on a nearby cherry blossom tree.
‘I’m done now,’ I tell her. Despite all my reservations, I feel a swell of pride as I say it. Iamdone. Whatever happens now is out of my hands.Now I just need to tell them.
She squeezes my forearm as I straighten to a stand. ‘I’m proud of you for getting all of that finally done,’ she says, her eyes wrinkling at the corners. ‘We’re happy you’re home.’
‘I’m happy I’m home too.’
She stills, her grip lightening. ‘Are you?’ she asks, her hazel eyes piercing. The chickadee cheeps, like it’s also waiting for my answer.
