Page 25 of You Were Invited
After a long day of preparing wood yesterday, Julian didn’t have any pre-made plans. “I have today. And tomorrow, if that’s what it takes.”
“Great!” She thought for a second, her head tilting and her eyes darting to the side. “Let me go find gloves. I’ll be back in a sec.”
“I can deliver it.”
“I want to help.”
"By all means, you don't haveta, Annie."
"I could use a little air. I’ve been staring so long at my assignment that my eyes won’t stop crossing." She darted down his steps to the gravel path.
Guess I have no choice but to accept and be thankful about it,he thought, amused. Work would go faster with another pair of hands anyhow.
Julian had already loaded his wheelbarrow when Annie returned. It was stacked three feet tall, barrow included, with medium-sized logs.
Her eyes widened. "You really gonna be able to lift all that?"
The gravel trail between the cabins was fairly even and without too many bumps. He’d considered loading the trailer, but some exercise sounded… healthful? Julian put his hands on the wheelbarrow handles and lifted with his legs. It wasn't all his strength. Just surely a lot of it.
"See? I got it," he grinned, jaw clenched so tight his teeth felt uncomfortable in his mouth.Damnit, maybe it is too heavy.
"By all means, don't show off on my accord." Her lips turned down in a pout of concern.
“Nah. For you, sure.” When it didn’t relieve her trepidation, he added, “I got it. Don’t worry.” He adjusted his grip as his forearms began to burn. “I can take breaks,” he assured her. He threw his back into it and got the barrow moving.
It’ll be fine. Just go slow.
They were quiet for half the trek. He thought he should make some sort of small talk. Annie was busy studying the sky, which was filling with voluminous dark clouds.
"What kind of school do you do?" he asked.
"School?"
"I thought… You said you had an assignment.”
"Oh! No, it's a work assignment. I work from home for a gardening magazine, and do a few other things here and there. It's not super interesting, but I like it. And my clients." She glanced over at him when he didn't immediately answer.
He was trying to think of something intelligent to say, but his mind had gone blank.
She leaned in conspiratorially. "This is the part where most people go, 'Oh... huh. I haven't written a single word since I graduated high school,' or, 'Can you look over my son or daughter's essay and give them feedback?' or, ‘I have a great idea for a children’s book!’"
"Writing is an important job.”
"Most of it is putting together words a thirteen-year-old could understand."
"See, important. I'm a smartass, but with an emphasis on the 'smart' and less on the 'ass.'" The wheelbarrow went over a bump, jostling the wood. Without hesitation, Annie stuck out a hand to stabilize the pile.
“I got ‘er.” He smiled and continued on.
Annie asked, once she was satisfied the stack would be okay, "What d'you do? You a professional mountain man?"
"No. Dentist."
It took her a second to catch that he was kidding after he flashed a grin. "Oh — haha! I mean, you could be a dentist for woodland creatures..."
He chuckled. "I do odd jobs, mostly taking down any trees around people's houses. Making sure they don't kill people.” He paused before adding, “I worked at the department store in town for almost ten years. I managed the hardware section."
"I never would’ve guessed that in a million years."
