Page 39 of The Bronze Garza
“To continue what I’m doing in peace andquiet.”
“Do you have kids?” I ask around another tomato.
He watches me like he doesn’t know what to do with me.Good. “Pretty sure you’ve already snooped around my house,” he says. “You seen anything that indicates that I do?”
“No. Just wondering,” I reply. “I don’t recommend you have any, though. You’d make a terrible father.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” he mutters as he resumes his task.
I turn to the door again, sliding it open a little more so I can step out. “I’m gonna say hi to Jo.”
He grumbles inaudibly, and I smile to myself. If he insists on being a grumpy jerk, then I’m going to have fun being a pain in his ass. Because, well, I’ve got nothing better to do with my time these days.
I trek across the green yard toward the log-house, the sun warm against my skin, the blue and white sky above me like a lid keeping me trapped inside this globe. Too bad I no longer know how to appreciate great weather. Rain, sun, snow… makes no difference anymore.
Jo watches me with thick, furrowed brows as I climb the steps to her porch, invading her quiet time. Now that I’m up close...uh, yeah, even with boobs, she still looks like a man. A handsome, robust, middle-aged man.
“Hi,” I say. “I’m Lyra.”
She rests her book face-down on her lap. “Jo.”
Beautiful feminine voice.
I plop down in the Adirondack chair next to hers. “I’m gonna be staying with you for a couple of weeks.”
“Withme?”
I grin around a tomato. “Torin said you wouldn’t mind.”
She chuffs. “Did he now.”
I hold the bowl out to her. “Cherry tomato?”
Her gaze dips to the bowl, then up to me again. “You’re just eating a bowl of tomatoes? Just like that?”
“Yeah. You want some?”
One corner of her mouth tips up, and she plucks one from the bowl, examines it, then pops it into her mouth.
I smile at her. “You’re alright, Jo. Can’t say the same for Mr. Irritable over there.”
“You must be special,” Jo says. “Ain’t ever seen him bring a woman here before.”
“Iamspecial,” I agree. “He just doesn’t seem to realize it yet.”
She examines me for a beat. “Ah, I see. You’re a job.”
I nod. “Yeah, Madame Universe has decided she doesn’t like me anymore and has been trying to eject me from her womb.”
Jo grunts. “That cut under your chin a byproduct of Madame Universe tryin’ to eject you?”
“Yup.” I stuff another tomato in my mouth. “Someone tried to run me over.”
“What did you do?”
“Exist.”
Another grunt. “Well, as long as you’re here, and in this lil’ nook of the neighborhood, you’re safe.”
