Page 92 of Keepsake
I studied the ceiling boards, each one outlined with a shadow cast by my nightlight. Before this fall, I hadn’t needed a nightlight since I was six years old. I was so, so sick of being afraid of everything. So I pushed off the covers and tiptoed over to switch it off.
Lying down again, I stared into the dark. The glowing numbers on the digital clock were sufficient to outline the room. I wasn’t afraid. I was, however, lonelier than I’d been in a long while. My eyelids began to feel monstrously heavy. I was just so tired.But that’s good, I told myself. Tired people sleep better. With one more sigh, I rolled over and gave in.
Six hours later, I woke to the familiar sound of Zach’s watch alarm going off. My sleep-coated mind offered up no memory of when he’d arrived in my room, or what bad dream I’d failed to fight off.
But I did remember with painful clarity the last conversation we’d had, and how awful I’d been. And even so, one of his hands was pressed sleepily against my spine, the way it always was when I’d been dreaming. I squeezed my eyes shut, horrified to have woken him in the night.Again. And even after the horrible thing I’d said to him, he’d come to my rescue anyway.
Hot prickles began to form behind my eyelids. Why did he have to be so fucking nice?
I held perfectly still like the coward that I was. I felt a tear slide from each eye, but luckily my back was to Zach.
There was a grunt, and the sound of Zach fumbling for the button on his watch. I held my breath, waiting for him to roll off the bed and leave. But that’s not what happened. Instead, he rolled over to curve his body around mine. He swept the hair off my neck and nuzzled me softly under the ear. “Take care of yourself today,” he said. Then he kissed me very gently on the neck.
Oh, hell.
I clenched my fists against the desire to roll over and dive into his arms. My next breath came as a sob.Great. I couldn’t even stonewall someone the right way.
But Zach didn’t call me on it. He just wrapped his arm around my waist and held on tightly while I swallowed my tears and evened out my breathing.Calm, I ordered myself.Right now.
Later today we were scheduled to do the Hanover market together. I didn’t know if I could stand it.
Behind me, Zach sighed. He stroked my wrist with the pads of his fingers. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart,” he whispered. “It’ll be okay,” he added, just to prove he could read minds.
He got up then, dropping one more kiss onto my hair. And the air felt doubly cool against my back when he was gone.
27
Zach
When it wastime to go to the Hanover market, I was surprised to see Griffin appear to load up the truck with me.
“It’s the two of us?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Lark is coming, too.”
That put me in a foul mood. Did Griffin not trust me to sell apples with Lark without a babysitter? Like I might lose my ever-loving mind between now and six p.m.?
I didn’t say a word about it, though. That wasn’t my way. And when it was time to leave, Lark appeared and climbed into the back seat, leaving Griff and I up front together.
It was a long drive.
Griffin parked the truck at the edge of the Dartmouth green in Hanover, where tents had already begun to sprout in one corner of the big grassy square in front of the old library. Hanover was usually my favorite market. The bustle of college students made the people-watching fun here.
Usually. But today things were just plain uncomfortable.
Lark hopped out of the truck first. Before Griff could follow her, I asked him a question. “If you were coming to the market today, why the heck am I here?”
“Isaac asked me to lend him your services this afternoon. Leah has to leave the market after setup.”
“Oh,” I said stupidly. “Okay.”
“Is that all that’s on your mind?” he asked. “Seems like you’re carrying a heavy weight today. Lay it on me.” If I wasn’t mistaken, he almost looked amused.
I had the unusual urge to punch him. But of course I didn’t. “Look…” I cleared my throat. “There are only a couple more weeks until the markets shut down. So I’ve been meaning to ask you about your winter work plans. Specifically—how is it that they, uh, include me?”
“Work doesn’t stop when the markets finish,” he said. “You know that.”
“Sure. But if Audrey’s coming back to help you run the cider business, what will you need me for?”
