“Yes, just got here.” I can feel Bradley’s looming presence behind me. “And we have company. Aunt’s friend is here to check the sink.”
She looks around, unsure. “Oh, okay.”
“This is my sister, Penelope. Penny, this is Mr. Bradley Jones.” I step aside to let Bradley in and close the door.
“So nice to meet you, Mr. Jones,” Penny says shyly, her hand burrowing in Henry’s fur.
“Likewise, Penelope.”
The tension in the room seems to grow as Bradley looks at her with curiosity. I leave my backpack by the door and clear my throat. “Do you want something to drink?”
“No, thank you, I’m fine. But I’d like to get a look at the sink if that’s okay with you girls.”
“Sink, right.” I nod. “It’s over here.”
I go toward the kitchen and wave him over.
“I’ll clear away my things so you can work.”
Penny is the first to enter the kitchen. She goes to the table where she’s been reading something and picks up her things before she and Henry leave the kitchen.
Bradley watches her go. Only when she’s out of the room does he sigh and go to the sink, placing his toolbox on the counter.
“She seems nice.”
“She is nice,” I correct him instantly.
“She doesn’t look much like Mary.”
“No, she took mostly after her father.” I was too young to remember much about him either. I just remember a guy with floppy, almost white hair and a smile. Out of all Mom’s boyfriends, he was one of the nicer ones. “And before you ask, yes, we have different fathers. Not that either of us knows much about them.”
His piercing eyes stare at me, and I’m not sure how to interpret the look in them. I’m familiar with people’s curiosity and insensitive questions, but there is something different about the way Bradley Jones observes us.
Unable to hold his stare for much longer, I turn my back to him and go to the fridge. Pulling the door open, I take a pitcher of iced tea, then grab two glasses from the cupboard and fill them. Leaving one on the counter, I take mine to the little island so I can watch Bradley work.
“You knew Mom?” I ask, ready to change the subject.
“We all went to school together. Mabel, Mary, and I.”
Well, that’s a surprise.
I never gave much thought to the idea that these people know my mom, or well, they used to know my mom back when she lived here. But it’s hard to wrap my mind around that other person I never knew.
“How was she? Back then?”
Mom doesn’t really like to talk about the past, especially not her time in Bluebonnet. I never understood why. What is so bad about this place that she had to run away and never wanted to look back?
“Like any other teenager, I guess.”
Bradley doesn’t even bother lifting his head. He inspects the sink before crouching down to open the cupboard beneath it.
“Are we really talking about Mary Adams here?”
That gets his attention. A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “I guess you’re right. Mary was wild. Her aspirations and dreams were always too big for a small town like Bluebonnet. I guess that’s why she decided to leave. You guys still live in California?”
“We do, well, we did, but she’s still there, yes. Still dreaming of making it big.”
I try to keep my bitterness at bay, but it’s useless. Deciding I’m done with talking about Mom. I change the topic.
“So, you and Mabel? Are you guys close?”
“We are, we have been since we were in school since we’re the same age. Why?”
“Hmm…” I trace the tip of my finger over the rim of the glass. “I just find it interesting that she didn’t mention you, that’s all.”
“Why would she?” He peeks out, those dark eyes of his fixing on me. “Did you tell her you know me?”
“Touché. In my defense, there was never actually a reason for me to mention you.”
“Was there a particular reason why she should have mentioned me to you?”
“You went to school together,” I point out.
“We did, bu—”
“Hey, guys!” Mabel says as she rushes into the room. “I’m so sorry I’m late. It took forever to wrap up at work. But I can see that Kate let you in.”
“Bradley arrived just when I was coming home,” I explain, as the man in question stands up.
“Hey, Mabel, no worries.” Bradley closes the cupboard and puts away his tools. “I’m actually just done.”
“Did you manage to find the issue?”
“Yes, you should be all good now.”
“Thank you.” Mabel smiles at him, and I swear I see her eyes flutter a bit. What’s with that? “What do I owe you?”
Bradley shakes his head. “It’s on the house.”
“You always say that,” Mabel protests.
“Because I mean it. Seriously, it’s all good.”
She moves to him and places her hand over his. “Well, you should at least stay for dinner.”
“Rain check?” He gives her a small smile, and her cheeks turn pink. “I promised Keith I’d go back to the ranch to check on something.”
“Okay, but I’ll hold you to that.”
“I didn’t think otherwise.” He grabs the toolbox and takes a step back, his eyes meeting mine for a moment. “I guess I’ll see you ladies later.”
“Yeah, sure. Later.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Mabel says, leaving her bags in the chair.
I take a sip of my tea as I watch them leave, talking about something in hushed voices. I can hear Mabel laugh at something Bradley says.
Sighing, I get up and go grab my things so I can change and start on my homework. Just as I’m about to climb the stairs, Mabel comes back inside.
“What was that about?” I ask, taking her in. Her cheeks are flushed, and a smile still plays on her lips. She’s usually a happy person, but there is something more to it now that I don’t see every day.
Mabel pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. “What do you mean?”
“You and Bradley?” I prompt. “Are you like a thing?”
“What?” Her eyes bug out. “Of course not.”
“Really? It’s okay if you are, you know. You don’t have to hide your boyfriend…”
“Really, Kate. Bradley and I, we’re just friends, always have been.”
It didn’t seem like that only minutes ago, but who am I to protest? “Okay, if you say so.”
Chapter Nine
KATHERINE
“Kate!” My head shoots up at the sound of my name. I look around until my eyes land on Becky waving at me from the bleachers. “Over here!”
I wave back, looking around for an excuse to continue on my way, but there really isn’t one. Sighing, I walk slowly toward her.
“You’re here early,” I comment as I come within hearing distance.
She tips her head to the side. “I occasionally come to watch the guys practice.”