Page 216 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

He nodded again, without asking any questions. Then
she led him to Elgin’s chair and made him a cup of tea, even
though he hated tea. They made a to-do list, Ash volunteering
to do the laundry.
Elgin slept for most of the day, emerging only once to use
the bathroom and prod his plants. No spatula-brandishing
today. No lime-green-Hawaiian-print euphoria at the stove.
Greta watched him fade in and out of the room, feeling a

little embarrassed for herself. On one level, she knew it
wasn’t that simple. Here are some daffodils and a nice meal.
Ta-da! Depression cured! On the other hand, she’d kind of
hoped. He’d had a good day. That was something.
In the late afternoon Greta parked herself on Nate’s
porch steps, watching for Rebus. At minus five degrees, she
barely needed her coat. Even the snow looked dull—white ADVANCE READING COPY

socks after summer camp—probably knowing it would
melt soon. Then storm, then melt, then storm, then melt
for another two months. Swing between minus twenty and
plus twenty.
Rebus pulled into the driveway a few minutes later. Nate
climbed out of the driver’s side—practically a carnival act,
with his long legs—and didn’t seem surprised to find Greta
waiting there.
“I have a plan for school, Nate,” she told him.

“Excellent!” He crushed her in a giant hug.
She smiled into his shoulder.

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