Mabel said, “Nope. Look. That is Alan. He’s never come onto our property before. But why don’t you go and invite him for dinner before he turns around and leaves. We got plenty.”
Roy headed down the stairs and went up to speak to Alan as Mabel requested. Sure enough Alan climbed out of the truck and returned with Roy.
“Evening Mabel. Thank you for the invite,” Alan said.
“You’re welcome. Oh, this is Ethan and this is Kollette, our friends.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Alan said.
They all went back inside where Mabel said, “Let me take your jacket and you can warm up by the fire. I was just about to drop the dumplins in, so I just need about ten minutes before we eat.”
“Let me help you,” Kollette said.
“No. You have done enough today. You and Ethan can sit and talk with Alan. Roy can give me a hand.”
Roy chuckled. “I must be in trouble, because she never lets me help.”
Mabel gave him a light jab in the ribs. “You know you’re nothing but a distraction.”
“And you love it too,” he teased as they left the room.
Alan shook his head. “We’ll be lucky if they don’t burn it now the way those two are.”
Kollette smiled. “It’s sweet to see how affectionate they are with each other.”
“Sweet wasn’t the word I was going to use. So how long have you two been married?” Alan asked.
“We’re not married,” Kollette said.
Alan raised his hand. “Sorry. I mean together.”
Ethan said firmly, “We’re not together either.”
Alan looked at them both and must’ve picked up on the awkwardness and changed the subject. “I can’t believe my boss sent me up here today. It wasn’t on the schedule for a few more days. Guess something’s going on because he pulled me off the job I was doing and told me this had to be cleared before the end of the day or he’d have my hide. Normally we don’t do private property either, but guess that changed too, ‘cause he said I had to plow the Potters out completely. Heck I thought for sure he was going to have me clean off Roy’s truck too. You’d think there was an emergency happening the way he was going on.”
Kollette could feel Ethan glaring at her as though she had something to do with this. She wanted to tell him she was as shocked as he was. But the problem was, her gut told her this was her father’s doing. That was only going to fuel Ethan’s anger even more.
“Well at least you guys will be able to get out when you want to leave. Good thing too, because I hear there’s another storm coming right behind this one. I doubt my boss is sending me back up again because we haven’t finished all the main roads.”
Ethan turned to her and said, “You should be happy now. You’re free to leave anytime you want. It’s still light out. Maybe you can follow Alan back down to the main road.”
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Mabel asked.
She hadn’t heard them return. Not taking her eyes off Ethan she said, “Unfortunately I am. I need to get home.” Getting up she headed to her room.
“Where are you going?” Roy asked.
“I should pack. Ethan’s right. I need to head out before it gets dark. I wouldn’t want to get lost.” Not again.
“But I thought you’d be here for a few more days,” Mabel said. “Ethan, tell her she should stay.”
Ethan got up and said, “Mabel, I’m sure she has better things to do than to sit around here.”
“But who are you going to play games with?” Mabel asked.
“I’ve had my fill of games.”
No one else seemed to have noticed that was directed at her. She took this as her cue to go and pack. But when she got into her room, she closed the door and the tears began to flow. As she folded her clothes, she sobbed quietly. No one needed to know how much she was hurting, especially not Ethan.