Sit! Stay! Speak! by Annie England Noblin

Author:Annie England Noblin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 27

“THAT WAS WONDERFUL.” ADDIE LEANED BACK IN HER CHAIR. “Where did you learn to cook like that?”

“It’s something I’ve always been able to do,” Jasper said. “Much to my father’s dismay, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my mother as a child. Fried chicken was one of the first things she taught me. It’s a staple in any proper southern household.”

“You’re an only child?”

“Yes. My parents were both in their thirties before they had me. They never thought they’d have any children, I guess.”

“So you were spoiled rotten.”

“Hardly.” Jasper stood up and took Addie’s plate. “Rotten, yes. Spoiled, no.”

“Here, let me do that.” Addie jumped up and took the plates out of Jasper’s hands. “Sit down.” She walked over to the sink, scraping the remainder of Jasper’s plate into Felix’s bowl. “So, you and your dad . . . you don’t get along very well?”

“That’s an understatement,” Jasper muttered. “But we don’t really speak much, so I guess an argument could be made that we get along just fine as long as nobody talks.”

“I always wondered what it would be like to have a father growing up. My mom was great, but she worked all the time trying to support us.”

“Us?”

“Herself and me. She didn’t meet my stepfather, Jerry, until I was in college. They’ve just been married a few months.”

“It must be difficult being away from your mom. I mean, since it was just the two of you for so long.”

Addie shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to decide how to respond. “It is. But at the same time, I think it’s been good for my mother. After what happened . . . after—after I lost Jonah, I think she was afraid to be happy because she thought it would upset me. With me all the way down here, she’s finally able to have a life without worrying that she’s throwing it in my face.”

“Is that why you left?”

“Maybe.”

Jasper stood up. “I guess I should probably get on home. It looks like it’s letting up, and I don’t think you need to worry too much about losing power.”

“Okay.” Addie dried her hands with a dish towel. “Thanks for the ride, and thanks for dinner.”

“Anytime,” Jasper said, opening the door. “You want me to go ahead and take you back to your car now?”

Before Addie could respond, a gust of wind shot through the kitchen, and Addie shuddered. “Oh, wait, you forgot your hat.” She ran into the living room.

“Is that coatrack some of that old barn wood?” Jasper asked.

Addie pulled his hat off one of the old doorknobs. “Yes, so is the wine rack with the horseshoes in the kitchen.”

“That’s amazing,” Jasper marveled. “You made these?”

“I did.” Addie nodded. “And I don’t know if you noticed, but the kitchen table and chairs are the same ones you thought were trash the first time you were here.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Jasper admitted. “But I’m noticing now.” He walked back into the kitchen, placing his hands on the back of one of the chairs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.