“I actually did do that. I just happened to be in town when
they had the market. I forgot all about it. I’ve hit it two months
in a row. Or maybe it’s held every week. I don’t know. I just
know it was a month apart because I had to go in and get paint
and it was this time last month. I checked my receipt in the
truck. I have this big stash in the glovebox that I keep meaning
to bring in.”
“I could try to file them for you if you want. I imagine you
have to do some kind of accounting, or that you’d just want to
know how much money you spend.”
Adalynn’s smile lit up the room in a way prettier fashion
than the golden stream of sunlight coming through the sliding
door did. “That would be great. Thanks.”
Cassia felt a little lightheaded at the praise. She wanted to
be helpful, but Adalynn really appreciated everything she was
doing, and being appreciated felt good. It wasn’t what she was
going for, but it was nice hearing compliments about the food
she cooked, and it felt good to be able to contribute in ways
that weren’t just scraping the house. Soon she’d be painting,
but even that felt like such a small thing.
When they were finished eating, Cassia cleared the table
and got the sink ready to do dishes. She was adding soap when
the first strains of Adalynn’s classical music drifted through
the kitchen like the soft breeze from the open window.
Adalynn sauntered over and offered her hand when Cassia
turned to see what she was doing. She smiled a huge smile that
made her eyes sparkle, and her hand twitched in a come here
gesture. She slowly shook her hips, undulating gently to the
music, even though it was classical, and Cassia didn’t think
that was how one danced to classical music. Adalynn didn’t