AllFreeNovel
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“Gloria has a vet check all the horses every year. I’m sure if there was a problem, he’d have noticed it by now.”
“What was the reason Shiloh was retired from racing?”
“Don’t know.”
“We should talk to Gloria about this.”
I reach over and pat his shoulder. “Shiloh’s in pretty good shape. I don’t expect he’s going anywhere for a while.”
“It’s impossible to know what will happen in the future.”
Hell, if anybody knows that lesson, it’s our family. Glancing at him sitting straight in the seat, I think about the changes he’s had to deal with in his short life. He lost his mom, but I heard Rachel telling Miss Gina he never really knew her.
“Has your sister said anything to you about school?”
His lips tighten, and he nods. “I’m starting at the 7-12 school in January.”
“How do you feel about that?”
He shrugs. “Research is mixed on the value of separate middle schools. Many school districts are abandoning the practice entirely.”
Not what I meant.
“I went to school here in Newhope.” He looks over at me briefly, curious. “When I was there the kids were generally welcoming to newcomers.”
“It’s a primal facet of human nature to be wary of strangers.”
“The good news is they won’t be all strangers. Austin will be there, and Allie is the librarian. Dylan teaches dance.”
His eyes lower. “I never had friends at school. I’d usually read a book or sit by myself at lunch and recess.”
“Things might be different for you here.” We pull into the circular drive, and I park the Jeep beside Jack’s red truck. “You can always hang out in the library if you just want to read. Allie won’t mind.”
He nods before climbing out. “She’s nice.”
“Yep, she is.” I reach behind my seat to grab my toolsand the bag of supplies I bought to fix the sink yesterday evening. “Did Gloria tell you about the pool tournament she’s planning?”
He nods. “I can’t participate.”
“How come?” Our shoes crunch on gravel as we walk up to the house.
“I don’t know how to play pool.”
“Tell you what, next time we’re at the restaurant, I’ll grab Austin, and we can teach you. Sound good?”
“I’ll read up on it.”
Exhaling a laugh, I expect that means he’ll be a pool shark by the time we have our first lesson.
We go through the gate leading to the back patio, and my stomach warms when I hear the sound of Rachel’s voice. “Balsam trees smell really good. You’ll love a balsam.”
I venture a peek, and I see Miss Gina lying face-down on the massage table. Rachel is sliding her forearms up the old lady’s back, which is bare to the waist.
Heat lamps are above them, and Rachel is dressed in short-sleeved beige scrubs. Her hair is twisted up in those two little space buns on the top of her head, and she looks fucking adorable.
Adorable?Seriously?
“How big is a balsam tree?” Miss Gina’s voice is thoughtful.
