Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 15 (22 page)

“
Static electricity
.”

“
Yes!
”
she exclaimed relieved.
“
That
’
s what I mean.
It
’
s in there, with them, all the time.
It
’
s fascinating
.”

Chad didn
’
t want to disappoint her
,
but he could see her building romantic hopes for her new friends and didn
’
t want to see her hurt.
“
You know, sometimes that
’
s all there is
—
it
’
s called attraction, infatuation.
It doesn
’
t always grow into anything more substantial
.”

She nodded sagely.
“
I can see that.
Endorphins.
That
’
s what Mother called them.
She said that they controlled happiness, crushes, and something else.
I can
’
t remember
.”

“
Crushes?
”

“
It was when I went nuts for Bill that year when I was fifteen.
She explained it all
,
and I saw that it was just a natural chemical reaction that God built into
—”

“
Enough.
I can
’
t stand to hear it,
”
Chad said wearily.
“
Your mother was so amazing in almost every area of her life
,
but when it came to male-female relationships, she knew how to strip the God-given joy out of things
.”

“
Well,
”
she retorted giving him a playful look that he recognized all too well.
“
I learned a lot from her
,
but I
’
ve had other teachers in my life too
.”

“
Just give me that calf and let me try to work out the kinks before it turns into a sore mess and a Charlie horse,
”
he growled.

“
Oh, my leg isn
’
t kinky.
It’s just tired.
”

Chad rolled his eyes heavenward and shrugged at the Lord.
“
What can I say, Lord
?
What can I say?
”

After dinner, Chad brought up the mail.
In it was a large package from Boho full of fabrics for the following spring.
“
They sent you more fabric?
Didn
’
t you just finish with fall?
”

“
Lee says that they
’
re trying to get on a normal schedule.
Apparently
,
they try to be a full year ahead of current time.
If they
’
re selling spring/summer now, they want spring/summer done for next year too
.”

Before Chad could give his idea on that score, the sound of tires crunching in the yard interrupted them.
He glanced out the window and groaned.
“
Adric and Becca are here
.”

“
Wha
—”

“
I think Becca needs some advice
,
and from what I can see, Adric looks a little lost
.”
Chad tugged gently on Willow
’
s braid
to
bring her eyes to meet his.
“
I
’
ll take him if you can handle her
.”

“
It
’
s a deal.
Oh, and I intend to do some crying later.
I feel it already.
Thought you should know
.”

“
Dul
y warned
,
milady,
”
Chad acknowledged with a goofy sweeping bow.

“
That
’
s lass and don
’
t you forget it
.”

“
Yes
’
m
—
h
ey
,
Adric.
Good to see you guys!
”

Adric opened the door for Becca and ushered her inside.
“
Becca needed
—
”

Before Adric could finish, Becca with tears streaming down her face, rushed at Willow and threw her arms around her.
“
I
’
m so confused
.”

“
Come on
,
Adric, why don
’
t we go take a walk and let the women talk
.”

Willow, not knowing what else to do, led Becca to the couch, wrapped her arms around the weeping woman, and just held her.
The minutes ticked by until
Becca quieted to an occasional sniffle.
Willow reached around her and
retrieved
a box of Kleenex
.”

“
I thought
—”
Becca sniffed again,
“
I would have assumed you
’
d be big on handkerchiefs
.”

“
I am.
Chad isn
’
t.
He compromised a lot to move here…
you know, no electricity, lots of hard work, goat milk
,
which he hates but drinks because he doesn
’
t want to hurt my feelings…
”

“
He hates the milk?
”

“
From the faces he makes when he doesn
’
t have his guard up, he hates it.
Doesn
’
t mind the butter, cheese, yogurt, or ice cream but the milk…
”

Becca gave a half-hearted laugh.
“
That
’
s funny
.”

“
Something isn
’
t funny in your life.
Am I crazy to suspect it has to do with Josh and Adric?
”

Becca
’
s eyes filled with fresh tears.
“
Am I insane?
What is wrong with me?
I have a wonderful man who is genuinely interested in me.
He
’
s everything I ever wanted.
He has invested in me this month
,
and I know he
’
s going to want to keep corresponding…
”

“
But you find Josh attractive
.”

“
I find Josh attractive,
”
she admitted.
“
What do I do?
”

“
In five years, if you are married to Adric and things are going badly for whatever reason, will you wonder and regret not at least seeing if there was anything to consider with Josh?
”

Willow
’
s question wasn
’
t what Becca expected but immediately, it gave her the answer she needed.
“
I
’
d regret it before trouble hit if I couldn
’
t stop thinking about him
.”

“
If Adric is the reasonable man that I think he is, he
’
ll understand.
He
’ll be hurt—
definitely. H
e might not even realize he
’
ll understand,
but he will.
If you spent time with Josh for six months and then decided he wasn
’
t for you
,
and Adric still hadn
’
t found the right woman, I think if you contacted him, he
’
d be willing to at least meet to discuss it
.”