Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 15 (2 page)

Chad slipped out the front door and started down t
he driveway, meeting Willow half
way.
She smiled as she neared.
“
Afternoon
,
Chaddie
.”

Shaking his head at her,
Chad
took the
tools and wire from her.
“
You could have woken me
,
lass.
I
’
d have helped
.”

“
You needed your rest
.”

They
strolled
up the drive to the barn.
Inside
, he dropped everything and pulled her close.
“
I am a very happy man
.”

“
That was the goal,
”
she replied impishly.

Chad
’
s Argosy Junction CD played in his laptop as they ate dinner.
Willow toyed with her salad
,
picking chicken pieces out and then dropping them back to the plate.
“
What
’
s wrong?
”

“
I don
’
t know
.”

As he ate his own salad
,
laden with leftover chicken from the previous night, Chad tried to imagine what could be bothering her.
“
Well, if you don
’
t feel like eating, how about a walk?
”
Her shrug was less than encouraging.
“
Play a game?
”

Chad didn
’
t know what to think.
Why was she so out of spirits?
Had he offended her?
Should he ask
,
or would that make it worse.
Women got that way sometimes.
If you didn
’
t know why they were irritated that just made the situation worse.
He glanced at her.
No, Willow wouldn
’
t be like that.

“
Have I said or done something that bothers you?
”

Her eyes flew up from her plate.
“
Of course not!
”

She took a bite as if to assure him she
’
d be fine.
It only unsettled him further.
In desperation, he clung to the only thing that he could think might be the problem.
“
Um, would you rather I make up the bed in your mom
’
s room?
”

“
No!
”
Willow stood and shoved back the chair.
“That is,
if you think that
’
s best, then fine
,
but don
’
t do it on my account
.”

“
I
’
m trying to understand what is wrong
,
but I
’
m failing here
.”

“
I don
’
t know, I said.
I wish I did so I could tell you
,
but I just don
’
t know
.”

H
e carried his empty
p
late to the sink and reached automatically for a towel.
The edge left the air in the kitchen as they worked silently together to put the room back in order.
Once finished, the unsettled feeling shrouded Willow again
,
and Chad noticed immediately.

“
I
’
ll go milk Ditto
.”

“
Why don
’
t I do that and you relax?
”

Chad started to protest
,
but the disappointment that crept into her face stopped him.
“
You
’
re probably right.
I think I
’
ll take a shower
.”

While lathering and rinsing Chad prayed.
As he dried off, realization dawned.
He remembered Willow after his nap, during kitchen clean up, and the change that came over her as she strolled to the barn for Ditto
’
s milk pail.
He tossed the Dockers and button down shirt he
’
d brought to change into back into the closet and pulled on old jeans and a holey t-shirt.

At the barn, he met Willow carrying the milk pail.
“
So, what do we do on a spring evening?
Hoe?
Rake?
Sow?
Reap?
If we reap, do we have to do it grimly?
”

“
You want to work?
”
A spark lit her eyes
,
but she quickly extinguished it.

“
Isn
’
t there a lot of work to be done around here?
”

“
Well
…
”

Draping an arm across her shoulder, Chad led her into the summer kitchen and began straining the milk.
“
Look, I think I know what is wrong
.”

“
Well then tell me, because I
’
m going crazy
.”

“
You
’
re bored
.”

“
I am not!
”
she protested hotly.
“
That
’
s ridiculous
.”

“
But you are.
You
’
re used to being very active, even if it
’
s
lying
around catching fish.
You
’
re not used to lying around the house doing nothing.
You
’
ve spent the past three weeks doing things that put you behind in your spring and summer work
,
and it
’
s showing
.”

“
But this is our honeymoon.
Aren
’
t we supposed to be relaxing?
”

Chad poured the boiling water over the freshly washed milk pail and let it drip dry on the counter.
He laced their fingers together, and pulled her outside into the evening air.
“
Some people go skiing, others go snorkeling or mountain climbing.
Sightseeing is even exhausting.
We
’
re farming.
So what?
”

“
Well, we do need…
”

He
listened as he
r mind went in a million audible directions.
Among the things mentioned were another field for more alfalfa, more chicks arriving that week, the need to shear the sheep before the first of June, and a dog house for the new puppy.
“
Mother never allowed a dog
house.
She said the barn was sufficient
,
but I always wanted a dog
house right under that tree
,
and I
’
d like to have one.
You know how to build things
.”

“
I can
’
t believe you refuse to even try
.”

“
I
’
m no good
—”

His head shook as he interrupted.
“
Nope, not buying it.
You said that about shooting but you worked at it until you were a good shot because you had to.
Your mother wasn
’
t there to do it for you
,
so you worked hard and learned it.
Your mother always did well with wood, you found it hard, so you decided to let it beat you because it was less injurious to your pride
.”

Her protest died in her throat.
She clamped a hand over her mouth and stared at Chad in dismay.
“
You
’
re right.
I can
’
t believe it but you
’
re right
.”