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Chapter Five

EVA

If I didn’t know thatwould see and went outside to work He still came inside everyday for lunch He still talked about the cattle that he’d need to sell off at the end of the su breakfast like he used to When I looked for hi down in the shade staring off in thought And at lunch he hardly touched his food Then there were the times I couldn’t find him Those were the times he was sick He hid from me then

It had only been a week since I’d found out A week since my world had been altered I refused to leave hio at first but after arguing with hiirl inside me that was terrified He had held me and told me I could stay He understood

I knew that he didn’t understand He wasn’t the one as going to be left He’d get to be with Moain I was the one that would be without them The doctors had said he could live for six ht that ere the luckiest people on earth

"Eva?" Jeremy called my name as the screen door sla Daddy as he walked across the back yard and walked to the front of the house to see Jeremy

"Yeah," I called out as I turned the corner into the kitchen He was already fixing hilanced over at me and frowned

I knew that frown He was here to talk I wasn’t in theback this afternoon?" he asked while pulling out a chair and flipping it around backwards before sitting in it

"Yes He went to get souilt started eating atworse

"You gonna o aren’t you? It’s his future, Eva" I had expected this conversation froiven me a week reprieve No one had pushedto Tennessee for a week They were expecting hi on me I knew that if I asked him to stay he would It was that simple

"I know that, Jeremy," I snapped Because I did know that I didn’t need hi needy Cage had a future ahead of hiht hard for this chance I loved hi with hi to ht"

Jereonna leave you easily He’s ready to throay his scholarship for you"

I knew that too I could see it in his eyes I was going to have to force hiht now he didn’t need to be around h this I wasn’thim doith me I looked over at Jeremy "You’ll be here with me?" I asked Because I couldn’t do this alone

"I’o back anyway You know that But CageHe wants to go This is his chance I knohere I belong now and it’s here"

It was tione When Jeremy reminded me so much of the man I loved and lost "Thank you"

"It’s thick and thin, girl It always has been," he said with a sad sether I looked out theand watched as Daddy sat down on the tailgate of his far This hat he wanted As angry as I had been when I found out he was refusing to take treatments I couldn’t stay mad at hio and I couldn’t take that from him

"I love that man," I said more to myself than anyone

"He loves you too You’re his world, Eva You always have been," Jeremy’s voice was laced with sadness He loved e leaves toonna need you," I said quietly I knew I’d e’s arms to run to when the pain was too much

"And I’ll be here," he assured o visit with Daddy," I said as I stepped outside

Daddy turned his head to seethat s as much these days

"Hey, Daddy," I said as I pulled ate

"Hey, baby girl," he replied and reached over to pat et this hot until July," I said reaching for the ice towel in Daddy’s cooler and handing it to hiue He took the towel and wiped his face and neck then rolled it up to rest on his neck "Jererin

"Probably," I replied He always accused Jereet a drink

"Cage was gonna help et back?"

Cage had been helping Daddy all week It was as if it was last su with Cage and I was allowed near Cage and o take care of sos" I trailed off because Daddy liked to try and talk ot a chance

He let out a weary sigh and I kneas about to say so he knew I didn’t want to hear I prepared ain "I know you want to stay with lad you do I want to spend asinto cry I couldn’t do that to hih to let him I nodded instead