Jailbird by Heather Huffman

to
live, too.”
    “I’m working on it. I appreciate the time in
the motel. Anjelita and Manny have been amazing, but I can’t stay
on their couch forever.”
    “If you find a place and you need help, let
me know.”
    “Are you Daddy Warbucks all of a sudden?”
    “We do okay,” he shrugged. “I can help you
get on your feet.”
    “I don’t need you to save me.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “I mean it. You don’t have to do this. I’m
headed in the right direction now.”
    “I know you are. This’ll just get you there a
little faster. Besides, you deprived me the satisfaction of
cracking Todd Winslow in the skull. You owe me this.”
    “That’s a horrible thing to say,” I slapped
his arm.
    “Well you did,” he replied defensively.
    I rested my head against the window and
watched the scenery pass by. There was no sense arguing with him.
He seemed determined to make me out into some sort of damsel in
distress. It was a little frustrating. Of course, it was also nice
to have clean clothes and a room of my very own.
    The morning passed quickly with Conrad
working at my side. We covered twice the ground I had with Charlie.
Conrad had spent just as many hours as I helping our mama and
grandmother harvest dandelions as a child. Sometimes we reminisced
about childhood. Sometimes he filled me in on current gossip from
home. Whenever conversation veered to Gabrielle, his face would
light up but inevitably fall.
    “You’d like her, you know.”
    “Don’t,” I stood and stretched my aching
back.
    “Why not? Don’t you at least want to see
her?”
    “The day they took her out of my arms, it
felt like a piece of me had been ripped out. It was the single most
excruciating moment of my life. But it’s done and she’s happy now
and I won’t take that from her.”
    “She wonders who you are. Why you left
her.”
    “That’s better than knowing the truth.”
    “Sometimes I’m not so sure about that.”
    “Come on; let’s get these processed before
Charlie gets back.”
    Conrad gave me a look that said he knew I was
just ducking the subject but he was going to let me off the hook
for the time being. I figured I’d take what reprieve I could get.
Truth was, I was dying to know what she looked like… what kind of
person she’d become. I just remembered a big-eyed baby with a head
full of black hair that stuck out in every direction. She’d been a
little disproportionate; her eyes and mouth seemed too big for her
head. I was pretty sure she would have grown into those by now.
    Conversation turned to Mary O’Donnell and
Conrad’s first visit. We rehearsed his story and discussed when his
visit should be. We had that ironed out and had gone on to what
semi-precious stones were indigenous to the area and what would be
best for making jewelry. That’s the discussion Charlie came home
to.
    “What? Are you through with dandelions
already?” he teased as he set his briefcase on the counter.
    “I have to do something with all the silver
I’m heisting from you. It melts down nicely,” I made a face at
him.
    “Good to know.”
    “Just planning ahead, actually,” I relented.
“Dandelions have a great growing season, but I don’t want to go all
winter without income.”
    “So you’re planning on sticking around,
then?”
    “Looks like it,” I was startled by his
question. He seemed pleased by my response, which got me even more
flustered.
    “You guys got a lot done,” Charlie let out a
low whistle as he surveyed the rows of jars lining his dining room
tables. “Good thing Rita said you could bring a few jars by the
diner this afternoon.”
    “Really?”
    “Really,” he broke into a broad grin. I could
feel a matching smile spreading across my face. “She said if you’d
make up some smaller jars to put on the tables as samples, she’d
let you set up a display at the counter. Just to see how it
goes.”
    “That’s amazing! Did you hear that,
Conrad?”
    It was a little victory, but it felt