Finding Home Read Online Free PDF Page B

well as you thought you would in New York doesn’t mean you want to be a farm boy in Minnesota. Eventually, you’ll get sick of punishing yourself and move on again. Just do it right this time. Remember, there are people here who love you deeply. Treat them well.”
    He nodded, thinking over her words.
    “And two,” she continued, “you’re obviously in love with your parents’ new helper. And I can’t say I blame you.”
    “Who, Jessica?”
    “Is that the redhead I mentioned earlier, in a comment you completely ignored?”
    “Well, yeah…”
    “Then, yes, Jessica.”
    “I’m not in love with her,” Ben said, enunciating his words. “I don’t even know her.”
    “You don’t have to know people to feel close to them,” Lisa replied. “Maybe love was a strong word, but whatever it was I saw going on between you two, well, I’m not stepping in the middle of it.”
    “And what did you see?”
    “That’s none of your damn business,” she said with a laugh. “Find it yourself. I’m done counseling for the night.”
    She tousled his hair affectionately. “Now, can you take me home?”

Chapter Four
     
    Lisa’s words stuck with Ben. He spent the next three days hard at work, doing repairs at the old farmhouse. He tightened the kitchen chairs that had grown wobbly from use, painted the doorframes that had chipped years ago when he’d haphazardly moved out his furniture, and reorganized the basement area that was full of the stuff he’d left laying around when he’d gone, but that his mother had never touched out of respect for him.
    These chores were boring and small, but he considered them penance for his actions. He actually came to enjoy the process, looking back on the progress he made with pride. That had always been his problem, he decided. He wanted results immediately. He’d work hard for them, but if his projects took too long, he grew disillusioned and started on something else instead, dooming his first effort to failure as it languished, unloved.
    He wiped the sweat from his brow as he crouched low under the sink in the kitchen. There was a small leak in the pipe there that Harold hadn’t gotten around to fixing. Ben went at the problem area with a wrench, shouting out the words to the old Metallica song he was blasting from the stereo. His hand touched a slimy spot, and he recoiled. He’d have to bleach this piece out. Straightening, he turned to grab a rag then stumbled back toward the counter when he saw Jessica standing right behind him.
    “What ever happened to Christmas carols?” she asked with a smile. He turned down the sound, embarrassed. Her face flickered concern for a moment. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. You’ve been so busy, I’ve hardly seen you since the dance!”
    “I have to make up for a lot of lost time,” he said, wiping his hands on his tattered jeans. “I left this place a mess when I moved, and I decided to make myself useful.”
    “Good choice.” Jessica nodded, her fiery curls bobbing around her shoulders. She flashed her green eyes up at him. “I’ll be needing the kitchen soon, though. Ellie is getting packed to accompany Harold on a business trip for the next few days. Dinner’s my responsibility.”
    “What are we having?” Ben asked, squatting back down under the sink. He didn’t want her to see him staring at her gorgeous figure displayed by the apron dress she wore.
    “Pot roast,” she said. “Should be easy enough.”
    “Can I help you?”
    Jessica laughed. “Are you even the same person I met four days ago?”
    “Hey!” He peered up at her. “I wasn’t that bad!”
    She just laughed in reply, turning to leave. “Let me know when you’re done,” she said. “If you clean up, maybe I’ll let you slice the potatoes.”
    The smell of bleach was overpowering as Ben finished up his task. He’d have to shower before he did anything with food. Plus, he didn’t want to be close to Jessica while smelling like moldy sink.