Page 43 of Two-Step
She looks at the sandwich squares. I watch her swallow. She’s hungry. That’s obvious. Poor girl.
“I-I’ll takeone.”
I give a half-shrug. “Start with one. Then see how you feel.”
With fingers that still tremble, she plucks one of the quarters from the plate and takes a bite. Her gaze lifts to mine.
“Mmm. What kind of jelly is that?” She smacks her lips. “It’s not grape.”
I grin. Nothing about that look of wonder could be affected either. “It’s Mayhaw.”
She blinks. “What’s that?”
“A berry that grows around here.”
She finishes the square and closes her eyes. “Mmm. It’s good. Tart but sweet.”
“Yeah, they’re real tart. Not too good to eat straight from the tree, but they make great jellies and syrups.”
Without hesitating, she picks up another piece and takes a bite. “I like it. Can you get it at the store?”
I press my lips together. “Hmm. Probably not. A farmers market will have it—for the next couple of weeks anyway.”
Her eyes go wide, and she shoots a look at her friends. “We have to find a farmers market.” She jerks her head back to me. “How long are Mayhaws in season?”
“Um,” I swallow a chuckle, “May.”
She looks down at the sandwich square, smiles, and looks back up at me. “I guess that makes sense.” Iris pops the last piece of that square into her mouth and grabs the third. “I really shouldn’t eat this whole sandwich,” she mutters.
“I think you should,” I say.
She shrugs, taking a bite. “Moira would freak,” she says around a mouthful.
I’m starting to think I wouldn’t like this Moira. Which meansNoncwas at least right abouther.Was he right about both of them?
“What Moira doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” When I say this, both Ramon and Sally turn their gazes on me. Am I just imagining it, or do I see approval in their eyes where there wasn’t before?
Iris finishes the third square and stares at the fourth. I’m still holding the plate in front of her, and I nudge it a little closer.
“C’mon. You can’t letNonc’sfavorite jelly go to waste.” Her eyes flare with alarm, and she picks up the last piece. “You need something to drink?”
Mid-bite, Iris shakes her head. “I have a Vitamin Water in my bag.”
“I’ll get it,” Sally offers, rising. She goes and brings back a bottle of a drink that proudly claims to haveZERO CALORIES!
Iris unscrews the lid and drinks the pale orange liquid. After several long swallows—during which I find my gaze on the delicate motions of her slender throat—she gives a satisfied sigh, caps the bottle again, and looks up at me.
“I’m good. You ready?”
Her question sets me back.“Me?Are you? You were about to pass out ten minutes ago.”
She shrugs. “It happens.”
I look at Ramon and Sally.
“It does,” her PA confirms while Sally nods at his side.
It shouldn’t happen,I want to say. But what business is it of mine?
