Page 98 of The Burbs and the Bees
“Alyson?” a familiar voice says from the top of the stairs. I glance up to see Jay, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Jay, my hot water tank.”
He rushes down the steps. “Go higher where it’s dry.”
I stand on the third step as he pushes through the water and reaches the tank. He messes with some valves, and the water stops gushing.
“What…what are you doing here?” I ask, still breathless.
“I heard a noise and came running.” He stands with me on the stairs and glances at the damage. “That water tank was replaced two years ago. This never should have happened, unless…”
“I thought you were out with friends.”
He shakes his head. “What made you think that?” He nudges me to climb the stairs, and he follows behind. “Jack has a shop vac in the barn. We need to get this cleaned up.”
“I went to your cottage; you weren’t there.” Without even realizing what I’m doing, I flatten my palm and show him the watch.
“Oh, you found it,” he says.
“It was downstairs.” I pause, alarm bells jingling as the vision of the man running into the woods flutters in the forefront of my brain. “Where were you?”
“I told you I was in the field. I thought I heard a noise out there, then I heard a bang from in here.” I stare at him, tension taking up space between us. The muscles in his jaw stiffen. “Where do you think I was?”
“I don’t know. I just… I saw someone running from here.”
He shakes his head. “Holy shit, you actually think…”
His voice trails off as I stare at the ground, trying to wrap my brain around what Tyler had said.
“I didn’t do this,” he says.
“No,” I say and mean it. I don’t think Jay would purposely try to hurt me. “But did you bet against me?”
His body goes so straight, his jaw so tense, I’m sure his teeth are going to crack. In an instant, I know Tyler was right. Jay bet against me. He was so goddamn sure I was going to fail, he put his farm up.
Over the last three weeks, my confidence flourished under his care; he made me feel important, like I could do anything, and all the while he was betting against me. What kind of man does something like that?
What kind of fool does it make me?
“I thought, you…me…us…”
“Alyson, I didn’t do this.”
“Do you think so little of me, Jay?”
“Me, think little of you.” He snorts. “No, actually, I don’t.”
“Then why?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I made a mistake.”
“Yeah, you did. I guess my father was right. There is a dumbass born every minute,” I say, unable to keep the hurt from my voice.
“Your father said that. You mean the same guy who dismissed me and insulted me and my home, and you said nothing. Not a goddamn word. Hell, you wanted me to sneak out the back door. Maybe you’re the one who thinks so little of me.”
“I wanted to say something.”
“But you didn’t.”
