Chapter 3
The next morning Joy woke up to go to church service. She met Thompkins who on leaving said to her: "Since I've met you, I'm pleased to announce that you're officially my helper in the shop! You passed the probationary period brilliantly"
"Oh thank you so much Mr. Thompkins, I don't know how to thank you!" and hugged him.
A little embarrassed because he wasn't used to so much affection, he replied: "You deserved it. By the way, tomorrow you can take the morning off and join me in the afternoon, on Monday morning there are never too many people"
"Thanks again, I'll be forever grateful" and she hugged him again.
Thompkins greeted her and in the meantime she was joined by Rachel who had seen her in the Church and had witnessed the scene.
"Congratulations! I heard unwillingly the good news!"
"Thanks Rachel, I'm so happy"
"I can imagine! So tomorrow morning, since you're free, I'll send you Cody and Noah for the shelves"
"Oh that would be great, thanks"
"But you think so. Do you have plans for today?"
"Not really, I think I'll rest and read a good book"
"You can come to us!"
"Oh no, Rachel, I don't want to disturb, you've been so kind already"
"By now I consider you a friend and I would like to, but I also understand that you want to rest"
"I also want to avoid being too intrusive and annoying someone..."
"I understand what you mean ... give him time and you will see that he will then accept you like everyone else"
"I don't like being judged for who I am not, it's a matter of principle"
"And it's mutual for him. You're not that different after all."
"Perhaps, but I'm not that standoffish"
"This is true! Anyway, really, we are waiting for you with open arms anytime, especially Cody it seems" and she laughed. Joy burst out laughing with her.
"It will pass soon, when he realizes that it is a one-sided interest"
"He did the same when I arrived, then we became friends"
The two women greeted each other.
Joy spent the afternoon tidying up the house and reading a good book on Native Americans: it had become a matter of principle: she wanted to show Buck that she was really interested in his culture, without prejudice.
Not too early on Monday morning, she heard a knock on her door. She went to open it and saw Cody who to her surprise was not accompanied by Noah but by Buck.
"Good morning Joy, did you have a good Sunday?"
"Good morning Cody. Yes, thank you and you?"
"We got a little bored. Of course if you had joined us it would have been a completely different thing"
"I didn't mean to be intrusive. We will be able to meet. Good morning to you too Buck. Wasn't Noah supposed to come?"
"Good morning. Noah had to run an errand for Rachel who sent me instead"
Joy smiled to herself and told herself that this woman knew more than the devil.
She invited them in, and when Buck was near her, she said: "Ah, Buck, thanks again for Saturday."
He answered her with a slight smile. She led them upstairs and showed them the room with shelves to arrange.
"Thanks guys, you're doing me a big favor. I can't wait to fill this room with books."
"I also really like to read, you know? I even wrote a story about us boys", Cody bragged.
"Garbage! If I remember correctly, we didn't take it very well..."
"Why, what did he write?"
"He accentuated all our flaws by making us look like derelicts. We threatened to do the same to him and he stopped writing", Buck explained.
Joy laughed.
The boys began assembling the shelves while Joy opened the boxes containing the books.
After a while, she heard Cody exclaim: "It's hot! I think I'd be better off without this" and he took off his shirt leaving him shirtless.
Joy pretended not to notice anything but met Buck's gaze and strangely they smiled at each other.
She said: "I'm going to fix you some cold drinks and some snacks" and went down to the kitchen.
When she went up, a shelf was already assembled and while the two boys were getting a glass of lemonade and a sandwich, she began arranging the books she had taken out of the box.
Cody saw the boxes and exclaimed: "Are they all books? Did you bring them from Italy?"
"Yes, indeed my luggage was very heavy. However, I bought quite a few here and soon my friends will send me more"
Buck walked over to the books, scrutinized them and then said: "You weren't kidding when you said you were passionate about our history and my culture."
"I don't see why I should joke about my passions", she replied with a frown.
They looked straight into each other's eyes as if to challenge each other, then Buck looked away first.
The two boys finished just before lunch and Joy asked them if they would like to stay. Cody was about to accept but Buck preceded him and said: "I think Rachel is waiting for us, that will be for another time, thanks"
Cody snorted and complied.
"Okay, I'll invite you all some Sunday maybe. Thanks for the help and say hello to Rachel. See you soon and ... Cody.... Don't forget your shirt...."
Buck cracked a smile and Cody blushed. They said goodbye and went back to the station.
Joy went back into the house and continued arranging her books, thinking back to the conversation she had with Buck. She liked that boy, she couldn't deny it, since she had looked into his eyes the first time, she had been captured by his deep and melancholy gaze and he was also a handsome boy. She was very intrigued by him, by his culture, but at the same time she was annoyed by the opinion he had of her. She promised herself to make him change his mind in one way or another, respecting his spaces and times.
In the afternoon she went to work, very happy that from that day on she would be officially employed at the general store.
Working there, she knew many of the Rock Creek citizens, and her days were never dull. She also had the opportunity to buy the books as soon as they arrived in town. Thompkins had noticed the type of texts she bought and read and said to her: "Why this interest in Indians? Does anyone we know have something to do with it?"
"No, no", she hastened to answer, "it's a passion that my father passed on to me". Thompson didn't seem too convinced though.
A few days after the dance, Rachel went to the general store with the boys; only Lou was missing and she had her own ride.
"Hello Joy, how are you? I haven't seen you since prom", Rachel told her
" Hi Rachel, you're right, but I've been busy with my library setup. By the way, thanks for sending me Cody and...Buck" and gave her a smile that Rachel reciprocated with complicity.
Joy then remembered having told the two boys that she would invite everyone to lunch to thank them and took advantage of their presence there: "By the way, how about coming to dinner with me on Saturday night? I wanted to thank you for the help you gave me"
Cody was quick to reply before Buck or anyone else chimed in again to decline: "Oh thanks, we'd be happy about that, right guys?"
The boys and Rachel smiled and Joy said she'd be waiting for them at 6.30 p.m.
Joy helped Rachel with her shopping as the boys wandered around the store, some buying one thing and some another. When she had to do the math, she noticed that Buck had bought a couple of books on medicinal herbs and medicine in general and she was surprised, but she preferred not to ask him anything to avoid irritating him. She wanted to be careful with him.
The week passed pleasantly and on Saturday noon Joy brought home from the general store everything needed to prepare dinner for her friends.
She had decided to cook some chicken and potatoes, some boiled vegetables, some buns and an apple pie like the one her grandmother had taught her to cook. She hoped she wouldn't screw things up because she didn't really like cooking and wasn't a very good cook at all.
At 6.30 p.m. sharp, she heard a shouting coming from the street. She took off her apron, smoothed her hair and was ready to welcome her friends.
"Welcome, take a seat", she told them as she opened the door. Teaspoon, Rachel, Lou and the boys came in and after looking around complimented her on the house.
Rachel noticed the hand-embroidered doilies and curtains and asked her: "How beautiful these embroideries, where did you buy these curtains and doilies?"
"Well, actually the embroideries are my work. My grandmother taught me to embroider and knit. She said a good wife should be able to do all these things", Joy replied.
"Wow, congratulations! Lucky who marries you", exclaimed Rachel.
Joy blushed and hurried to answer: "Oh no, for now I don't think about these things, I still have a lot to do and to learn. First of all, I hope you will like my cooking because this is one of the things I still have to perfect..."
"Ouch ouch Cody, you're in bad shape here", the Kid joked and Lou nudged him.
"Well, it's not just the food...", Cody replied mischievously.
"Ok, maybe it's better if we sit at the table and touch Joy's kitchen with our hands, what do you think?", Noah intervened to relieve everyone of embarrassment.
Buck smiled like the others but always kept a little to the side and looked around curiously.
Joy served dinner a little tense at the verdict of her guests.
When they had tasted it, Teaspoon exclaimed: "Well, it's not true you can't cook at all, I'd say you passed the test."
Everyone agreed. Rachel and Lou had arranged for Buck and Joy to sit close together but other than a few pleasantries, they didn't get much chance to talk.
The conversation ranged over various subjects and the evening was very pleasant. They agreed to get together at least once a week, either for dinner or lunch or maybe a picnic by the river.
Rachel insisted on helping Joy fix the kitchen while the boys chatted in the living room.
"So, what do you think of my boys?", Rachel asked, brushing off the subject.
"They are very nice, I'm happy to have met them and to have two friends like you and Lou"
"Oh, she told you"
"I actually figured it out at prom. But Teaspoon knows right?"
"Yes yes, even if he discovered it by accident."
"It must be very difficult for her"
"Sometimes yes, but the Kid's closeness helps her a lot"
"Yes, I noticed that they look at each other in a particular way but I didn't dare to talk about it, we are not that close yet"
"On purpose. And you? Have you set your sights on any of my boys in particular?"
Joy didn't answer and blushed.
Rachel approached her and told her: "I understand that you would like Buck to loosen up with you a little more. Do you like him, don't you?"
Joy decided to open up to her: "I don't know Rachel, I confess that the first time I saw him my heart sank and I would like to get to know him better and have the opportunity to talk a little with him about his traditions, but it seems like he purposely avoids me. I do not know what to think. It's almost certain that he doesn't like me in every sense."
"I wouldn't be so drastic. He always has a limited attitude and doesn't give confidence to those he doesn't know. If you like him don't give up, you'll see that getting to know you better it will melt a little and...as they say...if they are roses..."
"Well, I don't know, we'll see", Joy cut short.
"Of course, but I will try to create some favorable situation..."
"Rachel, as long as you don't embarrass me... I'm a shy girl at heart"
"Don't worry, I'm good at this, ask Lou" and winked at her.
Joy smiled and the two women finished settling by chatting about other topics.
As they were about to leave the kitchen, they were joined by Cody who said: "Oh, you're done already, I came to see if you needed any help..."
"Since when do you pitch in for housework?", Rachel asked curiously
"Well, since when have I been pleased to help those who have been kind enough to invite us and offer us a good dinner"
Joy and Rachel looked at each other, then Joy turned to Cody and said: "Cody, can I talk to you in private for a moment?"
Rachel understood and said: "I'll wait for you there"
Joy thanked her with a nod of her head. Rachel joined the others and Kid asked: "But Cody? What is he doing in the kitchen?"
Rachel responded: "I think he's taking his cake..."
The boys smiled and Buck instinctively glanced towards the kitchen, where he caught a glimpse of Cody moving agitatedly but could hear nothing.
Meanwhile, Joy, when Rachel was gone, spoke up: "Cody, I need to be honest with you. If I'm wrong and I've misunderstood, I'm sorry, but I want to make things clear."
Joy didn't want problems with boys and above all she didn't want to create ambiguous situations.
Cody, fidgeting, replied: "What are you referring to?"
"Please do not interrupt me because it is difficult for me to make this speech and I repeat that if I am wrong I apologize. I thank you for the attention you give me and for your kindness and as a friend I appreciate it very much. I would like a beautiful friendship to be born with you and the others, but that's all. If you usually behave like this with all the girls, that's fine, I take note of it and I apologize again, but if instead you behave like this because you hope that... yes, well... that something will happen between us, I want to be clear right away : for me you are a friend and I would like you to see me like this too"
Cody was amazed at Joy's frankness and blushed a little. He was constantly moving from one leg to the other (and this was what Buck saw from the living room) and he had to muster all his pride to answer without showing that he was upset: "Well, you can't say that you don't go straight to the point. In all honesty yes, this is a bit my way with girls, but especially with those I like and I must say that I would have liked to be something more than just a friend, but I appreciate your sensitivity and honesty and thank you"
"I'm sorry Cody, but I don't like playing with people's feelings and I prefer to be clear right away. Friends?" and held out her hand.
"Friends", Cody returned.
They rejoined the others in the living room and Cody decided to immediately silence any possible inferences: "Before you say anything or start fantasizing, I just took the hit and that's it. The first one to laugh is dead."
"Nothing to laugh about, right guys? I'm getting to know you little by little, and I'd like you all to think of me as a friend, one you can trust" and she looked at Buck, "and confide in" and looked at Lou.
"We're happy to meet you and we're happy to be your friends too", Jimmy replied, "and we also thank you all for curbing Cody's hot spirits for once" and everyone laughed, including Cody.
"Okay, okay, I deserve it, sooner or later I'll find the right woman for me"
"I'm sure we all will find our soul mates", Joy retorted, avoiding looking at Buck for fear of letting her emotions show.
They remained in the living room chatting for a while longer and when it was time to say goodbye, Rachel made a proposal: "Why don't we go for a picnic down by the river tomorrow after the service? The days are warming up and a little fresh air will do us good".
The boys and Teaspoon welcomed the proposal and Lou remarked: "Obviously you'll be there too, right Joy?"
She confirmed her presence.
They said goodbye and made an appointment for 10 a.m. the next day. Rachel and Joy were going to the service, while the boys, who didn't much like to listen to Reverend Albert's long sermons, said they would prepare the baskets in the meantime.
That night Joy couldn't sleep, she couldn't stop thinking about Buck but she didn't understand if she really liked that boy or if it was just a matter of principle. In the end she tried to rest a bit, thinking to herself that there would be opportunities to find out.