They were in the cellar. It wasn’t the same now that outsiders knew about it, but it was the only place they had. He turned to her. “What if I said I don’t want to live in Africa? That I don’t want to leave Kansas?”

“Is that what you are saying?”

“If Kelly and Adam marry, they’ll live in his house and your mother will be alone. Paul isn’t going to run your family’s farm, so what if you and I move in there instead? I have some ideas about farming that Uncle Rafe says are too progressive.”

“Is that what you want to do?” She was whispering.

“I’m thinking about it. Would it be too horrible to stay here?” He took her hands in his. “To have children and see them grow up?”

“No,” she said softly. “I guess it wouldn’t be.”

“I’ll go with you wherever you want. I can’t lose you again.” He turned away. “I need to go. I have to—” He couldn’t think of anything he had to do except think. He needed to put everything together and sort it out. What to do with his life? He didn’t like Rafe being so upset with him. Didn’t like feeling that he’d lied to Gabrielle, that he’d toyed with her for his own amusement. He didn’t like how he’d misled Kelly.

Miguel thought he was becoming someone who wasn’t him.

For the next week and a half he avoided Vera. She called, even stopped by the house, but he stayed away from her. He worked from before daylight until long after. He dug holes at Paul’s place and even spent a couple of nights sleeping in his shed. It seemed that Paul had had the same idea because he’d fixed it up with a cot and a hot plate.

Guess Paul needed a place to think about his problems with Kelly, Miguel thought.

After days of being a ghost to everyone, Miguel knew he needed to go home. He had to face the guilt that was being piled on him. Face all the misery he was causing.

But he missed Vera. He needed to talk to her. Maybe they could go to a protest and that would put life back into him.

Her car wasn’t in the driveway and neither was Forey’s. Miguel gave a sigh of relief at that. Being bombarded with questions like what shade of pink would be best for Kelly and Adam’s wedding was not something he could deal with.

The front door was open. As always at the Exton house, the smell was heavenly.

“Miguel!” Nella said. “How good to see you.”

“You look happy. Figure out the flowers for Kelly’s wedding?” He was teasing.

Nella took a deep breath and pointed out the window. “There. That’s why I’m happy.”

There was an old oil barrel in the yard and it was smoldering. It looked like they’d burned something. “Cleaning up?”

“Not me. Vera.”