I eyed the Tupperware container he’d cracked open to show off the goods while watering plants in the greenhouse. “Where’d you steal those?”

“No more cookie thieving for me. I’ve changed my ways.” Vance swiped a cookie, took a bite, then held it out for me to do the same, but I hesitated. “Our cook made them for me. Peanut butter chocolate chip.” He tipped his head, beckoning me to take a bite.

I accepted the treat but struggled with accepting just how different our worlds were. A cook? Bet he had a maid too. “That’s almost as good as Miss Wise’s cookies. Thank you.” I opened my mouth and he delivered another bite.

He finished off the cookie and licked his fingers. “Why don’t you take a break and enjoy another cookie? Maybe spend a few minutes being nice to me?”

“Too much to get done to be taking a break.” I turned to water another section. “And why would I want to waste time being nice to you?”

“Hmm . . . I think you’re flirting with me.” His accusation had me whirling around and accidently watering his sneakers. He danced out the way, laughing.

“Ox! Pa won’t answer me! I’m about to —” Peg came to a halt just inside the door. “What y’all doing in here?”

I held the hose up and glared hard at him. “What’s it look like?”

Vance popped another cookie in his mouth nonchalantly, taking his time chewing and then swallowing. “Were you trying to call your dad?”

“What?” Peg’s eyes snapped up from the container to ping-pong from Vance to me. “Oh. Uh, no. He’s in his room.”

“I think he has a headache. What do ya need?” I said slowly, enunciating each word to add an unspoken warning for my brother to watch his mouth.

Peg’s eyes narrowed at me. He hated the pretending game we’d perfected playing when it came to our father. “Nothing . . . I’ll take them cookies inside for you.” He snatched the container out of Vance’s hand and hobbled off.

I let him get away with it too, considering the eggshells we’d been constantly walking on since Pa crashed from his frenzied shrimp fest. It was a reminder how bad of an idea it was to be encouraging Vance Cumberland in any way, other than sending him packing.

“Thanks for the cookies. I’ll bring the container to you when I get Boss tomorrow. Y’all going bowling, right?”

“Yes,” he answered hesitantly.

“Okay. I’ll be there to pick him up.” I rolled the hose onto the rack and led him out of the greenhouse. “Bye!”

Vance sighed, giving me a look that expressed he wanted to say a thing or two, but left me in peace.