Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe

place a jar of rhubarb on the counter before carrying the empty basket outside. Bella is already taste-testing sorrel from Merriem’s new offering. She looks slightly guilty and I’m glad. I’m surprised she stayed the night; I expected her to run away. As she always does.
    â€œThank you,” I say to Merriem, passing her the empty basket.
    â€œMy pleasure, honey, truly. It’s nice to share them with another human or two. Huia doesn’t love rhubarb and I think Jack’s sick of it.”
    â€œOh, no, he told me he likes it,” I reply.
    Bella lifts her eyes back up to me.
    Merriem sighs. “Bless him. He’s kind to me.”
    â€œYour . . .” Bella asks Merriem, insinuation lifting her voice.
    â€œOh, no!” Merriem laughs. “He’s got to be almost twenty years younger than me. More your girls’ age and type, I’d say.”
    â€œOh?” Bella says.
    â€œHe has a daughter,” I say tersely, hating Bella for being such a flirt. I never had it in me; she seems to have been born with a double dose. Don’t think I didn’t see you .
    Now they’re both staring at me. Merriem changes the subject.
    â€œHe said he had to give you a vacation notice?”
    I nod and shrug.
    â€œBarbara Gardner,” Merriem says, shaking her head.
    Bella frowns. “What does she—”
    â€œShe doesn’t even like it here,” Merriem continues.
    The Gardners’ cabin isn’t in a trendy, luxurious location like Orcas Island or Lake Wenatchee or Lake Washington. Every year Mrs. Gardner rented a beautiful house on one of the San Juan Islands, right by the ocean, and took pictures of her beautiful sons standing shoulder to shoulder by the water, arms crossed, hair thick, teeth as white as a photograph in a Ralph Lauren catalogue.
    â€œYou know her?” I ask Merriem, who nods.
    â€œNot well. But I’ve lived here long enough to have bumped into her a few times. I’ve been around when she’s been giving Jack his orders. He does a good job for her, above ’n’ beyond what she pays him—or what she deserves—mainly because he cares so much about this place. Not that she’d notice—” She cuts herself off. “I’m speakin’ out of school.”
    â€œThe Gardners want you to leave?” Bella asks me.
    I ignore her.
    â€œYou girls should come to my place for dinner one night,” Merriem says, changing the subject again. “In fact, I’ve got another new friend popping over tonight. Why don’t you come too? I can ask Jack and Huia as well. Lord knows I have too much harvest for just me.”
    â€œOh, no—” I begin.
    â€œThat would be great,” Bella says, beaming.
    Merriem smiles back. “Good.”
    I try again. “No. Thank you, but—”
    â€œCan we bring anything?” Bella asks.
    â€œNo, Bella—”
    â€œAh. No, I don’t think so,” Merriem says, musing.
    â€œWine?” Bella asks.
    â€œOkay, wine. Perfect.” Merriem looks pleased.
    â€œWait, no, Bella isn’t staying,” I say, but they’re still looking at each other.
    â€œDo you think I could be so rude as to ask . . .?” Bella licks her lips. “Our father, Joe, he’ll be home by himself . . .”
    â€œBella!” I hiss.
    â€œOf course!” Merriem says. “The more the merrier.”
    â€œMerrier Merriem,” Bella replies with a smile.
    â€œThat’s what they say.”
    Then they’re both laughing and I feel as though I could be a mile away.
    â€œBella, no,” I whisper urgently.
    â€œIt’s okay, Frankie.” Merriem pats my arm. “I love to host. And I need to get rid of some of my vegetables. It’s a great solution. Truly, no trouble. Quite the opposite. Being busy keeps me out of mischief.” She picks up her basket. “I’ll see you tonight