When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak

Levi knocked at the farmhouse door, it’d been a good hour since the police had left. Levi had been wrestling with himself all of that time. He knew he should drive away and leave Whiskey Creek behind. It wasn’t wise to stay here. But, wise or not, he couldn’t go without fulfilling the promises he’d made.
    Maybe Callie would change his mind. Maybe she’d refuse to let him in. But she didn’t. She stared up at him for a second, then stepped back so he could walk past her. “Your dinner’s cold,” she said. “Come and sit down. I’ll heat it up.”
    “I can heat it up,” he responded, but either she didn’t hear him or she wanted to do it herself because she didn’t change course.
    “They’ll just come back later. You realize that,” she said as a plate of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy turned in the microwave.
    He’d chosen the seat on the far side of the table, where he’d sat for breakfast. “I do.”
    “By then you’ll have your bike fixed. Is that it?”
    “My bike’s already fixed. By then I’m hoping to have the barn finished.”
    She took some utensils out of the drawer and placed them in front of him, along with a glass of wine. “What are you afraid they’ll do?”
    “I told you.”
    “You’re afraid they’ll arrest you.”
    He stretched out his legs. “Basically.”
    “Over an unpaid speeding ticket.”
    There was also a warrant out for his arrest in Nevada, which was far more serious, but he couldn’t say anything about that. “ Two unpaid speeding tickets.”
    “What’s the worst that can happen?” she asked.
    “Don’t know. And I don’t want to find out.”
    “Community service? Fines? Jail time?”
    “Probably jail time.” Definitely jail time, since the speeding tickets were the least of his worries.
    “Maybe they won’t realize you have those outstanding warrants.”
    “They will eventually.” If they ever figured out his real last name...
    The microwave shut off with a ding. “Right. They’re too curious about you,” she admitted as she retrieved his plate. “With Denny and Powell making you sound shady in an attempt to save their dogs, everyone will want to know who you are.”
    “It’d be best if I’m gone by the time they dig up too many details.”
    “That might not be long.”
    He understood that. But he didn’t want to go without keeping his end of the bargain. She’d put herself at risk to help him, and he wouldn’t forget her generosity. “We’ll play it by ear, see how much we can get done in the next few days.”
    “If you say so.”
    He certainly didn’t want to leave right now. The food smelled so good his stomach growled. He couldn’t remember ever enjoying meals as much as he’d enjoyed them since coming to Callie’s. He’d been to many roadside cafés in the past six months, but they couldn’t compete with her home cooking. What made it even better was that she seemed to like feeding him. At least, she smiled as she watched him eat whatever she put in front of him.
    “You haven’t asked where I went,” he said when he was about halfway through.
    “What are you talking about?” She was back at the counter.
    “When the police chief came.”
    She blew out a sigh. “Because I don’t want to know.”
    That made sense. Not knowing enabled her to be honest if he ever had to hide there again, which protected them both.
    “Want more?” she asked.
    “No, thanks.” He paused to look up at her. The dark circles under her eyes were more marked instead of less. “Have you eaten?”
    She started tidying up. “I had dinner earlier.”
    The memory of her, leaning on the table last night as if she didn’t have the strength to stand, popped into his mind. There was probably plenty she wasn’t telling him.
    But there was plenty he wasn’t telling her, too.
    “Eat just a few bites.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “Why?”
    “Because you need the nutrients.”
    “Fine.” Taking his right hand, she ate the piece of chicken