Free Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis Page B

wedding, she suddenly remembered Scott. She’d been so wrapped
up in the goat drama, she’d forgotten he was there. Now, she looked around and
saw him leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen, arms folded across his
chest.
    “Thanks
for your help,” April smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood.
    “What’s
going to happen when that thing pees everywhere?” he scowled.
    “That’s
why we have the pads,” Emily said. “It’s happened before.”
    “Are
you okay?” Scott turned to April.
    She
examined her forearm where an ugly bruise was already forming. “A little beat
up, but I’m fine. Exciting, huh?”
    He
rolled his eyes and pushed away from the doorway. “I’m going to take a shower and
then check my email.” He disappeared down the basement stairs and they heard a door
slam.
    “Whoa.”
Trevor muttered. “Why’s he so mad?”
    “He’s
not used to this; he’ll come around,” April said. She got to her feet. “Where’s
Ben?”
    “Still
in bed,” Emily said. “We were watching cartoons.”
    “Help
me get him up. He’ll love this.”
    Ben
crowed with delight when he saw the goat. April parked his wheelchair next to
the blanket and he nodded in approval and smiled.
    “Cool,
huh?” Emily said to him. Her eyes danced with excitement. “It’s been a long
time since we’ve had a goat in the house.”
    April
returned her smile. “Let’s get some pictures for Mom and Dad.”
    They
spent the next hour taking selfies with the goat, who seemed content to sleep
in the warmth.
    By
morning the goat was better and paced restlessly around the room bleating to be
set free. “She’s well enough to walk,” Trevor said, throwing a rope around its
neck. He took the goat back to the barn while April cleaned up the inevitable
mess it left. If only cleaning up her relationship with Scott could be so easy.

Chapter 9
    “Donna is here and
everyone else is in the car. Are you ready?” April asked.
    Scott
glanced up from his notes. “I’ve decided not to go.”
    April
bit her lip. The tension between them was growing and they’d been tiptoeing
around each other for the past two days. She had hoped the carnival would give
them the chance to loosen up and enjoy being together again.
    “I
really want you to come,” she urged. “It’s so much fun. The rides are actually
pretty great for a small town carnival, and there are games and all kinds of
weird food to try. And the whole thing feels like a fairytale because it’s the
middle of winter.”
    “I’m
not in the mood.”
    “Please?”
she wheedled.
    “April
… I. Don’t. Want. To.” He emphasized each word as if she were a toddler.
    “It’s
always about what you want, isn’t it?” she snapped. “We drive your car,
listen to your music, eat at your favorite restaurants … and now we’ll
probably be getting married at your church, too. Maybe you should try
thinking about someone else for a change.”
    He
threw down his pen. “And this past week counts for nothing? In case you’ve
forgotten, we’re at your house with your family, taking care of your siblings and living with your smelly animals. Believe me, spending Christmas
in hicksville was definitely not high on my priority list.”
    No
one said anything for a minute. Finally April sighed. “I’m sorry.”
    He
rubbed his eyes. “Go to the carnival,” he said quietly. “We can talk when you
get home.”
    “I
don’t have to go; maybe we should talk now. It’s long overdue, isn’t it?”
    “We
can talk later. Let’s not disappoint Emily,” Scott replied.
    “What
about disappointing me ?” April muttered. But if Scott heard her, he gave
no sign.
     
    The
Snow Valley carnival was a perfect blend of Christmas magic and carnival fun. April
had been looking forward to it all month, but now her excitement had dimmed.
She and Scott had had disagreements in the past, but nothing as serious as this.
    Well,
maybe it was a good thing. It was high time they cleared the air. He could