“No. I told you this morning that I’d be here until after two.” I looked down at the calendar and tapped the cover. “Now I’ll be here until after three.”
Emil took out a hankie, today a rainbow-striped bandanna, and wiped his face.
“It’s too hot.” He drawled the complaint and looked around for an audience. When the Darlings ignored him, he stuffed the hankie in his back pocket. “Why’s it so horrible in May? It’s not supposed to get this way until July.”
Having no answer to his questions, I walked through the wide arch separating the sales section in front from the workroom in back to see if I had the test materials ready for the afternoon. Emil followed like a pet dog. Riley, who was already in the back, gave me the evil eye. He hated Emil with a passion I’d never seen him show for anyone else.
“What’s he want?” Riley whispered while he was bent over putting together some furniture
“A ride back to the farmhouse.”
“Tell him no. Don’t let him walk over you. He’s crazy.”