“Bluespring Caverns.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows. “The few times we went as a family were in the middle of the summer when there weren’t anybats in the cave. I’m not sure about spring. Are you nervous about the possibility of seeing them?”
“A little.” Evelyn didn’t want to tell her mother about Jayce’s fear. She would think Evelyn was putting herself at risk toease his burden, not her own. And that might imply she cared more for Jayce than she was admitting to her mother. “But he’snever been inside the cave, and he doesn’t have to work today.”
“I’ll say it again.” She pointed a finger at Evelyn. “Be careful.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Later she would ask God to forgive the tiny fib. She didn’t know what she was doing at all. “And,Mamm . . . he’s picking me up in a fancy car, but only because it’s the only type of car they have with them.”
“You’d best enjoy it then.” Her mother chuckled. “And hope your father doesn’t see.”
She gave her mother a quick hug, then left when she heard Jayce pull in. She’d told him not to come to the door, that she’dmeet him outside, hoping her father would be in his bedroom reading.
Jayce opened her car door. After she sat down, she looked through an open window behind her.” She’d never seen such luxury, and she was still gawking when Jayce got in the car. “Nice, huh?”
“Ya, it is.” Something smelled good. She wasn’t sure if it was Jayce or the car. It was a minty aroma.
Jayce was quiet, and Evelyn wondered if he wanted to bypass this challenge for both of them.
“You can change your mind, you know.” A big part of her hoped he would.
He quickly shook his head. “Nope. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it, but I really think if I can pushthrough this, maybe it will help when I find myself in, uh, well . . . an elevator.” He chuckled. “I’m in pretty good shape,but climbing stairs going any higher than the tenth floor begins to wear on a guy.” He waited until she looked at him. “Iwas just lucky my dad’s place is only on the third floor. Are you having any second thoughts?”
She shook her head, and they were quiet again. Finally, she asked, “Why do you think you’re afraid of being in small spaces?Did something happen to make you that way?”
He tugged at his ear. “Hmm . . . no. Not that I can think of. I’ve just always been uncomfortable. I guess that’s kind ofan understatement. What about you?”
She figured she would try to justify her fear, especially since it included butterflies.
“Do you really want to hear this? I have had a lot of things happen with flying creatures, mostly birds.” She flinched, thentook a deep breath.
“Only if you want to tell me.” He cocked his head to one side, peering curiously at her before focusing on the road again.
“When I was young, mei mamm let me stay over at a friend’s haus. There were four of us girls spending the night.” She sighed. “The girl who lived there had a bruder who had two parakeets. It was late at night, and we only had one lantern lit super low. Buddy, her bruder, threw the birds in her room and closed the door. They were flying around hitting the walls, running into us, and I’m surprisedthe lantern didn’t get knocked over and burn the haus down.” She shuddered. “It was bad for us, but also for the birds.” She glanced at him to see if he was smiling, but he wasjust listening intently. “It was all that flapping and the way they were bumping into us and the walls.”
“I guess that could make a person uncomfortable around birds.” Jayce said it more as a question than a confirmation.
“It’s not just that. Other things have happened.” She looked his way again, and he raised an eyebrow. “Mamm took me, Lucas, and David to McDonald’s one time when we were pretty young. I was probably six or seven. We had hired a driverto go to Bloomington. I think Mamm had a doctor’s appointment. It was a treat because we rarely went out to eat. We sat outside because it was a pretty day.”She shuddered again as she recalled what happened. “A bird actually flew down and snatched one of my French fries. Not Mamm’s or mei bruders’, but mine.”
He laughed. “Sorry, I know it’s not funny.”
Evelyn fought not to grin. “Another time at the zoo, a big huge bird was flying loose in the building where the birds werehoused. It kept swooping down at me. And once I was minding mei own business walking down the street. There was a line of trees, some with branches hanging over the road. A bird flew down and pecked me on the head.”
Jayce chuckled again. “Sorry.”
“I know it sounds funny. Mamm said I probably walked underneath a branch with a nest and babies, and that it probably upset the mama bird.” Hearing howit sounded, she laughed. “Silly things, I suppose. But bees, wasps, and hornets also seem to find me.” She thought about thebats she might see in the cave today, and her stomach roiled. She didn’t feel like laughing anymore.
Jayce turned down the radio in the fancy car. It had been on low while they talked. Not smiling, he asked, “Why butterflies?They’re so delicate and pretty.”
“They flutter.” She crinkled her nose. “I guess I just don’t do well with anything that has wings.”
“You’d better hope we don’t see any bats.” Jayce made the statement in a tone far too serious, which caused Evelyn’s stomachto flip again. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Ya.” She wouldn’t admit it, but she mostly wanted to do it for him. Even if there were bats in the cave, they’d be far awayfrom her. For Jayce to make the journey, it could be life changing. “Don’t bats just
