22RETURNING WAS SCARY. FOR Ty to San Martin, for Bobby to Mill Creek Falls. He had not told his grandfather or anyone else back East about being fired, about going it on his own. And he had not told Sara that the County of San Martin had challenged his unemployment claim, that the checks they’d been counting on would not arrive. To save money Bobby had reverted to eating nothing but raw rice bits during the day while Sara was at school. He’d been losing weight again, worrying over every dime, hiding his worry from Sara who was frugal anyway, afraid if she knew their true financial picture she too might skimp, and pregnant, he did not want her to skimp, or to worry.
As they drove in from Williamsport, Bobby said, “I hope you like it. It’s not much. The house is pretty ratty and the farm’s
