"Is everything going smoothly at the office?"
He shrugged, avoiding her gaze. "They're short-handed, but they're coping."
Jonathan looked back and forth from Carmen to Alex, clearly unsure what to expect.
Her attitude was putting a damper on everyone's enjoyment. More important, though, was the fact that Jonathan was learning from their interaction. The intent of her question had not been to let him know she knew he had called the office. Her intent was to let him know that she approved. She'd best clear that up immediately.
"It was generous of you to join us on this trip when the office is so busy. I hope everything works out for all of you."
Alex immediately turned his attention on her. His thoughtful gaze traveled over her face, coming to rest on her eyes. He shrugged again. "Everyone needs to take some time off and relax now and then."
Destiny's voice interrupted them. "Can I help, Mama?"
"Sure," Carmen said. "Why don't you get the paper plates off the counter and set the table?"
"Okay!" Destiny turned and raced for the camper.
"Me too?" Natalie asked.
"You can get the cups."
Matthew climbed onto the bench between Jonathan and Alex. "I'm hungry."
Alex poked his little tummy. "Didn't you eat once already today? How can you be hungry again? Where are you putting all this stuff?"
Matthew giggled, grabbing Alex's hand. "I pooped this morning. Remember?"
Jonathan and Alex laughed.
Carmen rolled her eyes. "I'd better get the spoons and forks."
That evening they watched as the sun dropped to the horizon. Three rabbits loped down the dirt road. The evening sun shining through the thin skin of their huge ears made them look like lanterns.
"Jackrabbits," Jonathan said. "They use their ears to keep cool in the heat. They aren't actually rabbits. They're hares."
Carmen glanced at Alex, who was watching the rabbits reflectively. Something was troubling him again. Was he thinking about the clinic?
Carmen sighed and leaned back in her chair. The temperature was perfect, but it probably would have been hot if they had waited another four weeks. They were surrounded by mountain ranges, in the middle of the desert. She had always imagined the desert a barren place with little vegetation and few animals. Instead, it was teaming with wildlife and all sorts of plants thrived. Of course, most of them had thorns, but they were plants, all the same. There were the bushes that looked like sticks with tiny leaves on them - Ocotillo, Jonathan had called them. They looked fuzzy with bright orange-red blooms all over them. Then there were the short Palo Verde trees with green bark, tiny leaf clusters and yellow blooms. It wasn't much of a shade tree, especially compared to the oak and maple trees back home. The mountains were stark naked compared to the tree-covered ones in Arkansas. The desert was a strange place, but beautiful in its own way.