Everyone was quiet.
Finally, Maria said, "I remember you doing your volunteer hours there, but hadn't realized you'd continued working there."
"I did," Aspen said simply, and I was a little surprised myself.
She never talked about it. The entire time her parents said she was wasting her life and not doing anything, she'd been volunteering at the food bank?
"You know what we need to do to volunteer then?" Ford asked her.
She sighed. "You just show up and sign the log. It's very informal. The church never wants to turn anyone away."
"That sounds easy enough," Maria said with a smile, as if the subject was closed.
"When's the next food bank?" Dad asked.
"This Saturday from eight to twelve. Volunteers come early and stay late to help with set up and tear down. But it's very flexible if you need to leave sooner," Aspen said.
I had so many questions for her. Why had she kept this a relative secret from the family for so long? Had she done that on purpose, or had her family never asked what she was doing? I was getting a sneak peek into her true character.
Did she think they wouldn't support her or take her seriously?
"I had no idea you were so involved in the church," Maria said to Aspen.
"I'm not really. I don't attend church. But it's nice to be there." She smiled softly, staring at her plate. "You know, they pray if one of the volunteers or frequent visitors is in the hospital? Or even sit with them when they're home convalescing?"
This was a whole new side to Aspen that I never knew about. My mom had refused to go to food banks. My father said they were handouts we didn't need. But I thought we could have used the food my mom was too proud to take. It seemed fitting that I'd be helping out now.
"That sounds lovely. I want to help," Natasha said.
Morgan kicked me under the table. "Are you going?"
"Sure." I wanted to see Aspen in her element.
It was more important that I learn whatever there was to know about Aspen if we were going to be working closely together. I wanted to know what made her tick. And this development had all my instincts on high alert. What else had I missed?
Chapter 5
Aspen
The food bank and my service with the church were something I'd kept from my family. When I was younger, it was the one thing I did that my brothers didn't.
I loved it so much that I continued going whenever I could. I worried if I told anyone about it, they'd mention how I'd eventually lose interest. It was the one thing that no one could have an opinion on.
It was something I did that had nothing to do with my family. And I wasn't sure how I felt about them becoming part of it.
I'd gotten to the church early to help set up the tables. When the first volunteers arrived, I directed them where to stand. If my family came, they'd probably want to be together, maybe along the back wall.
A group of high schoolers arrived, and I asked if they could help patrons push their grocery carts and carry their bags to their cars.
Then I set up the younger kids, the ones in middle school, with an older volunteer to keep an eye on them. It was difficult to keep track of how many things each family could get, and an adult would be able to step in and assist when needed.
I was so busy directing everyone where to go and answering the questions of newer volunteers that I missed when Cooper walked in.
"Where should I go?" he asked, the rough timber of his voice doing something funny to my chest.
"You're here?" I looked around for the rest of my family, but they weren't here yet.
"I can go wherever you need me."