Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(12)

She lowered her voice. “I went ahead and booked the nights for you, Mrs. Goldman, but I’m afraid I have some sad news. Eva and T. J. were in an accident a few weeks ago. I’m afraid they didn’t make it.”

Meridith stared through the wavy glass window and saw Noelle slouched in one of the Adirondack chairs, facing the ocean. The cord of her iPod was like a constant spaghetti noodle dangling from her ear.

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Goldman was saying. “Oh my, those poor children. Are they all right?”

“They’re doing as well as can be expected. I’m their new guardian, their big sister from Missouri.” It always felt so strange, that word. Sister.

“Oh. I didn’t realize they had an older sister. I’m so glad they have you.”

Noelle changed positions, slumping sideways over the chair, laying her head back onto the arm. If only Noelle were glad. She seemed to make a hobby of avoiding Meridith. But maybe that was for the best. The encounters they had weren’t pleasant.

She felt Ben before she saw him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning into her hip.

“Yes, things are going fine. I have you down for the Daffodil Festival weekend. We’re looking forward to your visit.”

“That was Mrs. Goldman,” she told Ben after she hung up. “Do you remember her?”

He nodded against her hip. Meridith patted his head awkwardly. His blond cropped hair was baby fine and soft.

“She’s looking forward to seeing you.”

“She decorates the galaxy,” Ben said.

Decorates the galaxy? Was he into Star Wars and space? He’d never talked about science fiction before. She squatted down. “What do you mean, Ben?”

His green eyes were earnest, sad. “Dad’s old car in the garage. She helps us decorate it for the festival.”

Meridith breathed a laugh. “Oh, the Galaxie. I thought you meant—” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

Max tromped down the stairs, grabbed his jacket from the hook. “Done with my homework! Going outside.”

“Dinner will be ready in ten minutes,” she said as he blew past. The back door opened and slammed shut.

Meridith straightened. The casserole was in the oven, the vegetables steaming. “Would you like to set the table?”

Ben shrugged and headed toward the kitchen for the plates.

Now what had she been doing before the phone call? The mail. She set the phone in the cradle and sorted through the pile. Bills, credit card offer, mailers. Ah! Three more bids. She’d received the first one yesterday and still had sticker shock. Hopefully these were more reasonable.

She ripped open the first and gasped. And that was only the furnace and plumbing work. In your dreams. The other bid was for the carpentry. She sighed. It was like these people knew her account balance and conspired to take every last dime.

Well, there was still one bid coming. Two, if you counted Comfort, but she didn’t.

She opened the remaining mail, trashing the credit offers.

The phone rang, and she pulled the reservation book closer as she greeted the caller.

“This is Jake from Comfort Heating and Plumbing. I was out yesterday to bid on your projects.”

She recognized his voice before he identified himself. “Did you have questions?” That’s why you take notes, Mr. Comfort.

“Put some numbers together for you and have your bid.” He named a dollar figure that left Meridith skeptical. Clearly he’d forgotten something. Somethings, judging by the quote.

“I prefer a written bid, if you don’t mind.” Not that she was signing anything with this Jake guy.

“You were in a hurry, so I thought I’d call. Be glad to drop off the papers.”

Then she could see everything that was missing. Whatever. “Sure, drop them by. There’s a slot on the front door.”

“Will do.”

Meridith ended the call and wiped her palms down her legs. What was it about that man? She could only imagine hiring him, having him here all day. Alone with him all day. The thought made her palms sweat. No. Not happening.

The kitchen timer dinged, and she went to remove the casserole from the oven. After setting the food on the table, she called Max and Noelle—Noelle three times, compliments of the iPod.

“Didn’t Ben do a great job setting the table?” Meridith broke the silence five minutes later. After she’d made Noelle turn off her music, the only sounds were the scraping of forks on plates and the sound of Ben chewing with his mouth open.

The phone rang.

“Aren’t you going to get it?” Max asked two rings later.

“Not during dinner. That’s what voice mail is for.”

“Mom always answers,” Max said.

“Answered,” Noelle said.

“Shut up, Noelle.”

Meridith’s nerves rattled. “All right, you two, that’s enough. Did everyone finish their homework?”

“You already asked that.”

Why did everything out of Noelle’s mouth have to sound snide? Patience, Meridith. Maybe a happier topic. “What would you like to do this weekend? I saw there’s a whaling museum on the island. How about that?”

Noelle took a bite of broccoli and rolled her eyes.

“We’ve already been there,” Ben said.