Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(13)

“Field trips.” Max pushed his food around his plate. “We could go ice skating on Hummock Pond . . .”

“Yeah!” Ben said.

“Oh,” Meridith said. “I don’t know. That sounds a little dangerous. The temperatures haven’t been below freezing. And while we’re on the topic of safety, Ben, I got something for you today.” The injected enthusiasm sounded as fake as it was.

“What?”

“A booster seat for the van. Isn’t that great? You’ll be able to see up over the seat and have a great view.”

“A booster seat . . .” Noelle lowered her fork. “That’s retarded.”

“It will boost him higher.” She gave Noelle a pointed look.

“I don’t want a booster seat,” Ben said quietly, and Meridith wanted to wring Noelle’s neck for putting a nasty spin on the whole thing.

Meridith laid her hand on Ben’s arm. “The safety recommendations are to use a booster seat until you’re four foot nine. You still have several inches to go. I got a really cool one.”

“Yeah, his friends are going to think it’s really cool.” Noelle again.

Meridith pursed her lips.

“She’s right.” Max set his fork down. “It’s not cool.”

“Well, it may not be cool, but it’s safe.”

“It’s cruel, is what it is,” Noelle said. “They’ll make fun of him.”

“No one has to know.”

Noelle huffed. “May I be excused?”

Sarcasm was not pretty on a young girl. “You may. Max, you’ve hardly eaten a bite.”

“I’m not hungry. Can I be excused too?” His sad brown eyes melted her.

“Of course.”

The chairs scraped as they exited, and Meridith sighed as the two disappeared into the kitchen, then clomped up the back staircase.

After she and Ben finished, she washed dishes while the boy dried. He seemed happier when he was doing something. Maybe not happier, just . . . busier.

She knew about grief, but what did she know about children? Music blared from upstairs. Meridith sighed again. Apparently nothing.

She didn’t like Noelle shutting herself in her room. It didn’t seem healthy, though she understood the desire. More than once she’d wanted to close herself in her own room and pull the covers over her head. She hadn’t felt that way since she lived with her mom.

When the last dish was shelved, she turned to Ben. “Why don’t you ask Max and Noelle if they want to watch a movie. I saw your DVD collection in the library—surely we can agree on something.”

While Ben scampered up the stairs, Meridith went to check the voice mail. Before she reached the guest desk, a white envelope by the front door caught her eye.

The bid.

Well, he didn’t waste any time. This should be good. Comic relief, if nothing else. She slid her finger under the flap, pulled out the papers, and unfolded them. Her eyes found the back page, bottom figure. Just what he’d quoted on the phone.

Now to see what he’d forgotten to price.

She scanned the list of jobs and materials. It was detailed, the make and size of the furnace, the brand name of the door, even the brand name of the lock sets. She double-checked the list.

He hadn’t forgotten a thing. It was even more detailed than the other bids. How could he do it for so little? She read the fine print on the contract and warranty. All standard.

She flipped to the back page and stared at the project bid, her stomach sinking like a lead weight in a tub full of water as she realized the offer on this paper was too good to turn down.





Eight

“Come in,” Meridith said.

Jake nodded as she opened the door.

It was a struggle to keep Piper outside. Meridith put her body in front of the door. “She likes you.”

Jake shrugged from a weathered leather jacket and took off his shoes, the movement sending a whiff of man her way. Woodsy, spicy. Masculine.

“Know you wanted to get those partitions up,” he said. “But thought I’d get your dishwasher running first. Have it done in thirty minutes.”

“You know the way.” She gave him a wide berth, glad to see he’d brought tools this time.

She followed him through the living room and dining room to the kitchen, noticing how quickly his long legs ate up the distance. This house was going to feel a lot smaller. She hoped he was fast. She could hardly turn down the bid, and his references had checked out too. Naturally.

He was already pulling the dishwasher from its home. It creaked and groaned, protesting the relocation.

“Thing’s pretty old.”

While Jake lowered himself to the floor, Meridith grabbed the sanitizer and sprayed down the counters, scrubbing at the dried blob of jelly Max left by the toaster. Next she filled the coffeemaker with grinds and water, plugged it in, then pushed the On button.

While the coffee brewed, she tidied up. Noelle had left out the cereal box, Ben’s crumb-filled plate remained on the table beside a half-empty glass of milk, and Max’s boat model mess was strewn across the end of the table. She wasn’t used to clutter, and clearly the children weren’t used to picking up after themselves.

When the coffeemaker beeped, she poured a steaming mug, inhaling the rich brew. For all the outdated appliances, Eva had understood the importance of a good cup of java.