Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(48)

She had to broach the topic delicately or Noelle would go ballistic. Maybe if she shared from personal experience.

“You did very well with your one-iron yesterday. Your swing is coming along.”

Noelle gave a barely perceptible nod as she placed the bowls in the cupboard.

“I worked at a golf course as a caddy when I was your age. That’s where I learned a lot about golf.”

“What’s a caddy?”

“You know, those people who follow the golfers around, carry their bags and what-not.”

“Sounds boring.”

“It was interesting. There was this seventeen-year-old boy who worked in the pro-shop.” Meridith sighed. “Jeremy Peyton. Had these golden curls and a smile that lit up my world.”

Noelle flashed her a disbelieving look.

“What—you don’t think I think about things like boys? I am engaged, you know.”

“It’s hard to imagine you were ever thirteen.”

“It wasn’t that long ago.” Meridith scowled, but Noelle wasn’t looking. “He was so cute. I remember wearing my most flattering clothes to work because I wanted to impress him. Oh, I knew he was too old for me, but he was so gorgeous, and he called me Peanut.”

Noelle gave a wry grin. “Peanut? And you liked that?”

“I liked the attention. I didn’t get much at home.”

“Why not?” Noelle pulled the silverware basket.

“Oh, well, my dad wasn’t there, and my mom was kind of . . .” How to put it? “Kind of sick.” Meridith shook her head. She was getting off subject. “Anyway, I liked thinking about Jeremy, daydreaming about him. I used to pretend he was my boyfriend. Only in my head, of course—I’d have been mortified if he’d known!”

“That’s weird.”

“Not really. It’s normal for girls to have crushes on older guys.

Happens all the time.”

“If you say so.”

Meridith rinsed a cup and placed it in the top rack, then faced Noelle, leaning against the sink ledge. “I know we haven’t gotten off on the best foot, Noelle, but I hope you know you can talk to me. About anything you want . . . even crushes.”

Noelle’s forehead wrinkled. “I don’t have any crushes.”

She was going to have to dig. It needed to be done, with Jake in the house and the kids off school all week. “I thought maybe you had a crush on Jake.”

Noelle’s hand stopped midair, her fist clutching a cluster of forks. Her lips parted, her eyes widened.

Then her whole face screwed up. “Gross! He’s my—he’s—old !”

It wasn’t the reaction she’d expected. Was Noelle that good an actress? “He’s hardly old.”

“Not to you.”

Touché.

Noelle stuffed the forks in the drawer.

“Well, you were in his room earlier, and I thought—”

“Well, you thought wrong. Gross! ”

“Okay, okay, I get it.”

“We were having a conversation.”

“His bedroom is not an appropriate place for that.”

“Whatever.”

“Noelle, I need to be clear on this. You’re not to be alone with Jake or any male guests in the house. It’s for your own protection.”

Noelle stuck a bundle of spoons in the drawer, then the knives.

Her brows pulled together, and her lips were a tight line, pressed firmly together.

“Is that clear?”

Noelle slammed the drawer and tossed the basket into the dishwasher. “Crystal.” She turned and charged up the steps, her dress billowing behind her.





Twenty-six

The three guys at the check-in desk, young and athletic looking, didn’t resemble their usual guests. Meridith wondered why they’d chosen a quiet bed-and-breakfast instead of a happening hotel. But maybe every place was booked for spring break. Oh well, she could use the income. Three rooms were three rooms.

“Here are your keys.” She handed them to Sean, who’d made the reservation. “Is there a particular time you’d like breakfast, since you’re our only guests at the moment?”

The long-haired one laughed. “I’ll be sleeping till lunchtime.”

“Don’t worry about breakfast,” Sean said. He wore a University of Massachusetts ball cap and a polite smile.

“Speak for yourselves,” the stocky one said. “I’m a growing boy.”

Meridith smiled. “I’ll put out a small buffet around ten and keep it warm. That sound all right?”

“Perfect, thanks,” Sean said.

The guys headed up the stairs noisily with their duffel bags. She was glad the kids were on break, so she didn’t have to worry about their sleep being disturbed by rowdy and possibly drunk college guys. She was doubly glad she’d had the doors installed.

Jake appeared at the base of the stairs in fresh clothes, his hair damp on his polo collar. “Young ones,” he said referring to the guests he’d passed.

“I hope you’re a heavy sleeper. I think they plan on keeping late nights.”

“I’ll manage.”

Meridith tidied the desk. Dinner had been quiet with Noelle at Lexi’s house. Meridith had taken the children to the cemetery earlier, and it had lowered Noelle’s spirits even more. When Lexi called, it seemed like a good distraction.