Her mother stood by the door, looking around with a smirk on her face. “This is insane, Amanda.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t see a thing in here that looks the least bit girlish.”
Amanda squinted. “What are you talking about, Mother?”
“All these…these bicycles and skates and skateboards. It’s all guy stuff.”
Amanda had heard it all before. Her mother was of the mind that anything sporty or athletic was reserved for boys, and girls needed to be…well, needy.
“What kind of man do you think you’ll attract if you can do everything better than him?”
“Um…if I ever wanted to attract a guy, I would hope he’d be secure enough with himself to accept that I’m competent.”
“That’s ridiculous,” her mother said. “Speaking of men, I like that boy…. What’s his name…Jerry?”
“Yes, his name is Jerry.” Amanda could only imagine what her mother thought was going on between them.
The woman pointed her finger and wagged it at her. “Just don’t make the same mistake I made and let him take advantage of you—at least not until you have him hooked completely.”
“Mother, I’m not trying to hook Jerry or any other man.”
Her mother helped herself to a mint at the counter and propped herself up on the stool. Looked like she planned to stay awhile.
“I have a lot going on this week,” Amanda said.
Her mother tilted her head and challenged her with a stare. “Like what?”
“I have several people coming by to pick up rentals, and the summer skateboarders are stopping by for safety clinics. We have the college kids today, high school kids tomorrow, and middle schoolers the next day.”
“That’s not a lot.”
“It is when I’m the only person working here,” Amanda said.
“Are you saying you need my help, or are you telling me to get lost?”
“No.” Amanda placed her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “I’d never tell you to get lost. You can stay if you want, but I might not be able to chat much.”
“That’s okay. I don’t have anything else to do all day. I’ll just sit here and watch.”
“Fine.”
Amanda went to the back room and got some folding chairs, in case Matthew needed them for the clinic. She’d been letting them meet in her shop for the past two summers, and even though it took some of her time and most of her sales-floor space, it paid off in the long run. Most of the people who attended the class bought merchandise from her immediately after the class, and they often returned later for more.
As she worked, her mother chatted about her upcoming trip to Miami. Amanda stopped and turned to her.
“How long will you be gone?”
Her mother shrugged. “Until we get bored.”
Some things never changed. Her mother flitted and fluttered wherever the wind took her, leaving Amanda to do all the responsible things, including care for her mother’s pets and plants. At least now she had a trust that Amanda’s grandparents had the good sense to set up, and the money came in monthly increments. Amanda’s mother was five years away from being able to add Social Security income, so in spite of her lack of discipline, she was pretty much set for life—as long as she didn’t pile up too many credit card bills.
The turnout for the skateboard clinic was better than expected, so the store was packed mostly with overgrown boys and a few girls. She was so busy helping Matthew, she didn’t realize that her mother had slipped out until it was over.
“Thanks, Amanda,” Matthew said as he helped her put away the chairs. “I think we saved a few broken bones and concussions today.”
She smiled. “I’m just glad you don’t mind giving your time.”
After they had the last chair put away, he ambled up to the counter and waited for her to go around to the cash register. She gave him a questioning look. “Did you need something?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “So who’s that guy you’ve been hanging out with lately?”
“Have you been watching me?”
“Not really…well, sort of. Who’s that guy you were sitting with in the Bible study at church?”
“His name’s Jerry. He’s here on vacation with his parents.”
Matthew gave her a knowing grin. “So just how serious are you two?”
Amanda snorted. “Serious? He’s a customer who happened to ask me where he and his parents could go to church.”
“I didn’t notice any parents. Just the two of you sitting really close.”
What was up with everyone? Didn’t they have anything else to do but worry about her love life?
“After church, he brought them home so they could rest, and then he came back to the Bible study.”
“Right.” He grabbed a mint and popped it into his mouth.
“Trust me, Matthew, we’re barely acquaintances.”
“Sure, Amanda.” He pulled away from the counter and headed for the door. “See you tomorrow. I’ll bring food.”
After Matthew left, Amanda rubbed her temples and admonished herself. She didn’t need to get so worked up just because people assumed she and Jerry were an item.
Business was steady since most of the colleges were out on break. The tourist season still ebbed and flowed, but there were still plenty of year-round customers lately, and she had lots of rentals scheduled. Life was good. So why did she feel so out of sorts?
When she got home, Lacy was sprawled out on the couch, with the remote control in one hand, a candy bar in the other, and some mindless soap opera blaring from the TV. She looked up at Amanda, offered a brief smile and wave, then turned her attention back to the TV.
“Well?” Amanda said as she kicked off her shoes. “How’d the party go?”
“It was fun for a little while, but the kids got all squirmy.”
Amanda lifted her brows. “Isn’t that what kindergartners do? Squirm?”
Lacy rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I am so glad school’s out for a while. I need a break.” She sat up and hit the Mute button on the remote. “That reminds me. Brad asked if I could spend some time with him tomorrow. He’s getting off work early and trying out his new boat.”
“Are you going to?” A strange feeling washed over her, like she was somehow involved in her sister’s decision.
“I’d like to, but, well, there’s Timmy.”
“What about Timmy?” Amanda asked.
“He’ll want to go, unless we can find someplace else he’d rather be.” Lacy had stood up and closed the gap between them.
“Got any ideas?” Amanda asked.
“He really likes you.”
This didn’t take much figuring out. “So you want me to keep an eye on him while you and Brad hang out on Brad’s boat?”
Lacy’s eyebrows shot up, and she clapped her hands together. “Would you?”
“Why don’t you ask Mother?”
Lacy tilted her head and rolled her eyes. “Since when could we ever depend on her for something like this?”
Amanda’s shoulders sagged. There was no way she could resist her sister’s pleading looks. “I guess I don’t mind watching him for a little while.”
“You’re the best sister ever!” Lacy grabbed her cell phone off the end table and headed toward her room. “I can’t wait to tell Brad we can go.”
The next morning, Amanda gathered some things she thought might entertain a five-year-old boy and stuffed them into a tote. When she got to work, she went through the same routine of getting out the chairs and setting up for Matthew’s clinic.
He arrived a half hour before it was scheduled. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, Amanda. I could have set up.”
She shrugged. “I was here, and I didn’t have anything else pressing.”
Matthew offered a warm smile. “You’ve always been a nurturer, and that’s nice. But sometimes you need to let others do things for themselves.”
She’d known Matthew since high school, and they were like brother and sister when he wasn’t touring with his skateboard group. Whenever she needed to vent, Matthew had always been there with a listening ear and sometimes a few wise words. When nothing else worked, he’d toss out a wisecrack and she’d slug him in the shoulder. No one else would even attempt to talk to her like that.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “You can put everything away after it’s over.”
Matthew set up some refreshments on the table in the back of the shop. A few minutes later, kids started arriving. By the time the clinic began, the room was even more packed than the day before when the college kids were there.
Amanda stayed behind the counter and answered the phone when it rang. Otherwise, there wasn’t much she could do, since there wasn’t much space left in her store. She kept an eye on the door, just in case a customer approached and needed something.
She’d just hung up when she glanced up and spotted Jerry and his parents at the door, looking in. His dad had his hands propped up, shielding his eyes. She tugged at her shirt to make sure it wasn’t hiked up as she came around from behind the counter and went to the door to let them in.
“What’s going on in there?” Harold asked. “Are those kids taking over the place? Want me to scare ‘em away?”
“No,” Amanda replied with a chuckle. “We have annual safety clinics for skateboarders. Did you need something?”
“We were on our way to St. Petersburg, and we decided to stop off and see what you were up to.” Rosemary looked around her at the crowd in the store. “I think it’s very sweet that you do this for your customers.”
Jerry nodded. “It is nice. Sorry if we interrupted, though. We’ll leave and let you get back to your clinic.”
“No, that’s okay. Matthew has everything under control.”
Harold pointed inside. “Is that guy up at the front Matthew?”
“Yes,” Amanda replied. “He’s a professional skateboarder.”
“That’s silly and rather childish for a grown man, don’t you think?”
Jerry reached out and touched Harold’s arm. “Dad.”
Amanda laughed. “That’s okay. I understand. Matthew and I have been friends for years. Everyone wondered what he’d do with his life since he was such a slacker back in high school. All he ever did then was skateboard.” She looked over her shoulder and saw Matthew looking at her, his gaze narrowed. Then she spun back around to face Harold. “At least he’s able to make a living doing something he enjoys.”
“Is he your boyfriend?” Harold asked.
Amanda laughed at the mere thought. “No.”
“Has he ever been your boyfriend?”
Jerry touched his Harold’s arm. “C’mon, Dad, that’s not any of our business.”
“No, he’s never been my boyfriend. We’ve just always been very good friends.”
Harold slowly shook his head. “That’s how it often starts.”
“Stop it, Harold!” Rosemary offered an apologetic glance at Amanda. “I’m sorry my husband is acting this way.”
“Amanda!”
The piercing sound of a child’s voice caught everyone’s attention. The instant Amanda turned around, Timmy was practically on top of her. She giggled as she lifted him off his feet and gave him a big hug before putting him back down.
He looked up at her, his eyes wide. “Daddy says you’re gonna babysit me today. I told him I’m not a baby.”
“Of course you’re not a baby,” Amanda agreed as she turned to Brad then looked back at Timmy. “You’re a big boy. You’re going to help me work.” She reached down and took his hand as she looked over at her sister and Brad. She thought Lacy had said they’d leave in the afternoon, and it wasn’t even noon yet.
“See, Daddy? I’m her helper.”
Brad looked helpless as he took a step back. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Even though it was more than an hour before she expected them, Amanda nodded. “Sure, I’m fine.”
“We won’t be gone too long. In fact, we’ll probably be back before you close the shop.”
“Take your time,” Amanda said.
Jerry had no doubt that Amanda was being taken advantage of as he watched the whole interaction. And it bugged him to think that her own sister would do this to her. Timmy was obviously a spirited little boy who would try the patience of anyone—let alone someone trying to run a business.
He glanced over at his dad, who’d clearly noticed the same thing. Something was brewing in his dad’s mind—he could tell by the look on his face.
His dad leaned over to get on Timmy’s level. “So, you like to work?”
Timmy shyly nodded as he tightened his grip on Amanda’s hand. “Daddy sometimes lets me help him work. I get to write on paper and work on files.”
“What else do you like to do?” his dad asked.
“I like to play soccer and kickball and army.” Timmy pointed at his shoes. “Look what Daddy got me.” He turned his foot to the side to show off the wheels on the bottom.
Jerry’s dad squatted. “Whatcha got there?”
“Wheelie shoes, and I can go really fast!”
“Those are some cool shoes.” Harold slowly stood from his squat. “I might get me some of those.”
Timmy frowned and shook his head. “I don’t think they make them in big-people sizes….” He put his index finger on his chin and thought for a moment. “But maybe we can tell the people at the store, and they’ll start making them.”
“Good idea.” Harold looked up and winked at the adults, who stood there amazed at how well he and the little boy were hitting it off. “So tell me, Timmy, have you ever been on a treasure hunt?”
Jerry slowly looked over toward Amanda, who appeared amused, before addressing his father. “Dad, this treasure hunt thing is getting—”
His dad held up his hand. “Wait a minute, son. I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to the boy.” He looked back at Timmy. “Do you think you’d like to look for treasure with an old man?”
Timmy’s eyes lit up as he turned to Amanda. “Can I look for treasure with an old man, Amanda?”
“I don’t know,” Amanda said. “I’ll need to call your dad.”
Jerry knew he’d been defeated when she looked back at him. He hesitated only for a second then nodded. “Mind if I go along?”
“Let me see if it’s okay first. Be right back.” Amanda quickly turned away from them, leaving Timmy with Jerry and his parents.
Jerry kept an eye on her as she went inside, edged around the people as inconspicuously as she could, and grabbed her phone. Then she stepped outside, away from where anyone could hear, and made a call. She was on the phone about ten seconds before she rejoined the group.
They all looked at her expectantly. “Well?”
Amanda looked relieved. “Sure, Timmy, but you need to behave and do what you’re told.”
“He’s a good boy, aren’t you, Timmy?” Jerry’s dad looked down at the child.
“Uh-huh.” Timmy beamed up at Jerry’s dad. “Where are we hunting for treasure?”
“How should I know? We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get going.”
Jerry’s throat tightened at the touching sight of his dad taking the little boy’s hand and walking away from the shop. When he turned toward Amanda, he could tell she felt it, too.
She blinked. “Don’t keep him too long, okay?”
“Trust me,” Jerry said. “We’ll be back very soon.”
His mother decided to head back to the condo, while Jerry tagged along with his dad and Timmy. It had been a long time since he’d seen his dad so animated and…well, happy. He had to admit, Timmy was very cute and funny—even when he referred to Jerry’s dad as “Old Man,” which made his dad howl with laughter. But it didn’t sound good, so Jerry intervened.
“Let’s think of a different nickname, okay?” Jerry suggested.
His dad’s smile changed to a scowl. “What’s wrong with what he’s calling me? I think it’s cute.”
“How about Gramps?” Jerry offered.
Timmy looked up at his dad. “Want me to call you Gramps?”
Jerry’s dad shrugged, made a face at Jerry, then looked down at Timmy and grinned. “Sure, why not.” He hung back for a moment then snickered. “In fact, I kind of like it. Gramps. Yeah, that’s a good name for me.”
Jerry suspected his dad had had a moment of reflection about how his own grandkids rarely came around. Timmy was like a substitute grandchild, and he figured his dad was probably the closest thing Timmy had to a grandparent. From what he could tell, this was a winwin relationship.
For the next hour, Jerry listened to Timmy and “Gramps” talk about all the possible places pirates could have buried their treasure. It could be in the sand or behind the Windjammer Hotel. Or it could even be in one of the many stores lining both sides of the main road.
“It might take us all summer to find it,” Gramps said.
Jerry cleared his throat. “We’re only going to be here a couple more weeks, Dad.”
Timmy looked at Gramps with obvious disappointment. “You’re leaving? How will I find the treasure if you’re not here?”
“We’ll figure out something.” Gramps tossed Jerry a look of extreme disapproval, making Jerry slink back a few paces. He felt like a heel, but he didn’t want his dad making promises he couldn’t keep to this little boy. Based on what he’d seen, Timmy had had more than his share of disappointment in life. Like Amanda.
After a couple of blocks of treasure hunting, Timmy looked up at Gramps. “I’m hungry.”
“Then let’s eat. Whaddya want?”
“Um, Dad, what if Amanda has plans for Timmy’s lunch?”
His dad gestured with a flick of the wrist. “Call her and tell her we’re taking Timmy to lunch.”
He pulled out his cell phone and found Amanda’s number in his directory. She answered on the second ring and said it was fine for them to grab a bite to eat and then continue looking for treasure. “To be honest, I didn’t even expect Timmy until after lunch anyway, so I wasn’t sure what to do.” She paused then added, “You saved me. Thanks.”
“My pleasure,” he replied then snapped his phone shut, hoping she didn’t detect the sarcasm that had slipped out.
They stopped off for hamburgers and fries. Jerry rarely ate fast food, but he would have been willing to bet it was standard fare for the little boy.
After lunch, they walked around a little more, and his dad ducked into a store to look for a treasure chest similar to what Jerry had picked up during the festival. Apparently they were mass-produced, because it didn’t take more than five minutes to find one. He handed it to Timmy. “I think that’s a replica of what we’re looking for.”
“Wow!” Timmy rubbed his tiny fingers over it then slipped it into his pocket. “This is cool!”
They finally made a circle and came back to Amanda’s store. As he pushed the door open, the sight at the counter gave him a stomachache.
Amanda and that guy…what’s his name—Matthew? Whatever it was, they were standing very close, their heads together, looking at something in what appeared to be a magazine or catalog. He felt as if the earth had shifted beneath him, but that was ridiculous. She could put her head next to any guy she wanted. When she heard the door, she quickly glanced up and waved.
“Hey, Jerry.” She leaned to the side and looked behind him. “Where’s Timmy?”
“He’s coming.” Jerry couldn’t keep the gruffness out of his voice. At the moment, he wanted to strangle Matthew.
Matthew stepped back from the counter and turned to face him, a smile plastered on that too-tan face. “Hey, man, it’s cool that you and your folks took care of Timmy. Amanda’s been telling me all about him. Poor kid.”
“Yeah, poor kid.” At the moment, Jerry was too busy feeling sorry for himself and wanting to punch Matthew, but he didn’t want Amanda to know. Jealousy was never attractive—and it was something he’d never dealt with before. What an odd feeling.
Matthew took the opportunity to close the catalog and head for the back room to get his stuff. Jerry edged up to the counter to wait for his dad and Timmy, who were lollygagging outside but within view. He tried hard to act casual, like it didn’t matter that she was very chummy with a pretty boy.
“So, how’d it go?” Amanda asked. “Find any treasure?”
“My dad bought him a treasure chest like the one I got him.” He knew he still sounded surly, but he couldn’t let his feelings keep him from talking to her.
She tilted her head and studied him then blinked as she looked right past him. “Call me with the item numbers, Matthew. I’ll get whatever you think we need.”
Matthew waved as he sauntered out of the store. “See ya, Amanda. Hope to see you around again soon, Jerry.”
“Likewise.” Jerry waved then turned back to Amanda, who had a very odd expression on her face.
Jerry was acting weird and not at all like himself. Amanda wasn’t sure but he didn’t seem to like Matthew, and there wasn’t any reason she could see. They’d barely met, and Matthew had been polite. In fact, she’d never seen Matthew on such good behavior. Guys could be so weird.
“Did Timmy give you any trouble?” Amanda asked, hoping to break the icy chill in the room.
“None whatsoever. He and my dad got along great.”
“Well, that’s good,” she said. “I’m glad Timmy has a grandfather type in his life.”
“Yeah, in fact, he now calls my dad Gramps.”
Amanda laughed. “That’s cute!”
She watched as he visibly relaxed and glanced outside. “Today was good for him. For the first time in ages, he actually seemed happy. Ever since my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he’s been angry.”
“I can imagine,” she said. “I probably would be, too.”
“Mom managed to keep him from snapping until she found out she had Parkinson’s. Now it’s all I can do to keep them from barking at each other every second they’re awake.”
“Getting old is rough.” Amanda thought about her own mother. “My mom is a bit younger than your parents, but she’s not dealing with aging well, either.”
Timmy and Harold still hadn’t come inside. They stood outside the shop, chatting away, clearly engrossed in a conversation they both enjoyed.
“Might as well make yourself comfortable.” Amanda gestured toward the stool. “Looks like they’re not ready to say good-bye.”
Jerry did as he was told. “It’s the strangest thing. Who would’ve thought that a little boy would be what my dad needed?”
She watched the elderly man pat Timmy on the shoulder, as if consoling him for something. Then she turned back to Jerry. “Looks like it works both ways. I’m really glad they met.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad we only have a couple of weeks left here.”
Amanda instantly felt a sensation of dread as it washed over her. She loved being around Jerry, in spite of the promise she’d made to herself not to fall for another guy. And in a more respectful way, he was doing the same thing that both her father and Eric had done. He was leaving. No surprise. It wasn’t as though she didn’t know before letting herself get this way.
Finally Timmy and Harold finished their conversation and came into the store. Timmy held out the little plastic brown toy treasure chest.
“Looky what Gramps got me!”
Amanda took it, turned it over in her hand, winked at Harold, then smiled at Timmy. “How nice! Did you find any other treasure?”
Timmy made a face and shook his head. “Not yet, but Gramps said he’ll take me out hunting again.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun!”
Harold patted Timmy on the back. “I guess I gotta go home and take my nap, champ. When you get as old as me, you gotta do stuff like that.”
Timmy rolled his eyes and nodded conspiratorially. “Yeah, me, too. My daddy says when I don’t get a nap, I’m a real bear.”
Harold held his hands up like claws and growled. Timmy jumped then burst into laughter before he mimicked Harold. Amanda looked at Jerry, who stood by the door shaking his head.
“C’mon, Dad, we need to get back so Mom doesn’t worry about us.”
“Bye, Gramps!” Timmy waved until Harold turned and followed Jerry out the door.
Once they were gone, Timmy’s shoulders lifted then sagged. “I like Gramps. He’s funny.”
“What did you two talk about?”
He quickly shrugged. “Just stuff.”
“Stuff?”
“Yeah, you know, like treasures and pirates and bicycles and God and stuff like that.”
“And God?” Amanda questioned.
Timmy nodded. “I told him Daddy was mad at God ‘cuz Mommy died. But I like to go to church—’specially Sunday school.”
“I’m sorry, Timmy.”
Suddenly, Timmy lit up. “Gramps said he’d take me, if it’s all right with Daddy.”
Amanda smiled. She was glad Timmy had a nice time, but it was getting close to time to go home, and she hadn’t heard a word from her sister.
“What time did your dad say they were coming back?”
“I don’t know,” Timmy replied as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He looked sleepy.
“I’ll call my sister.” Amanda lifted the phone and punched in Lacy’s cell phone number. No answer. She should have expected that.
“Why don’t you go in the back room and sit in the beanbag? I have some bicycle magazines you can look at.”
“Okay.” He hung his head as he did as he was told. In no time, she didn’t hear a peep from the back room, so she ducked her head into the room to see if he was okay and found him fast asleep in the middle of her overstuffed, twenty-year-old, neon-green beanbag chair.
The next hour passed with still no word from Lacy and Brad. Finally, fifteen minutes after closing time, she gently tapped Timmy on the shoulder. He made a sound, but he was so tired, he didn’t awaken.
“Hey, Timmy, sweetie, let’s go to my house. Your daddy isn’t here yet, and I need to go home and cook dinner.”
He opened his sleepy eyes and gave her a dazed look. “I’m hungry.”
“If your daddy doesn’t come soon, you can eat with me, okay?” She reached for his hand.
He nodded and let her help him to a standing position. Amanda had walked to work, so it took them awhile to get to her house, with Timmy shuffling his feet from exhaustion. Jerry and his dad had clearly worn him out.
Finally, an hour after Amanda and Timmy got home, Lacy and Brad showed up. “I am so sorry,” Lacy said. “We went out in the boat, and I completely lost track of time. You should have been there, Amanda. It was beautiful!” She sniffed the air. “Did you cook spaghetti?”
“Yes, and I fed Timmy,” Amanda replied. “I bet it won’t be too hard to get him to go to sleep tonight. He’s been a very busy little boy today.”
“C’mon, sport,” Brad said as he took his son’s hand. “Let’s go home and get you ready for bed.”
Timmy obediently followed his dad out the door, pausing only to say good-bye to Amanda. As soon as they were gone, Lacy danced and twirled around the living room.
“I think I’m in love!”