Michael set down his fork after the last bite of apple pie on his plate. “Amber says that dad’s friend Joe is in town.”
“True,” Jen replied. “I really should have invited him. I guess I wasn’t thinking. He’s asked after you boys and would love to see you. Darn it.”
Faith nudged Jen with her elbow and whispered, “Speak of the devil.”
Jen looked where Faith was pointing to see Joe round the corner and look up at the house. Jen smiled—he was wearing his gondolier costume. One of their workers must have called out sick or something.
“Joe,” she called and waved him over.
“Hi, everybody.” Joe climbed the steps with his gondolier hat under his arm and a sheepish smile on his face.
“Good grief, Joe. You look the same as you did decades ago,” Jen’s father said as he shook Joe’s hand. “Same outfit and everything.”
Joe laughed. “Yeah, I guess so, Mr. Watson. I’m filling in at the gondolas. My dad passed away, and we’re deciding what to do with the business.”
“Good man. I say keep it. It’s a goldmine, I bet, and looks like fun.”
Jen reintroduced him to Michael.
“Wow,” Joe said, looking from Jen to Michael and back again. “You sure look like your dad.” His eyes clouded for a moment, and he shot another quick glance at Jen. She felt her heart tug at the same time, knowing that this would be difficult for him. For all of them.
“I’m so sorry I can’t stay. I’ve got a reservation and I’ve got to get down to the dock. Jen, any chance we could schedule another get-together? Maybe in a few weeks? I’d love to catch up with everybody. Just kind of indisposed at the moment.”
“We’ve got to get going, too,” Michael said as he reached for Amber’s hand. “But we’d love to take a rain check. Schedule something, though. Just let us know where and when, Mom.”
“Great,” Joe said as he shook Jen’s dad’s hand again and nodded at Susanna and the girls. “Count me in.”
Joe headed down to the harbor along with Michael and Amber. After they’d gone, Jen looked up and down the street once more for Greg.
“Dad, are we going to talk about this or not? I know you got a price range that Dirk thought would be realistic for selling the house. And you said you and Greg have been talking about it.”
Jen’s dad sat down beside Susanna, who mercifully had not joined in much conversation—so far. Unfortunately, it didn’t last.
Susanna happily chimed in. “They have been talking about it. A lot. In fact, we cancelled a couple dinners because of it. I tell Jim, ‘You don’t need to be worrying about all of that old stuff. We have places to go, things to see.’”
Jen thought she actually heard Carrie and Faith gasp behind her. They were on the other side of the deck, pretending not to listen, but Jen had the same reaction.
Jen’s dad shifted in his seat and rested his hand on Susanna’s knee.
“Well, Susanna’s not completely wrong. We have some trips planned, and I just don’t want to worry about all this. I know you guys love the house, but I’ve had my fun here. I want to see some other places while I still have time. And Susanna and I mean to make it happen.”
Jen’s spoon dropped to the table with a thud. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She shook her head and rallied.
“Okay. Greg and I will just take care of things. Just keep things the way they are. No huge repairs—or I’ll figure out how to make that happen. Let’s just not sell.”
Jen’s dad shook his head slowly and stood, reaching for Susanna’s hand.
“I’m okay with whatever you decide to do. But that’s a lot of money to just turn up your nose at, Jen. You need to think this through.”
Jen had thought it through. More times than she could count. The memories—old and yet to come—meant more to her than money. Allen had left her comfortable enough, and she still owned her other house. She could make it work.
Sure, things were lean, but she was safe. And if something happened to the beach house, she would never in a million years have the money to buy something different.
“I have thought it through, Dad. Hear me out.”
“Honey, I have heard you out. And I’ve heard Greg out, more times than I wanted to.”
“That’s the truth,” Susanna said with a giggle. “I told him just get rid of it. You don’t need to worry about that stuff.”
This time, Jen’s dad actually steered Susanna toward the gate and pulled on his jacket. He gave her a bit of a stern look—one Jen knew well. She mouthed the word, “Sorry,” and covered her mouth with her hand.
“I decided that this house is really your and Greg’s inheritance anyway, from your mother’s side of the family. Not mine to worry about anymore. So I had things changed. It belongs to you now, equally. You can decide what to do—the two of you together. And whatever you decide is fine by me. I know you’ll make a great decision.”
Jen was utterly speechless as her dad said his goodbyes to Faith and Carrie, who looked as shocked as she felt. He hustled Susanna out the gate and headed down the street, Susanna taking two steps to his every one to keep up.
“Well, that’s quite a turn of events,” Faith finally said as Jen’s father turned the corner, looked back and waved.
“That is the understatement of the century.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Carrie asked.
“I can’t imagine it’s good,” Faith said slowly. “Now you’re stuck with just Greg.”
Jen ran her hands through her hair. “And he won’t even talk to me. But I guess now with Dad out of the mix, he’ll have to. Whether he likes it or not.”