Chapter 6

When Sean went back upstairs, he found Kelvin comfortable in his olive chair watching Charlie Rose’s late-night rebroadcast of his talk show on TV.

“False alarm,” Kelvin said. “That’s good.”

“Yes, it is.” Sean returned the bat to the hall closet where he’d found it. “Nothing like a little excitement, but now I’m wired. You, too?”

“Not especially. Sometimes I just like to be awake when the world is still.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. Good thinking time.” Sean settled in on the couch. “She told me about her family, about the plane crash. Were they on that commercial jet that went down near New York, killing all the passengers?”

“Yeah, that was a terrible thing.”

“Wasn’t there a huge settlement for the families?”

“I don’t know. She don’t talk about it much.”

“Hmm.” Sean thought there would have had to have been. Not that it mattered. He was just curious. “You think she’ll be all right here? I mean, after we move?”

“She’s a strong woman. We won’t be moving to the moon.”

Sean sat forward, casually rubbing his palms together, hoping not to appear overly inquisitive. “Is she seeing anyone?”

“What? You just met her a few days ago. Besides, you got a thing for older women?”

The cat was obviously out of the bag. “I have a thing for attractive, intelligent women. Why should age matter?”

Kelvin scratched at his beard and Sean saw mischief flit across his father’s eyes. “She let me kiss her once.”

“Is that right? When was this?”

“At my fifty-first birthday party, but I got to kiss all the ladies. If they wanted some of my cake.” They laughed, then he held his son’s gaze. “You can’t play a couple innings, have your fun and leave. Woman like that deserves better. Got to go the distance. Bottom of the ninth. Overtime, if necessary. You see what I’m saying?”

“I see what you’re saying, Pop.” He didn’t want to see him involved in anything casual with Chelly.

“You do? ’Cuz you might hit a home run in the three months you’re here, but then whatcha gonna do? Go back to Maryland, right? Don’t go starting nothing you can’t finish. Don’t put her through it.”

Sean stroked his chin, thinking. He was glad Kelvin had Chelly’s back, and complying with Kelvin’s desires for her wouldn’t be an issue. He was not into taking advantage of women. Maybe he and Chelly could be friends. He was learning more every day about coping with loss, so maybe he could help her deal with hers. Or maybe she was the expert and could teach him. “So you’re saying she’s dated other men who’ve hurt her?”

Kelvin turned his palms up and shrugged. “Not necessarily. I’m saying just don’t you go adding to her misery.”

* * *

Later that morning, Sean took his first look at the new house. It was only five minutes away from where they lived now, but the architecture on this block changed from frame to brick houses.

The poorly maintained yards, the smashed soda and beer cans, broken bits of CDs, glass, and numerous oil stains on the street made him simultaneously want to leave for better surroundings and organize a neighborhood cleanup operation.

Traipsing past the overgrown yard, he tried to shake off his negativity. Sean blamed the overcast sky and a wind that scurried in and around his leather jacket. Once inside, bathed in Chelly’s handiwork, he was sure to feel better.

Inside, the smell of sawdust and fresh paint greeted him at the door. Right away, he thought these odors would be irritants to Kelvin and they’d have to get rid of them before the move. The floorboards creaked as he walked around opening windows, but he was glad to see what appeared to be original wood floors restored to a shiny walnut color.

The living room lay to the right of the front door, the dining room to the left behind double French doors. The fireplace in the living room would make for cozy gatherings if the smoke didn’t bother his father, but it probably would. He could live with whatever made his father comfortable.

Continuing the tour, he encountered a center circular hall that led to the kitchen, a bathroom, and two large bedrooms, one of which had a bathroom addition.

The white cabinets, white tile work, and black appliances and counters matched the black and white old-style tiles laid diagonally on the kitchen floor. He wondered if Chelly had cut a pass-through to allow a view of the dining room from the kitchen, because it seemed like an update. He’d be comfortable cooking in such a spacious area, yet the room beyond the kitchen drew his attention.

The sunporch spanned the width of the house. On it, a long bank of windows revealed a backyard full of trees and knee-high grass. Sean grinned. He loved watching the change of seasons, and now he had a front row seat. He wouldn’t even mind cleaning up the leaves. He made a mental note to get a lawn mower and leaf blower, choosing to focus on practical items like this, rather than consciously acknowledge that this year’s change of seasons would be his father’s last.

The small kitchen table they had now could go on the sunporch with a couple of chairs and maybe a love seat. If it proved to be warm enough when winter approached, this would be Sean’s favorite room.

Sean remembered the disposable camera he’d picked up at the shopping center after he’d faxed a copy of the deed for the land in Maryland to his attorney. He removed it from his jacket pocket, planning to take pictures so Kelvin could get a look at the place. Beginning on the sun porch, he captured the house, room by room.

He’d just snapped the picture of the fireplace when he’d turned to see a woman’s brown face nearly smashed against the living room window screen. Momentarily startled, Sean paused, then clicked anyway. She waved and he waved back.

He opened the front door for her. “Hello.”

The woman approached, looking chagrined. Her sheepish smile was gorgeous, and the dark liner beneath her lower lashes enhanced warm brown eyes, making it hard not to stare into them. Guessing women’s ages wasn’t his strong suit, but if pushed he’d say she was nineteen, maybe twenty.

“Uh-oh. I’m so busted. You caught me being nosy,” she said. “Is this your house now?”

“Yes. Do you live in the neighborhood?”

She pointed. “Down the street. The bus stop is that way.” She indicated the opposite direction. “I walk past here every day. I watched them do the work on this house.”

Sean noticed her backpack and figured she was a college student. “You go to school around here?”

“The community college isn’t far. You must work downtown or something, right? Trying to cut down on your commute time by moving here?”

“Not exactly. I know the owner and I needed a place to live for a while.”

“Ohhh.” She nodded.

“You want to come inside?” Sean asked out of politeness, already anticipating her refusal. No woman in her right mind would go into a house with a strange man these days.

“Can I? I’d love to see it.”

“Oh. Well, sure, come on in.” Sean held the door for her, laughing at his mistaken assumption.

“I’ve always loved houses. When I was a kid, I had like four dollhouses. Now I’m down to two. I’m going to study architecture. That’s my major.”

“That’s wonderful. Go on. Look around. I want to take some pictures of the front and back of the house.” Also, he was by nature more cautious than she apparently was; keeping a little distance between him and this friendly stranger was probably not a bad idea.

“Thanks. I’m Nicole Adams, by the way.” She extended her hand.

He shook it. “Nice to meet you, Nicole, I’m Sean Price.”

He took the pictures, and then went to the car to get his pencil, pad, and tape measure. By that time, Nicole was back outside.

“What did you think?” Sean asked.

“It’s beautiful. My daughter and I could be very comfortable here. That was just one of my many fantasies, you know.” She chuckled. “She’d love a yard for her, and I’d love the extra space. We live in an apartment now.”

“How old is your daughter?”

“She not quite two,” she answered, tucking one of the twisted strands of hair behind her ear, temporarily defeating the wind’s intent to wave them to and fro. “Thanks for letting me take a peek, Sean. I’m sure I’ll see you again. Welcome to the neighborhood.”

* * *

For the third evening in a row, Chelly stopped by and found Sean and Kelvin watching TV. She couldn’t stay for dinner, but she brought boxes for Sean and Kelvin’s move.

“I’ve got play rehearsal tonight, and tomorrow night I’m going to this political event with a friend. My truck will be at your disposal, though, if you need it.”

“Thanks. Will you be busy this weekend, too?” Sean asked.

Would he miss her like crazy if she were, she wondered.

“No, I’ll keep it open so I can help. Kelvin, what did you think of the house?” she asked, scooping up Sean’s photographs from the coffee table.

“I like it fine. I’d like it better if the woman came with it.” He laughed.

“Huh?” Chelly smiled at Kelvin over the pictures, waiting to get the joke.

“Keep looking and you’ll see her,” Kelvin said.

What woman? An intriguing thought crept into her mind, and it wasn’t the first time she’d had it. What if Maya’s appearance could change and she could show up wherever she wanted? But no, she’d tried taking a picture of Maya once and got nothing.

“One of the neighbors was curious, is all. Don’t look so worried,” Sean said. Chelly hadn’t realized she’d been frowning.

She came across the picture. “She’s pretty.” And young, she added silently. Stacking the pictures and returning them to the table, Chelly let out a sigh. That’s what she got for toying with the idea of being interested in Sean. Pretty young women would be a threat even for the short time he was in Grand Rapids. On the other hand, knowing that he could choose at any time to be with one would keep her from becoming too attached. Unattached equaled unhurt. Thank God some rules of the universe still applied.

Relieved to have nipped that bit of emerging jealousy in the bud, she rose, feeling lighter. “Okay, so I’ll check in with you later.”

“The hospital bed and the furniture are supposed to be delivered Saturday morning, which probably means they’ll get there sometime before midnight,” Sean joked. “I’ll wait and move what we’re taking from here on Sunday, if that’s okay with you.”

“Sunday? Okay. Sounds like a plan. Later, guys.”