“I told you,” Zoe said. “He’ll get paid back through Mrs. Hancock’s rent.”
“But what if she doesn’t pay?” Grandma said.
“Then we’ll find another renter who will,” Courtney said.
Grandma sniffed. “I’m still suspicious.”
“He’s really into Zoe,” Courtney said.
“No, he’s just an amazing dad,” Zoe said. “It has nothing to do with me.”
“Listen,” Courtney began, “I need to talk to Hannah.”
“About what?”
Courtney toyed with her muffin and wouldn’t meet Zoe’s gaze. “Hannah’s really angry with Laurel and it’s tearing Laurel apart.”
“When did this happen?”
“Last night.” Courtney blew out a breath. “It’s dumb preteen drama.”
“If it’s important to Laurel, you know it’s important to me.”
“I know. You’re the best aunt ever,” Courtney said.
“So, what’s going on?” Zoe asked.
Courtney lifted her gaze to meet Zoe’s. “Hannah has a secret crush on Jon Frank, and Laurel let it slip.”
“I take it it’s not so secret anymore,” Grandma said with a smile.
“That’s right,” Courtney said. “Hannah is furious and won’t speak to Laurel.” Courtney took a sip of her tea before continuing. “I want to sit the girls down and talk about how friends should trump crushes.”
“But confidences should be respected,” Zoe put in.
“Absolutely,” Courtney agreed, “but it’s not always easy to keep a secret. You know that. Do you think Laurel and I could come by tonight and talk to Hannah? Maybe you could take Ethan for a walk and get him out of the house?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you love Laurel.”
“I do love Laurel, but—”
“Hannah doesn’t want her dad to know she has a crush on a boy.”
“Huh.” Zoe stirred milk into her tea and watched it turn from dark to light. “I don’t want to conspire behind Ethan’s back.”
“You’re not conspiring. You’re saving a friendship.” Courtney put down her tea. “You know how girls that age can be—and you know how dads can get.”
No. She really didn’t. And neither did Courtney. They both had non-existent fathers, although Courtney’s, at least, had helped pay for her medical expenses when Laurel was born. Zoe had never even met her father. But she did know the type of father Ethan was, and that was just one of the things she loved about him.
She set her cup down so hard, tea sloshed over the brim and scalded her fingers. She shook off the tea. She didn’t love Ethan. It was too early for that. Or was it? They’d been eating dinner together as a family for weeks now. Should she tell him how she felt? Not yet. But she could help mend the rift between Hannah and Laurel.
#
AT THE END OF A SCHOOLday while Ethan and Hannah tidied up the art room, Ethan’s phone buzzed. Juggling a container of paintbrushes and a collection of palettes, Ethan had to set everything down before he could scrounge through his pockets for his phone.
The buzzing stopped before he could get to it, but he saw it was from Scottsdale.
