Griff leaned against one of the porch uprights and sipped his coffee. He hadn’t seen anything of Lyndsey since he nobly — or stupidly — encouraged her to leave. Every time he went into his kitchen he pictured her there, laughing and smiling over their meal. Some days, he swore the scent of her light gardenia perfume still lingered in the air.
Nothing had gone right since she left; he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He’d doggedly tried to work on the mosaic panel, but it hadn’t come to life as he’d hoped. His creations never did when he wasn’t in the right frame of mind. When he couldn’t find an off-cut in the right shade of pale pink to represent the Rosa de Bayahibe, Dominica’s national flower, he’d decided to cut a piece from a large sheet of glass. Griff had carelessly balanced it on the workbench, then caught the edge with his elbow and sent it crashing to the floor. Like an idiot, he tried to catch it — something his teacher drilled into them never to do — and ended up with a deep cut in the palm of his right hand. Luckily it hadn’t needed stitches, so he’d bandaged it himself. Although it was healing well, he wouldn’t have the flexibility and strength in his fingers to work again for at least another week.
He trudged down the steps for a wander around the garden, but the sight of the weeds taking over his vegetable patch and the ragged lawn worsened his mood. Harold would be happy to lend a hand, but another idea sprang into Griff’s mind — one that might solve two problems at once. He sent off a quick text with little hope of a positive response.
Yes, please. I’ll send him over.
Becca’s swift agreement surprised him, but he still reckoned there was only a fifty-fifty chance of Theo turning up. The boy would probably dig his heels in and refuse, because the request came from his stepmother. Griff strolled back inside and fetched a cold soda to drink on the porch while he settled down to wait.
Twenty minutes later, when he was on the point of giving up, footsteps crunched on the gravel drive. Theo slouched towards him. Head down. Shoulders slumped.
‘Hiya, kid. How’s it goin’?’
The only response was a silent glower.
‘Your mom says you’re at a loose end, so I wondered if you might help me out.’ Griff lifted his injured hand. He told him the whole gory tale and watched Theo’s eyes widen.
‘That sucks. Does it hurt?’
‘It’s not too bad now.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s a hazard of my job. I thought you might be glad to get out of the house and make some money at the same time.’
‘Shetold me I had to come because you’re always doing stuff for us. I’m not allowed to take any money.’
He wasn’t about to take advantage of the boy that way, but getting involved in the impasse between Becca and her stepson was tricky.
‘I’ll give Becca a call and see if we can sort something out.’
He picked his words carefully when she answered — not easy with Theo standing next to him listening and glowering. Finally she gave in, the lure of not having to deal with the boy for a few hours proving more tempting than sticking to her guns.
‘Okay, we have a deal.’ He turned back to Theo. ‘I’m allowed to pay you for the hours you put in here, but in return you’ve got to help out more at home.’ He’d heard Lyndsey’s voice in the background and suspected the compromise was her suggestion.
‘No way,’ he scoffed.
‘Listen to yourself, Theo.’ Griff rested his good hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘It’s been a hard adjustment for you both since she married your dad, but Becca’s trying her best.’
‘Yeah, right, sure she is,’ he sneered. ‘Don’t give me any crap about her loving me, either, because that’s garbage.’ Two angry red circles bloomed on his thin cheeks.
Griff refused to lie. ‘She’s tryin’ to, Theo, but you’re not making it easy for her. You love your dad, don’t you?’
‘Course I do.’
‘So do this for him, if nothin’ else. Right now, the poor guy’s stuck in the middle tryin’ to keep you both happy, and that’s a pretty lousy position to be in.’
Theo scuffed the toe of one sneaker on the wood floor and didn’t meet Griff’s eyes.
‘Becca’s not expecting miracles. You’re almost a teenager, after all, and they aren’t renowned for being charming and helpful.’
When the kid glanced back up, the faintest hint of a smile lurked in his bright blue eyes.
‘I know your aunt is helping out some, but she’s got a lot on her plate. You’re old enough to work the washer and dryer, unload the dishwasher and stuff like that. Talk to Nora and play with her. She’s gonna look up to her big brother, you know.’
‘I’m not her—’
‘Yes, you are.’ His forceful tone startled the boy. ‘It doesn’t make a shred of difference to a tiny baby. No one’s asking you to forget your mom, but—’
‘Like she’s forgotten me, you mean?’ Theo’s effort to sound uncaring was contradicted by the tears welling in his eyes. ‘She’s been gone almost a year, and I’ve had one email and a couple of texts. All she goes on about are the awesome beaches and what a great guy her new husband is. She never asks if I’m okay.’ His voice wobbled.
Griff said nothing.
