He sounded disgruntled, like the very idea of an app controlling the sprinklers offended his sensibilities.
“Don’t think I didn’t hear that grumble, old man,” she teased.
His jaw dropped behind his thick beard. “I’m a year younger than you,” he protested.
“Not at heart,” she teased. “And that’s where it counts the most.”
“If you’re going to mock me,” he said with an exaggerated primness that was greatly at odds with his overall brusque demeanor, “I’m not going to share my lemonade.” He feinted as though he was going to snatch away her glass, and Eleanor took a hasty gulp.
“I didn’t mean it!” she protested, blocking his reach with her back. “You’re very young! And your lemonade is really good!” She paused, suspicion suddenly overtaking her. “Wait a minute,”she said, eyes narrowing. “This istoogood. How big a mess is in the kitchen, huh?”
“Oh hush, woman,” he chided. “Just enjoy your lemonade. The kitchen will be clean before you know it.”
She shot him one last suspicious look. “Yeah, okay. I’ll believe you… just this once.”
He pressed a fond kiss to the top of her head. “That’s my girl.”
For a moment, they stood in companionable silence, just enjoying the afternoon. Eventually though, there was nothing left in their glasses but rattling ice cubes.
It was as good a signal to wrap up their break as any.
“What’s on your list for the rest of the afternoon, El?” Garrett asked.
She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “I’m going to get a first coat of paint on that fence while the weather holds. I want to get it dry before that bad weather we were promised later in the week rolls around.”
She and Garrett had put the fence in together the day prior. It was a picture-perfect picket fence style. Eleanor had dithered over the choice, worrying that it would be a littletooperfect, but she felt more confident now that the posts were all in place, hammered securely in their new homes. She planned to paint them a crisp blue, just a shade or so brighter than navy, to give it a classy, almost nautical look. She thought that was fitting for her new seaside home.
“That sounds good,” he said. “Anything else you need from me?”
She shook her head. “No, you’ve been a huge help. I’ve dragged enough manual labor out of you for the day.”
“Aw, you know I’m always happy to do it.” She snuggled into his side for a minute, until the day proved a bit too hot for that much body heat. She’d get a proper hug when the sun went down… and when they were inside some air conditioning.
She looked down at the glass in her hand.
“Before I start though, I think I’m going to have more of this delicious lemonade.”
A rare look of panic crossed Garrett’s face.
“Um, why don’t you let me get that for you, honey?”
She felt a grin spread slowly across her face. “Oh, why is that? Is there perhaps a giant mess in there?”
“No, no, nope. Not at all.” He was not a good liar. “But, um, let me just get in there before you.”
With that kind of fib, Eleanor really had no choice. She bolted for the door, Garrett hot on her heels.
“Hey, you little sneak!” he called.
She laughed loudly, feeling young and full of joy.
This meant that the crash was all the harder when she saw the note on her front door.
She drew to a stop so quickly that Garrett nearly crashed into her from behind.
“What’s that?” he asked.
She snatched the paper down from where it was taped on the front door and read it out loud.
