“It’s going to feel that way with the sharks around.”
“You’ll have me to talk to,” his grandmother said.
“And no one else.”
That was how it felt most of his life.
“I’ve got to run. Nick is calling me.”
“Don’t let them run you ragged. It was very generous of you to offer the house.”
“Do you think I offered it? They asked.”
Go figure.
“It was still nice. I’ll see you next week.”
He tossed his phone on the table and went back to his laptop hoping to find something fun to do with Natalie. Maybe an activity so that she didn’t think he sat around or was soft.
Thanks, Grandma. For putting that thought in his head!
6
PLAY THE PEACEMAKER
“Is my nephew sleeping?” Natalie asked the minute her sister-in-law Avery opened the door.
“No,” Avery said. “He’s up and eating soon. Josie has been trying to get him to smile.”
She walked into the house that her brother Carter and Avery purchased two years ago.
She would have loved to buy Carter’s house but couldn’t afford it. He offered to let her rent it, but even the payment to cover the mortgage was more than she could handle.
With her promotion last year, she could have swung it, but it was too late and had been sold.
Her apartment was good enough and allowed her to put money away with the dream of home ownership.
On this island, it might never happen though.
“I thought for sure Dopey and Doc would keep guard over the baby,” she said of the two St. Bernards that greeted her.
“That’s Betty’s job. She stays close by the baby,” Avery said.
Betty was Josie’s white poodle. Avery being the only veterinarian on the island, she’d thought for sure they’d haveover three dogs, but Dopey and Doc were the size of six rather than two in her mind.
She moved to the back of the house after hanging up her jacket.
“Where is Carter?”
“Helping Grayson with something at his place.”
Her other brother just bought his first house. One that needed some work on it. Though Grayson wasn’t one who liked to get his hands dirty too much, he was also not willing to pay someone for something he could do himself.
They were all self-sufficient. No wealth to fall back on like the man who had been invading her dreams.
“Then it’s just us girls. Even better. Hi, Josie.”
“Hi, Aunt Natalie.”
