“I’m just glad the timing worked out and you didn’t have a renter.” Because the prospect of living in a one-bedroom apartment, which was all she would have been able to afford, had not been appealing at all. “Which house does Tim live in?” she asked, walking around to the front.
“The Roberts house.”
“All right. I’ll call you back.”
“We’re headed on a shore excursion, so I won’t have reception for a while.”
“All right. I’ll figure it out.”
“Tchau, caro.”
“Tchau, mamãe.” She disconnected and slid the phone into her back pocket.
Back in front, she cut across the overgrown lawn to the two-story home that was a mirror image of her parent’s house. She’d babysat for the Roberts family in high school. Hard to believe that was almost fifteen years ago.
Thirty-two wasn’t by any means ancient, but the thought made her feel old.
A yawn forced its way out of her mouth, reminding her she’d been driving for ten hours and wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a bed. Neither of which she was going to be able to have without a key to the front door.
The empty driveway and dark house did not bode well for her chances. She pressed the doorbell anyway, hoping neighbor Tim’s car was in the garage and he was a hard-of-hearing geriatric who went to bed at six o’clock every night.
A few minutes later, she had no such luck. Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead against the door with a tired whimper. She’d leave a note on his door and nap in her car until he got home. Not ideal, but she was too tired to care.
Her phone rang and she answered it without raising her head or opening her eyes. “Hello?”
“Zoe, don’t—”
She hung up. Pushing away from the door, she stared at the ornamental knocker.
“Baby Jesus hates me.”
Her phone rang again and this time she looked at the display. She groaned. Her ex might actually have been preferable to her older sister.
“Hello.”
“A raccoon?” Gabriella’s laughter blasted from the phone.
Zoe waited for it to subside. “Did you call just to laugh at me?”
“Absolutely.”
“I thought she was going on a shore excursion.”
“She texted me and told me to check on you. Matthew, quit hitting your brother!”
“If you need to take care of that, I’ll let you go,” Zoe said.
“Ha. Ha. Normal occurrence around here. Did you get the key from the neighbor?”
“He’s not home.” She pushed away from the door and headed back across the lawn. “I don’t suppose you have his number?”
“No. I think João has it.”
“I’m not talking to João.”
“Again?”
“He defended Mark.”
