Max’s smile was so perpetual that I couldn’t work out if he was kidding, but I looked the boat over anyway. My knowledge was limited to what my ten-year-old self had learned from my dad and whatever I’d gleaned from my morning with Max, but the boat appeared to be whole. “I don’t think you’ve missedanything.”
“I left an engine out once. Left it all spread on the bench and sent the boat back. The bloke thought I’d done it on purpose as a prank. Pretty sure he would’ve decked me if Jed hadn’t, well…youknow.”
I could imagine what would happen to anyone who tried to hurt Max. Bum leg or no, Jed was fierce, and any man who crossed his path would know it. “How’s Jed’s leg today? I didn’t see him use a cane inChicago.”
Max bent and scooped up a muddy chicken that had strayed too close to the water. “He’d rather die than use it away from home. He claims it’s because I painted it pink, butit’snot.”
“You painted theflamingos?”
“Once upon a time. I’m not much of an artist, though. I like building thingsbetter.”
“Likewhat?”
“Furniture, mainly. I made some benches for Jed’s clinic a little while ago, and some beds for my sister’s house. Are youhungry?”
“Um… I guess?” I was still stuffed from the mega omelet he’d made me that morning, but the fresh air and hard work had done wonders for my already healthy appetite. If Max was cooking, I waseating.
I trailed him to the cabin and left my muddy boots at the door. The tiny kitchen was warm and cozy, and I was sleepy as I sat at the kitchen table and watched Max putter around with pasta and ingredients for a sauce I’d never seenbefore.
“It’s Egyptian,” he said when he caught my quizzical frown. “Chickpeas, tomatoes, lentils, with some spices. We don’t eat meat, so I have to sneak extra plant protein in where I can. Trust me,it’sgood.”
I believed him, but the Italian in me shuddered, though Egypt wasn’t all that far from Sicily. I was about to say as much when Max’s eyes hazed over again. It seemed to go on for longer than last time. I was halfway out of my seat to him when he came back intohimself.
Max read the obvious concern with a wry grin. “Don’t worry about it. Flo will tell you if I’m about toconkout.”
“Conkout?”
“I’m epileptic. That’s why she’s trained to detect my seizures before I have them. The absence blips happen all the time, but I hardly notice them. After a while, you won’teither.”
He’d answered all my questions in one breath. I sat back down and eyed the elderly collie keeping watch in the corner. The tiny dog—Zola, maybe?—who’d kept me company in bed after Ash had gotten up, was close by, yapping quietly to herself every now and again. Combined with the collection of chickens, who seemed to roam free outside, I could safely say that Max and Jed’s corner of the world was the most eclectic place I’d ever laidmyhead.
Was that a bad thing? As I dozed off at the kitchen table, I didn’tthinkso.
* * *
“Wake up,fucker.”
Ash kicked my feet and then flopped down next to me on the huge L-shaped couch that took up most of the cabin’slivingroom.
I begrudgingly made room for him—or maybe not so begrudgingly, as he’d been gone all day and I’d missed him. “I wasn’tasleep.”
“Liar. Max said you only woke up forlunch.”
“Did he also tell you that he only fed me after he’d put me to work on theboats?”
“He did, actually.” Ash pushed his hat off his head and shook out his crazy hair. “Said you saved him a day’s work by helpinghimout.”
“Well, what do you know? I’m quite the fuckingcarpenter.”
Ash laughed softly. “Don’t beadick.”
I sat up and rubbed my face. The living room was dark and quiet, and I had no idea what time it was. “Where iseveryone?”
“Walking the dogs. Jed’s feeling good, so they’re heading out aroundthelake.”
“Inthedark?”
“I guess so. Max said he’ll make dinner when hegetsback.”
