“Thank you.” I gave them a nod in return. “While I’m at work, there’s no leaving the condo premises. Keep your phoneschargedat all times. Text me every two hours so I know you’re okay. My credit card is in the desk drawer, foremergenciesonly. And no going into the water.” Kitty opened her mouth, and I added, “Pool or ocean.”
Mia broke from her mockingly serious demeanor. “What’s the point of spending the summer in Florida if we can’t go in the water? We’re not little kids anymore.”
She had a point, and if Samson hadn’t died, I probably would’ve let the girls go in the pool without an adult so long as they were together and texted me every hour. But things were different now. I knew if I allowed it, I’d be sick with worry all day.
“You can go in the water, just not while I’m gone,” I said, and the girls’ expressions went from disappointed to sour. “I only work three or four days a week right now. I promise we’ll make up for it on the days I have off. We’ll swim until we’re permanently pruney.”
Kitty placed her chin in her hands. “So what are we supposed to do all day?”
I looked around the condo. It wasn’t exactly the most teenager-friendly place. In truth, it was one Jo and Alex away from being a de facto nursing home, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to do.
“You can play games. I bet Old Gary would talk your ear off if you played shuffleboard with him. You can read a book.” I nodded to Kitty’sThe Art of War.“I never said you couldn’t go to the beach, just stay out of the water. And I’m sure Belva wouldn’t mind a visit.”
Mia stared blankly at me. “I take it back. You don’t sound like a mom. You sound like a grandma. What has this place done to you?” She nudged Kitty. “Have you seen Jo’s knitting basket anywhere? I want to make Mom a scarf.”
I narrowed my eyes. If Mia was trying to make me feel guilty, it was working, but it wouldn’t change my mind. “I’m serious. You can basically do whatever you want, except—”
“Have any fun.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, not caring if I looked like a mom, or grandma, or school principal. Didn’t they understand I was only doing what I had to in order to make sure they were safe? “If you want to see it that way, I can’t stop you.”
“Aunt Jo,” Kitty said, her eyes lighting up with whatever idea had popped into her head. “Can we hang out with Greyson while you’re gone?”
Last night’s embarrassment leapt to the forefront of my mind, and I glanced out the window into the parking lot. Maybe I could avoid seeing Alex for long enough that he’d forget about the whole thing, and then we could be neighborly. “Yes. Just make sure she asks her dad. And I’d prefer if you three hung out either here or outside. At least until we get to know them better.” Not that I was planning on it.
Mia smirked. “Greyson’s dad sure knowsyoupretty well after last night.”
“Which isyourfault,” I said, grabbing my purse and keys. “I’m off. Remember the rules. Text me every two hours.”
“Bye, Grandma!” they called out after me.
—
As soon as I arrived on deck, Nina grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the laundry room, her expression so serious I thought Captain Xav had fallen overboard.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart racing at the sight of her. She looked wild, her unicorn earrings quivering as she kicked the door shut behind her.
“He’s here!”
“Who’s here?”
“The newchef.” Nina threw herself onto a pile of dirty towels, looking as if all the joy had been drained out of her.
“Is that all?”
Nina’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean,is that all?”
I lowered myself onto the floor across from her. “I take it you don’t like him.”
“Of course I don’t! He rearranged the drawers in the most nonsensical way and then had the nerve to askmeif I knew where the spiralizer was. LikeIwould know if we even had one!”
“But we do have a spiralizer, and you know exactly where it is.” I tried not to laugh. I knew Ollie leaving would make Nina moodier than usual, but I hadn’t prepared myself for how much she’d take it out on the new chef.
“That’s beside the point! Also, I think I know him from somewhere. He’s handsome but annoying, so he must be one of my Tinder dates gone bad. He hasn’t said anything about it, though, so he—”
“Oneof your Tinder dates gone bad? How many bad Tinder dates have you had?”
Nina shrugged. “How many does the average person have?”
