“Me too.I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t invited me into your lovely home.”
“You would have eaten out or had food delivered, no doubt,” she responded, waving off his flattering words.
“I’m not much for eating out; besides, it in no way beats a homecooked meal.”Something he only ever did for himself.For as many female companions as he’d had, he had never cooked for one.He usually met them at the bar or a restaurant, and they were gone long before morning.No messy entanglements.He liked it that way.
“How true…well, no sense talking about it; eat,” Maya encouraged him.
Jack took a bite and almost groaned when bursts of flavor hit his tongue.Not to pat himself on the back, but he was a pretty good cook.However, this was something else.The chicken was so tender you could cut it with a fork.There was a zest from lemon and other spices.“Maya, this is incredible.Your husband was a lucky man.”He assumed since the man wasn’t there dining with them that he was dead.
“Thank you.”Maya beamed, her eyes drifting to a black and white portrait on the wall of a young couple under an archway.The lady in a dress and the man in uniform.Jack knew it to be their wedding photo.The couple looked at each other so lovingly that Jack couldn’t look at it for long.He had never seen so much love before except in his friends and teammates when they’d found their partners.“My Elijah and I were to together for fifty-two years before God took him.”Maya sniffled, a look of remembrance in her eyes.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”Maya shook her head as if clearing her thoughts away.“Enough about that.How are you enjoying your new home?I know Mr.Stone took exceptional care of it, so I’m sure you haven’t found any problems with it, at least maintenance-wise.”
“He did take great care of it.He would have made my drill sergeant proud with his cleanliness.”Jack had been surprised by the cleanliness and care put into the house.He was used to hole-in-the-wall places, so he wasn’t going to complain about the upgraded digs.He could tell the previous owner had taken great pride in his home.
“You were in the service?”
Shit, he hadn’t meant to let that slip.“Long ago.That’s how I got this.”He pointed to the side of his face.Jack could see the questions bubbling behind her eyes.Best to shut those down now.“Anyway, the house is great.I can tell he cared for his home a great deal.”
“He did.”
“Was he married?”
“Divorced.His wife left him many years ago.Took the children, poor man.I hardly saw them visit.He became a bit of a recluse after that.It’s a shame he died alone like he did.No one knew he was dead until the police showed up and carted off his body.”Maya shook her head sadly.
Nick hadn’t told him that part, only that a house across the street from Andrea had opened up and that he had acquired it.No wonder the house had come furnished.“So you said you don’t get too many new neighbors…” Nick didn’t want to dwell on the late Mr.Stone and dying in the home he was staying in.
“No, this is an older neighborhood.I’ve lived here since the subdivision was built over forty years ago.We were one of the first residents,” Maya commented proudly.
“The things you’ve seen here and the people you’ve met.”To see this area go from a beach to a neighborhood would have been cool.Most of the stuff he saw was destruction and devastation.
“I know everyone who lives in the area.Then again, not many move out until they go to a retirement home.”
“But not you?”
“Why on earth would I do that?”Maya remarked as if in shock that it would even be suggested she go to one.“I have everything I need here.There is nothing in a nursing home I can’t get in this house.”To an extent, but then Maya seemed pretty fit for her age.
“It’s true, you are far from needing a place such as that.”
“Flatterer.”Maya tsked, but her cheeks still warmed.“But very true.I take extra care of myself.”
“And it shows.So how often do you get new neighbors?”
Maya looked off in thought while chewing.“You’re the first new resident we’ve had since Andrea.”Now they were talking.He was hoping the subject of Andrea would come up without him explicitly bringing it up.
“When did she move in?”
“Seven years ago.”
Jack paused in loading up his fork.The last base attack was six months ago, and yet she’d lived here for seven years.He hadn’t seen that coming.He’d figured she had moved here more recently.“You’re sure about that?”
“Nothing wrong with my memory, dear.”Maya chuckled.
Maybe this was just a hub for her like it was for him.This was turning into an interesting plot twist.“Has she ever told you where she was before that?”
“Why, Michael, are you interested in Andrea?”Her hawk-eyes narrowed.She was far more intelligent than he’d given her credit for.She would have made a good spy.
