“You have a dimple. I said that out loud, didn’t I? But I’ve never seen you smile and you have a dimple. Sit down. Tell me about your work. How’d your dad end up starting a landscaping business?”
She made him dizzy and he wasn’t entirely sure he liked it. But he did as she asked and admitted, if only to himself, that it wasn’t so bad having a little company in the evening. Especially after a day like today. Besides, he wasn’t usually this taciturn. But when Sadie had initially arrived, he’d been busy sulking about sharing his sanctuary.
“Hi, Sadie!” A middle-aged lady waved from the beach pathway. “Oh, what’s this? Is this new?”
“It’s a Little Library. I just put it up a week ago. Help yourself to a book. There are some good novels in there.”
“Oh, I wish! I’m working on my master’s, and all my reading time is devoted to deadly dull material.”
“Oh, poor you. This is my neighbor, Sam. Sam, this is Rhonda.”
They exchanged greetings and Rhonda knelt to give Rio some attention through the fence.
After she was gone Sam just stared at Sadie. Seriously, he half expected the woman to be elected mayor in the fall.
“What?” she asked.
“What what?”
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I think you already know more people on the island than I do.”
“Oh, I do not. I just enjoy conversations—real ones with real human beings. I find people interesting, don’t you? And Little Libraries are great because you put one up and voilà! You have a common interest with a stranger. Nothing brings people together like books. I’d love to know your favorite book, but first you were going to tell me about your business.”
“Oh, was I?”
“Only if you want. Otherwise, that favorite book.” Sadie settled into the chair, lacing her fingers on her stomach as Rio flopped down on her bare feet. Two turquoise toenails peeked out from under the dog’s head.
“The business story is pretty basic. My dad worked for another landscaping company in his younger days. He didn’t like how it was run, how they ripped people off, so he decided to start his own.”
“Were you and your sister born yet?”
“I was only eight, so she wasn’t even a thought. Money was a little tight for a while. My mom got a part-time job at my school so she could help out financially but still be home for me. When I was thirteen I started helping Dad in the summer. My cousin came along a couple summers later. And now we have eight crews, lots of equipment.” He closed his mouth. He’d practically given a speech.
“That’s awesome. I love how your dad’s dissatisfaction with something old became his motivation for starting something new. Sometimes being uncomfortable can be a good motivator for positive change.”
“Hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“It gives me hope. Because I’m very uncomfortable writing in a new genre, and maybe that’ll turn out to be a positive change too.”
“You’re an optimist.”
“My best friend calls me delusional, but I like your word better. Is he your best friend—your cousin?”
That old knot tightened in his chest. “I guess you could say that.” Their relationship had grown more distant in the past months, obviously. But they were working their way back. Sam wasn’t sure it would ever be what it had been before.
“But you’re not his best man?”
“He’s got two brothers and a lot of friends. I’ll bet you have a lot of friends.”
“Yeah, I do. But just one bestie, Caroline. She’s a dog walker in the city.”
“What’s she like?”
“Well, she’s built a successful business around somethingshe loves, so clearly she’s self-motivated and industrious. She’s been happily married for all of a year—I was her maid of honor. We met in college. She got a business degree but she didn’t love managing a coffee shop, and her side hustle ended up becoming her main gig. She’s jealous of my summers off though, and I frequently rub her nose in it.”
“You don’t really have the summer off though, do you?”
