“It’s actually been pushed back a bit,” Caleb said. “But I’ve been finding time to dabble with the paints in between clearing out Gram’s house.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Dad lowered his fork. “You didn’t mention the show being delayed.”
“It’s not a big deal. Just a scheduling issue.”
“Not a big deal? Why do you have to head back to New York at the end of the year if you don’t have an impending show?”
Caleb’s jaw went tight. “Because, Dad. That’s where we live.”
“I’m just saying you have a perfectly nice house now right here in your hometown where your family lives. Why not take some time and enjoy it for a while?”
“That’s what we’re doing.”
Shelby smiled through the tension. “The house is really coming along too. Have you been over there recently, Dad? Liddy’s planning to redo the wood floors and put some fresh paint on the walls.”
Liddy chimed in. “Now that most of the furniture is gone, you can see all the wear and tear. Caleb and I will do most of it together. It’ll be a fun project.”
Dad glanced at Caleb. “That’s a lot to take on in such a short period of time.”
“I’ll help where I can,” Shelby said. “I can paint a wall as well as the next person.”
“We might have to hire out some of it,” Liddy said. “I know you’ll be super busy through the holidays.”
“Yeah, Shelby.” Caleb lifted his glass in a mock toast. “You and Gray will be super busy.”
Shelby sent her brother a scathing look.
Dad’s eyes toggled between the siblings. “What’s going on between you and Gray?”
“Nothing’s going on. Caleb is deluded.”
Caleb snorted. Then jumped, his attention darting to Liddy—who’d obviously kicked him under the table.
“Sure didn’t look like nothing when I fished you two from the lake at midnight last week.”
Liddy frowned at him.“Caleb.”
“The lake?” Dad pushed back his empty plate. “What’s this all about, Shelby?”
“It’snothing.We went to Miss Phoebe’s on Eagle Island to talk about business.”
“And on the way home they ran out of gas,” Caleb said. “The castaways called me to come rescue them.”
And she was really starting to regret that. Her face warmed even as her blood pressure shot up. “We did run out of gas. Do you think I wanted to freeze out on the lake all night? Did I not call you the very second I had a signal? Now can we all please just move on to another topic? It’s Thanksgiving.”
As if sensing her tension, Ollie squirmed in her arms. She relaxed her shoulders. Popped his pacifier back in. He stilled in his sleep.
“Please tell me you’re not falling under his spell again, honey.”
She gritted her teeth. “Dad, it was an accident. There’s nothing going on between Gray and me.”
“I just can’t help but remember how hard you fell for him in high school. If you’re not careful, it’ll happen again. You can’t trust him.”
Shelby rolled her eyes. “He’s not the awful person you’re making him out to be. He never was.”
“Here we go...” Caleb scowled. “He’s obviously getting under your skin again.”
