“We’re all having to adjust. What I don’t understand is whyhe can’t let me get on with it my way.” He looked down at her. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because it’s obvious.” She squeezed his arm. “He’s trying to stay involved, Tris. This place was his life. Letting go of that is a process. Telling you where you’re going wrong is probably what’s keeping him going.”
“Maybe. But you’d think he’d be happier that I’m back, seeing as this is what he always wanted. Instead, everything I do irritates him.”
Her heart ached for her friend. “He wanted you to be running it together. And has it ever occurred to you that he might be irritable because he feels guilty?”
“Guilty?”
“Yes. Because he knows this wasn’t what you wanted and yet here you are. He feels bad.”
There was a long silence.
He eased his arm away from hers. “Do you always have to be so insightful? It can be annoying.”
“Because you want to be left to sulk in peace, you mean?”
“Something like that.” He ran his hand over his face. “I hate to admit it, but I know you’re right. It’s tough for him. I should be more patient.”
“It’s tough for you, too. You’re allowed to be occasionally grumpy.”
“We should probably clarify this. How many hours each day am I allowed to be grumpy?”
“You’re allowed five minutes, morning and evening. But not when my guest is around. I’ve told her you’re approachable, so you need to be approachable. No glaring. No sighing. No muttering. And no looking at her shoes while doing that whole raised eyebrow thing you do.”
He glanced at her, curious. “Who is she exactly? Apart fromsomeone who has no idea what shoes to wear in a Cornish fishing village. She’s going to break her ankle. Shouldn’t someone tell her?”
“No. We’re going to treat her like an adult and let her figure it out for herself,” Evie said, “and hope that happens before she breaks her ankle. And to answer your question, she’s an extra pair of hands. Head office arranged for her to come and help out.”
“Doing what? I can’t see her scrubbing a bathroom. She seems more like the type who spends her time at a computer.”
“Stop making assumptions. You don’t know anything about her.”
“Neither do you.”
“No, but I know better than to judge a person by what I see on the surface,” Evie said firmly, ignoring the fact that she’d had the same thought as him. “You don’t know what’s going on in someone’s life. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.”
“I know. It’s a terrible flaw.”
She laughed and poked him in the chest. “Take you for example. People could think you were just a grumpy, scary person by nature, but I knew immediately when I saw you that you’d probably just come off the phone from your father.”
“Stop telling me I’m grumpy. It makes me grumpy.”
“I adore you, you know that. All I’m saying is that there are a million reasons why human beings behave the way they do. That’s what makes them fascinating.”
“That’s what makes them annoying. And your new friend wasn’t exactly warm, either. If my ice machine breaks, I know where to go.”
“Give her a chance.” Trying a different approach, she gave him her pleading look. “Do it for me.”
“Why would I do it for you?”
“Because you love me really. As a friend, obviously. Deep down.”
“Do I?” But there was humour in his eyes so she pushed ahead.
“She’s probably tired. Long journey. Probably feeling a bit lost. And then you gave her the chilliest welcome since Scott arrived in Antarctica. You’re the one who froze her. Promise me you’ll smile next time you see her. No more frowning.”
He leaned against the wall. “Do I have to promise?”
