“Maggie, look what came this morning!” She squealed and gestured at the spray of flowers next to her. Not roses this time, but orchids and lilies. Large white petals opened to the light, clearly a fresh bouquet.
“Was there a note?”
Virginia shook her head. “Just a card with your name, like before.” She wagged her eyebrows at Maggie. “Could they be from Luke?”
Maggie furrowed her brow. “I don’t think so.” Why would he send her flowers when she’d just been on a date with him? He’d have had to order them yesterday before the shop closed, andthat made no sense. “Throw the card away and keep them for yourself. I’m too old to play guessing games.”
Virginia huffed through her nose and put her hands on her hips. “We can’t all have multiple suitors, you know.”
“Well, I’m only interested in one, and he doesn’t play games.” She felt confident in saying that. If Luke was going to get her flowers, she felt certain he’d deliver them himself. Jess had mentioned in a text the other day that her hours at work had been cut, so it definitely wasn’t her.
Kirk, on the other hand, needed to take a hint.
Lukethrewanotherloadof dark clothing into the washing machine. Had he gone through this much laundry when he was Aaron’s age? For a kid that didn’t do much, he sure wore enough.
He hefted the full laundry basket up on his hip and headed to the living room, where Mom sat on the couch. “Here you go, Mom.”
“Thanks, Luke. I hate feeling useless.”
“You’re not useless. You’re healing.” At least folding laundry was something she could do sitting down. Before Mom could argue with him, the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“Oh! Go open it.” Mom smirked.
He narrowed his eyes at her, but did as she said. When he pulled open the front door, Maggie stood on the front porch.
“Maggie! I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I came to help.”
“Help?”
“I asked your mom if she needed anything and she said you were trying to clean the whole house by yourself. So, I’m here to help.”
“Let her in, Luke!”
That troublemaker. Luke opened the door wide with a grin on his face. “Come on in.” He slid her coat off her shoulders and hung it on the hook with his. She caught him staring down at her, and her smile lit up her face as she laughed.
“Put me to work.”
He didn’t want her to work. He wanted to work on her. But with Mom in the living room, Luke couldn’t say anything. He did however, let the heat he was feeling show on the surface, and was rewarded with a deep blush on Maggie’s face and ears. “Why don’t you get started in the kitchen? I’m going to raid the beast’s lair for dirty dishes.”
“The beast’s lair?” Her green eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Yes. The teenager only exits his lair for food but rarely brings the dirty dishes back out with him. So, someone has to brave the beast and go in and get them.”
Maggie covered her mouth, holding back her laughter. “Okay, then. Where’s the kitchen?”
“It’s through here!” Mom called from her place on the couch.
Maggie waved and greeted her. “Deb! How are you?”
Satisfied that Mom could show Maggie where to go, Luke ascended the stairs and headed to Aaron’s door. Things had been strained since their confrontation. Aaron had barely looked at him at mealtimes, which had been the only time he’d come out of his room. The rest of the time he spent either sleeping or playing video games. And then at night, he still snuck out, though Luke hadn’t bothered following him again. There’d been no point now that the evidence was turned over to the sheriff. But he hadn’t said anything to his mom… Luke shoved the guiltdown as he approached Aaron’s room. Mom had enough to deal with.
He knocked three times. “What?”
“Do you have any dirty dishes in there?”
