The aroma of sizzling sausage drifted in.
He sent a quick response back to Lucinda, telling her to send the information and give him a day or two to review it.
But sending that email made him want to talk to Harper even more. At least now he had a reason that didn’t involve his emotions. Which was probably further proof that he had issues he needed to deal with when it came to his feelings, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Joyce knocked on the door. “Breakfast is ready.”
“Coming.” He grabbed his cup and went out to eat, looking forward to the boat trip more than he had been when he’d woken up.
Nowthatreally was progress.
Chapter Twelve
Joyce served Mitch his breakfast, then went into food production mode. She had sandwiches to make, fruit to clean, cookies and bars to wrap, and then coolers to pack with an assortment of bottled water, both plain and flavored, and canned soft drinks. The drinks and food would get some ice packs, but they wouldn’t need much, as they’d go into the fridge on the boat when he arrived.
She was also preparing a tote bag with paper plates, plastic utensils, paper towels, wet wipes, and a couple of garbage bags. She knew the boat had some supplies, but it had been some years since Mitch, or anyone, had been aboard. Better to be overprepared.
There would be five people and two dogs. Harper and Lucas would undoubtedly bring whatever their pups needed. And Lucas was bringing people food as well. He’d let Joyce know she wouldn’t have to be responsible for feeding all of them.
Even so, she made eight chicken salad sandwiches on whole wheat bread with lettuce on either side of the chicken salad to keep the bread from getting soggy. She wrapped them all in wax paper, then bagged them four and four in large Ziploc bags. Into a smaller bag, she added five pickle spears.
Next, she washed three pounds of grapes, red and green mixed, both kinds seedless, and bagged those up. Into another bag went five tangerines and five small bananas. She got them at the farmer’s market especially because of their size.
Finally, she got out the baked goods she’d made the day before. Chocolate chip cookies with toffee bits and oatmeal raspberry bars. A dozen cookies went into one bag as they were, but the raspberry bars she wrapped two at a time, separated by a little slip of waxed paper. She did eight of those, then the bars also went into a bag.
She planned to add some granola bars and cheese sticks for good measure.
Mitch, who’d finished his breakfast and gone into the bedroom, came out in board shorts, a T-shirt, boat shoes, a hat, and sunglasses. White residue on his temples and the bridge of his nose showed he’d already put suncream on. He looked at the food on the counter. “You know we’re only going out for the afternoon, right?”
She cut her eyes at him. “Being on the water gives people an appetite. I won’t have anyone going hungry on my watch.”
“There’s very little chance of that,” he teased. “Thanks for doing all of this. I really appreciate it. I wish you’d come.”
“It’s kind of you to offer, but I’ve too much to do. Now, if you’d like to take myself and Beryl out when she gets here, that would be grand. My sister would get the biggest kick out of that, I can assure you.”
“We can definitely do that. Be happy to. Just tell me what day. Now, what can I carry down to the golf cart?”
“Drinks cooler is ready. I just need to pack the food into the other one. This tote bag can go, too. Did you pack yourself a towel?”
“There are towels on the boat.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes, I checked when I was there yesterday. Towels, dry goods, sunscreen—”
“Which has been sitting on that boat, in the heat, for years. It won’t be any good.”
His mouth puckered like he was trying not to laugh.
“I know,” she said. “I’m nagging, but it’s true. I know you have some that you could take, because I can see you already put some on. Take the fresh stuff or you’ll be too burnt to work tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He went back to the bedroom, returning with a bottle of sunscreen, which he stuck into the tote bag. “I’ll take this down and come back for the food.”
“All right.” She got the last cooler packed as he wheeled the big drinks cooler to the elevator.
By the time he came back up, the food cooler was ready, and she was tidying the kitchen. The food cooler was smaller and soft-sided, with a carrying strap.
He lifted it easily onto his shoulder. “Anything else you think I should take?”
