“Even cooler.” Frankie got up to get started on the tuna melts, but Willa stood there, looking at the tablet. “You’re really good, Mom. I mean,reallygood. You should be famous. I hope you get so busy you have to turn people down. Or put them on a waitlist.”
A knot of emotion clogged Frankie’s throat. She cleared it and sniffed. “Thanks, sweetheart. Me, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Joyce finished washing the last of the dishes and put the bowl on the drying rack. The dishes would get put away tomorrow when she returned, but for now, everything was done. Her day was over.
She looked at Kyle, who was putting Ruthie in her swing. “You sure you’re all right if we go? I’ve no doubt your dad will be back soon. He can’t be out that much longer.”
Kyle laughed. “I’m not twelve anymore, Joyce. I can manage on my own.”
“I know.” She smiled. “I can’t help but worry about you. And our little angel.”
Kyle got Ruthie going in her swing, then came over to Joyce and hugged her.
She startled at first, then hugged him back. “What’s all this for now?”
“Because you’re awesome and I love you and I owe you for getting me to come back here.”
Well, if that didn’t beat all. He let her go and she patted his cheek. “You came back here on your own.”
“I came back because I had nowhere else to go but also because you let me know it was a safe place. That Icouldcome back. You gave me the courage to do that.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “It’s so good having you both here.”
He smiled, the stubble on his cheeks scratchy against her palms. “I’m so glad that you and Beryl are going to help raise Ruthie. It means a lot to me that she’ll have both of you in her life.”
Joyce shook her head and went back to tidying up. “Enough of that now, or you’ll make me weepy.”
He laughed and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. “Did you know Dad’s agent is shopping my book?”
“Is she? How exciting.”
“It is. A little nerve-wracking, too, but that’s to be expected with anything like this, I suppose.”
Beryl came in from Ruthie’s room. “All tidied up. Just need to get my purse and I’m ready to go.” She looked at Kyle, concern in her eyes. “You and Ruthie going to be all right if we go?”
Kyle started laughing and Joyce had to smile. “I just asked him that, Berry. They’ll be fine. He knows to put the baked ziti in the oven for forty-five minutes at three fifty.” She glanced at him. “Right?”
He nodded. “Right.”
“But if you need anything, just call and I’ll be right over.”
He rolled his eyes, still laughing. “I’ll be fine. We both will be. Have a good evening.”
Joyce gave him a nod. “All right then. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Just then, Mitch came up the steps, carrying the cooler. Fish tails stuck out from under the lid. “Who wants fresh snapper for dinner?”
“Oh, my stars,” Joyce said. “Now I know it’s time to go.” She picked up the loaves of chocolate chip banana bread, wrapped in cling film and aluminum, giving Mitch a sharp look. “Don’t go making a mess of that kitchen now. I just cleaned it.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll clean up.” He smiled at her. The bridge of his nose was pink from the sun.
“Did you have a nice time?” she asked.
“We had a great time. Jack caught three beautiful snappers. I told him I’d clean them and filet them, then bring him some. He said I should keep half, since it was my boat. Not about to turn that down.”
Kyle nodded. “Nice. Snapper is great.”
