She lifted her chin and gave her son a serene smile. Eli looked back at Brick.
“Sir,” he said. “I’m…we’re…grateful doesn’t begin to cut it.”
“Oh, don’t sir me. It’s Brick.”
“Brick. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say where you want plywood and let’s get to work. Angel. Randy. This is Maggie’s son, Eli. Hey, boys!” He called to the two lanky twenty-somethings pulling toolboxes and more wood from the truck. “Come meet the Lawsons. This here’s my grandson Nick, and this is Wyatt. Nick’s in construction up in Georgia, but came down to help our neighbors with the storm. Wyatt can wire a generator with his eyes closed, and I happened to score a few extra sheets of plywood. Don’t ask how. Bring those panels. Eli, show us around. The boys’ll bring in the rest.”
“I’ll help them!” Jonah offered, hustling out for a quick introduction.
Eli and Brick walked off with Angel and Randy, while Maggie smiled at the grandsons. “We’re so thankful to have you here,” she said, meaning every word.
They both nodded, and Wyatt, the taller, fairer of the two, actually tapped the brim of his ballcap. “Yes, ma’am. Granddad’s told us all about you, ma’am.”
“Oh, has he,” Maggie said.
Nick leaned closer as he walked by. “Poor man’s smitten.”
“Erp.” The sound came from Jo Ellen, who somehow had Atlas now, her hand over his face to protect him from the sun. “Did you hear that, Mags? I thought you were just?—”
Maggie glared at her. “Do not make me change my mind about the hurricane party, Jo.”
She slammed her lips together, but fought a laugh. “Fine,” she said. “But I think the whole day has just taken a turn for the better.”
No kidding. The closing line from Vivien’s diary echoed in her head.
Is there anything quite as appealing as a sweating man with a hammer?
Guess she was about to find out.
Within fifteen minutes,the entire Gulf side of the house was a coordinated operation.
Nick and Wyatt were on the upper ladders. Jonah, who suddenly had a partner on his ladder, was moving twice as fast. Angel was on sandbag duty with one of Eli’s wheelbarrows. Randy was running the generators into the back of the property.
Brick and Eli started bringing in the large furniture from the deck, filling the living area as they neatly stacked the table, chairs, sofas, and chaises.
Maggie, Kate, Vivien, and Jo Ellen coordinated sandwiches in the kitchen while Emma was on Atlas duty.
“You realize you owe us a big fat explanation,” Vivien whispered, cornering Maggie in the kitchen. Maggie tried to shoulder past her, but Vivien was having none of it. “Mom.”
“I do not owe anyone anything.”
“How did you meet this guy?” she pressed.
Maggie looked past her to shoot a warning look at Jo Ellen, who giggled over a tray of turkey sandwiches.
“Just tell them, Mags.”
“Tell us what?” Kate demanded.
“Nothing.”
“Then I will,” Jo Ellen said. “Remember when you thought we spent a week or so at Frank and Betty’s a few months ago?”
They nodded.
“Well, we actually went on a little road trip to sell Frank’s old truck to a dealer in Miami?—”
