“Miami?” Vivien gasped.
“And on the way, it broke down and we were saved by Brick and company,” Jo Ellen continued. “We had to leave the truck at a garage in Crawfordville, so we stayed at Gator Jack’s and Brick and your mom…”
Vivien’s eyes grew wide.
“Nothing happened!” Maggie insisted. “And I can’t believe I have to explain myself to my own daughter. He is a friend, I swear on…the soul of my late husband, Roger Lawson.”
“Who isnothinglike Brick Collins,” Vivien said, fighting a smile. “You don’t have to get defensive, Mom. I think it’s…cute.”
She grunted. “I don’t do cute.”
“Sweet?” Kate tried.
“Have you met her?” Jo Ellen quipped.
Maggie blew out a breath. “Are we finished discussing my private social life? Are we abandoning sandwiches for gossip? Are we done with the endless interrogation?”
“I think he’s nice.” This from the most unlikely participant, Emma. As they looked at her and chuckled, she lifted a shoulder. “He’s gruff and tattoo-y, yeah. But he’s kind. You can see it in his eyes. And he likes to tease Grandma Maggie—if you don’t mind me calling you that.”
“Not at all, dear,” Maggie said, her heart melting for the sweet thing. “You’re Jo’s granddaughter, so that makes you mine.”
“Well, I think he teases you because he respects you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be here on a day when those men could be anywhere helping anyone.”
It was so true, and she smiled at Emma. “You’re right, and I thank you for that. Now…” She looked from Kate to Vivien. “Can you two secure the beach awning on the boardwalk? The deck is too close to the hammers and nails, and they’re bringing furniture in. This way, they can eat in the shade.”
“I got it,” Kate said.
As she walked out, Eli came in and they almost collided, laughing.
“Oh, you look so much better,” she said, reaching a hand up to cup his cheek.
“A thousand percent,” he replied. “This, Kate, is a miracle.”
“It’s…something,” Kate muttered, then passed him on her way to get the tent.
Maggie turned and eyed her son, who’d lost one tiny bit of the light in his eyes. She suspected she knew why, but hoped she was wrong.
“Why don’t you help Kate with the tent?” Maggie suggested.
He blew out a breath, and Vivien stepped in.
“Take a break, big bro. We got this.”
Eli just nodded and grabbed a water, then went back outside.
By noon, they were ahead of schedule.
The boardwalk awning had become command central, fluttering under a lovely but frequently stiff breeze off the Gulf. It made the heat bearable, but was like a whisper of bad things to come.
“Did you ask Brick for help?” Vivien asked, still digging around for more information on the relationship that clearly baffled her.
“Of course not.”
“Oh, Mags.” Jo Ellen waved a hand. “The man rode over here with reinforcements because you mentioned at eleven o’clock last night that your son was struggling. You can have a feeling about that.”
Maggie did not answer at first. Instead, she picked up Atlas’s little foot and considered it.
“It is very nice,” she finally said, “to have someone you can lean on.”
