Page 11 of A Place to Call Home
“Nah. The seagulls are busy or something.” His eyes kept darting to Ruff, who ran back and forth between Shantice and Devon.
Craig, however, was looking at her.
“Do you and Devon know each other?” she asked.
“We go to the same gym, though he’s obviously getting more out of his membership.” He patted his belly as if there were a big gut hiding under his close-fitting T-shirt rather than the trim stomach actually there.
She stroked her chin in an overdone show of contemplation. “I’m sure there’s a protein shake for that.”
Good grief, that smile!
Devon held a hand out to Shantice. “Come into the water, babe. It’s not that cold, I swear.”
The doubtful look she threw at him was almost comical.
Devon tried again. “If it’s freezing, I’ll get you a tea on the way home, okay?”
Shantice took his hand in one of hers, the other holding her hat against the stiff breeze, and let him pull her to her feet. Before walking out with Devon, she shot Craig a quick look. “You can use my chair. Then Ada won’t have to crane her neck so far back to talk to you.”
He took the offer, plopping next to Ada as though entirely comfortable around her. So he probably hadn’t hated their coffee non-date. Why were guys so hard to figure out?
“How does Jack feel about switching schools?” she asked.
“He didn’t throw a party or anything, but he seems okay with it. Jack’s a resilient kid. He’s had to be with everything that’s happened.”
Ada could appreciate that. “My folks split up when I was a little younger than he is. They never quit hating each other, and my brothers and I were always caught in the middle. We learnedquickly how to negotiate any minefield.” It had been a miserable way to grow up.
“That’s why I try so hard to get along with my ex. It’s not Jack’s fault our marriage fell apart, and I don’t want him to suffer for it any more than he has to.” He shook his head, even laughed a little bit. “I don’t know how you get me to spill so many things. I don’t usually talk about myself so much.”
She slid her sunglasses into place once more. “I’m telling you, it’s a superpower.”
His attention returned to Jack, who was laughing uproariously as he and Ruff chased each other. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to have to buy a dog?”
“That’s a dog’s superpower.”
Craig’s laugh sounded very much like a deeper version of his son’s. “Dogs get kids addicted. It’s underhanded.”
“Shantice and Ruff come here almost every Saturday morning. You’re welcome to bring Jack if he ever needs a dog fix. I’m here, too, whenever I can get a Saturday morning off.”
Did that sound pathetic?Could he tell she was hoping he’d start showing up here on Saturday mornings?
“This beach is closer to the new condo than our old place. I thought I’d let Jack get used to coming here.”
They’re going to be regulars.Ada held back a gleeful grin. “There’s a great hot-dog joint a quick walk from here. If you two aren’t in a hurry, I’d love to treat you both to some lunch. You did pay for coffee the other night, after all.”
Oh, man. That was definitely pathetic.It was embarrassing enough to not get asked out over the phone. To ask him out— sort of— in person only to have her invitation rejected would be humiliating.
“I think we could be talked into a couple of hot dogs.” Craig didn’t sound blown away by the idea, but he also didn’t seem to have any real objection to it.
Ada took that as a tentative victory. A step forward, anyway. They sat there, soaking up the sun, chatting about a million different things, while Jack ran around with Ruff. Conversation had been easy between them from the very beginning. Didn’t he see that? Wasn’t he at all curious to find out if there could be something more between them than friendly banter?
As noon approached, he called out to his son, “Hey, Jack! You hungry?”
“Starving.” Jack dropped onto the towel near Craig’s chair.
“Ada knows of a hot-dog place nearby. She’s going to take us.”
Jack flashed Ada a heart-tugging smile. “Awesome!”
