Page 40 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

I rolled my eyes at Andrew as he shot his grandmother an apologetic grin, somehow looking even cockier than he had before.

“I don’t think I put it quite like that,” he said.

“It’s fine, dear,” Rose said to Maddie, who now looked as if she feared her lack of backbone with the cute Powell boy might cost her a job. “He’ll just have to owe me one.” She turned back to her youngest grandson as Maddie hurried back behind the counter. “Which you can pay by coming over tonight and fixing that bannister. It’s getting loose again.” She pushed at his feet. “Sit up properly, Andrew, this isn’t your living room.”

He did as she said, moving to pack up his computer. “Can I fix it tomorrow? Riley and I have plans to visit her mother this afternoon.”

I really wished he hadn’t told her. Of course, Rose Powell knew exactly what the score was where my mother was concerned. I’d hidden out at her house more times than I could count. Plus, it wasn’t like it was a secret in this town. We were two small for anyone to be able to behave so badly with anonymity.

“Why don’t you both come over for dinner,” Rose said kindly, and I could feel her gaze on my face, though I kept my eyes fixed firmly on the floor. “I’m defrosting a nice roast. That ought to warm us all up.” She reached over and touched my hand gently. I managed to fix a smile on my face before I looked up at her.

“That would be nice, Rose, thank you.”

“That’s settled then.” She pointed at Andrew, her expression firm. “Don’t forget your tools.” Before he even had a chance to respond, she bent down and kissed his cheek and he grinned at me from over the top of her head.So spoiled, I mouthed. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She stood and hugged me, too, her embrace holding for just a moment longer than necessary for a goodbye.

“You ready?” Andrew said once she’d gone to the back. He stood and slung his computer case over his shoulder and I was pleased to see him pull out a few bills and place them next to his dirty dishes. He might be spoiled by his family, but at least he wasn’t going to leave Maddie without a tip.

“See you around, sweetheart,” he called to her as we left, and I saw her giggle before stepping out into the cold.Probably wishing for something a bit more personal than a few bucks, I thought to myself.

“God, it’s colder than it was on the way over,” he muttered, pulling his zipper tight and huddling down into his coat.

“The wind probably changed,” I told him. “It’s coming in off the water now.” I glanced down the street towards the bay. It was steely gray, the waves large and dangerous looking. I loved the bay when it looked like this—like a living, breathing thing.

“Should we take the boat?” Andrew asked. I looked over to see him watching my face and I had a feeling he knew exactly what I had been thinking.

“It will be a lot colder on the water,” I pointed out.

He shrugged. “We’re islanders. When have we ever been afraid of a little cold? Besides, we’ll get there a lot faster.”

That was definitely true. My mother lived about as far away from Town Square as was possible. It was a good thirty-minute walk to her place, way out past the farms on a rocky side of the island. Traveling by boat would cut the trip down to ten minutes.

“Let’s do it.”

Andrew’s boat was parked in its normal spot in the marina. We both got to work undoing the lines, moving in silence. I had done this enough times to not need any instructions, and Andrew seemed to know that I wasn’t in a chatty mood. Once we were ready, he started the engine, pulling smoothly out into the harbor. I took my seat next to him, huddling down into my coat. It really was freezing out here.

“How’d the meeting go?” he asked after a few minutes of silence.

“Long, but it turned out okay. We argued for forty-five minutes about what event to have them tape for the first feature.”

“What’d you decide on?”

“We decided to move back the Fish Fry.”

He turned to face me. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. It was Jenny’s idea.”

He shook his head, turning back toward the water. “I can’t believe they went for it. Has the Fry ever been on a different night?”

“Not according to your grandmother. But it was either that or move up the flower festival, so—”

He barked out a laugh. “Oh, God, did she murder whoever came up with that idea?”

“She came pretty close.”

“You’re going to have your work cut out for you on that committee. You know that, right?”