“I’m so sorry, Ollie. I swear to God, I never would’ve brought you by if I’d thought for a second that Reid showing up was any kind of possibility.”
“It’s fine.” It wouldn’t change anything even having seen him. But at least I’dgottento see him, which was something, I supposed.
“But he looks good, right? Did you talk? I thought I interrupted you talking.”
I sighed and leaned back on the headrest, no longer in the mood for coffee. “Just drive.”
nineteen
OLLIE
IT’D BEEN A long time coming, but it was finally time to fix the damn stoop.
I’d been trying to keep my mind off my run-in with Reid earlier in the week, and that meant finally doing a bit of work around the house and landscaping in the evenings. I had a full day planned, having already painted the shutters a refreshed hunter green, and after I got the porch step back in non-crumbling order, the door was next.
The sun blazed overhead, the weekend already off to a sweltering start at ten in the morning, and I had to wipe the sweat off my brow with my forearm as I worked. With a trowel, I carefully filled in the cracks of the brick step with mortar—and tried not to think about the polite way Reid had asked my name and made small talk, like I was a stranger. It was the way he used to look at me, but back then it hadn’t caused a roll of nausea the way it did now.
Stop thinking about him for one fucking second,I thought, as I smoothed out the filled cracks. I should’ve brought out a radio.
“Hello, Oliver.”
I jerked around at the woman’s voice behind me, and when I saw who it was, I couldn’t mask my surprise. “Mrs. Valentine?” I looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see Reid getting out of that SUV that I hadn’t heard pull up in my driveway.That’s what’s you get for being so lost in your thoughts about her son.
“It’s just me,” she said, and it sounded like an apology. “I was hoping I could speak with you.”
“Oh. Yeah, sure. Let me just clean this up.” I swept off the excess mortar from around the brick and then packed up my toolbox and moved it to the side, out of view.
“I don’t mean to interrupt—” she started.
“No, you’re fine. I was finishing up anyway,” I said, wiping my hands on my jeans. Mrs. Valentine looked picture perfect in a cream-colored skirt and pink blouse, and of course the day I had company I’d be dressed in the paint-splattered jeans I wore when I worked around the house. At least I’d managed a shirt today.
I headed up the stairs, sidestepping the one I’d been working on, and she did the same. Stepping inside the cool, air-conditioned house, I gestured for her to come inside.
She held her purse in front of her and smiled politely as she entered. “I should’ve called before intruding on you like this.”
“It’s no problem,” I said, shutting the door behind her and leading her down the hall. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I won’t take up too much of your time. I just wanted to—” She came to a stop as the hallway opened up into the living and kitchen area, and her eyes landed on the piano in the corner of the room. “Oh,” she said with a smile. “No wonder you and Reid got along. I didn’t realize you played.”
I rocked back on my heels. “I don’t.”
She whirled around to face me, a question forming on her lips, but when I straightened my shoulders and met her gaze head-on, I could see the instant the light bulb went off. Her handcame up to finger the gold cross necklace she wore as she looked away. “May I sit down?”
“Please.” I gestured for her to sit anywhere. “Are you sure you don’t want anything to drink?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
As she perched on the edge of the couch, I went into the kitchen to towel off and wash my hands. Then I poured a big glass of water and sat down in the recliner, giving her a wide berth.
What had she come here for? I didn’t even realize she knew where I lived.
“I found your address in the phone book,” she said, answering my silent question as she placed her purse beside her and smoothed her skirt down. “I had no idea we were neighbors. Have you been here long?”
“A few years.”
She nodded and looked around. “It’s lovely.”
“Thanks. Workin’ on a few repairs, but”—I spread my hands—“it’s home.”