Page 49 of The Summer Swap

Cecilia lifted an eyebrow. “Did you receive a ransom note?”

Todd smiled, apparently undeterred by her crisp tone. “No, but I decided that maybe they liked you and decided to keep you. Maybe you made them your lemon cookies and they decided never to let you go. Don’t be angry. It was done with the best of intentions and I promise never to do it again, providing you promise never to disappear again.”

“You’re a smooth talker, Todd Buckingham, but your charm doesn’t work on me.” But her tone had softened. “And there I was thinking that no one would ever be able to find me. You’re sure no one else is on the way here?”

“Positive.” His attention was caught by the bookcase. “What’s this? I love it.”

“You do?” Cecilia followed his gaze. “You and Lily are clearly seeing something I’m not.”

“Look at the wood. It’s an excellent piece of craftsmanship.” He dropped into a crouch and ran his hand lovingly over one of the shelves. “This is well-made. Someone took time over it.”

“And then someone let it go to ruin.”

“It can be restored.”

“That’s what Lily thought.”

“Lily found it?” He glanced up at her, curious, one hand still on the bookshelf. “Where?”

She couldn’t believe he was here, looking at her with those blue eyes while the breeze played with his hair.

“Someone threw it out.”

“They must have had a touch of the sun, don’t you think? What are your plans for it?”

“I’m going to put it in the second bedroom. But first I’m going to sand it down, paint it. Remove the bottom shelf because it’s damaged.”

“Shame to lose a shelf. I could fix that.” He ran his finger across the shelf, pausing where the wood was split in an ugly gash. “It would be like new. Better than new, because why buy something new when you can have this?”

Cecilia sighed. “It’s two against one, so I guess that ugly splintered thing is staying in my house.”

“Your house?” Todd rose to his feet. “That brings me to my next question. What is this place? Is it a rental? It’s stunning. How did you find it?” He tilted his head back and shaded his eyes, studying the pitched roof and the windows. “I might be in love.”

Lily heard the excitement in his voice and felt a pang because his reaction to the place mirrored hers, and that reminded her just how well they’d always connected.

She saw Cecilia hesitate, weighing her response.

“It’s not a rental,” she said quietly. “It’s mine.”

He turned, his gaze sharp. “You bought this place?”

“No. Well, yes, I suppose so. Technically. But it’s not a recent purchase. Your grandfather and I bought it fifty years ago.”

“You—” Todd stared at her, digesting that. “Does Mom know?”

“No one knows. Except you. Now you know. Which will no doubt complicate things.” Cecilia suddenly seemed tired. She sat back down on the porch and reached for one of the mugs. “You shouldn’t have come here, Todd.”

Lily saw that her hand wasn’t quite steady and wondered if Todd saw it, too.

She thought that maybe he did, because he was silent for a moment and then he nodded.

“You kept it a secret. I don’t know why, and you don’t need to tell me why. I can keep secrets, Nanna.” He spoke softly, and there was no doubting the sincerity in his words and his voice. “If you don’t want people to know about this place, they won’t hear it from me. And if you want me to leave, then I’ll leave. I really did just want to check on you. I know it’s been a difficult time.”

Cecilia lifted the coffee mug to her lips and Lily thought she saw a sheen in her eyes.

“I don’t want you to leave. But thank you for offering. You’re a very special young man.”

Todd gave a wry smile. “There are a few people right now who would disagree with you. And now I’m going to steal a lemon cookie and a mug of that coffee. Lily?”

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