Page 15 of A Wedding in the Bay

“Good luck,” she said matter-of-factly, with a touch of skepticism in her tone, and he laughed.

“You try it,” he said, handing the card back to her. “I’ll give you instructions as you go.”

“Oh,” she said, looking taken aback. “I—well, I suppose I can try it.”

He smiled quietly to himself as she stepped up to the door and wiggled the card into the crack at the edge of the door frame. She slid it down into the area where the lock was, frowning in concentration.

“That’s it,” he said encouragingly. “Bring it down a little bit.”

She sighed heavily and tutted under her breath. He couldn’t help smiling—he found her fun to be around, despite her desire for things to be a particular way. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

“You’ve barely started.” He laughed. “Just try to coax the lock open.”

“What, should I bring it a peace offering or something? It doesn’t like me.”

“Just keep trying. Nothing goes perfectly the first time.”

“I think in this instance, it’s never going to go right at all. I still don’t think this will work.”

“I know it will work.”

“The internet can’t really be trusted.”

He laughed again. “I know it will work from personal experience.”

She turned and gave him an amused look. “Oh, do you know? And how do you know this trick will work from personal experience?”

He chuckled, grinning at her. “You got me. I’ve locked myself out of my house a time or two. This trick has worked for me before, and that lock you’ve got seems to be roughly the same kind that I have at my place. This should work.”

“You may need to do it for me,” she groaned, moving the card another inch. She pressed her lips together in frustration. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get it. I should just call a locksmith.”

“Don’t call a locksmith, you can do it. Try lowering the card just a little bit—”

“Ah!” Her jaw dropped into a look of delight as they both heard a click. She tugged the door open, revealing a warm, cozy kitchen. “Oh, thank goodness,” she breathed, placing her hand on her heart. “Oh my. There you are, you scamps!” she said, apparently addressing the keys that were resting on the kitchen counter.

He laughed. “Great job! I told you so.”

She whirled, wrinkling her nose at him. It was such an unexpectedly unpolished gesture from this woman who had seemed so refined that he laughed again.

She went into the kitchen and picked up her keys, immediately placing them in her purse. “First thing tomorrow I’m going out and having more spares made,” she vowed. “I’m going to put an extra set in my purse and one on the front porch. I’ll put it under that statue, like you suggested.”

He lingered on the doorstep. He didn’t want to come inside without being invited, and all at once he felt awkward, not knowing what to say. He felt that he should excuse himself and leave, but he also didn’t want to exit in too abrupt of a manner. And the truth was that he was enjoying her company and felt reluctant to go.

She turned, and her movements slowed, as if she also was suddenly feeling awkward. “Thank you again for helping me. I appreciate it so much, I truly do.”

“Don’t mention it.” He smiled. “Happy to help out a neighbor in need.”

For a second she was quiet, and then she said, “You said you didn’t have anywhere to go after this, correct? Would you like to stay here for a little while and warm up? I can make you something hot to drink. Coffee or tea?”

He nodded eagerly, feeling that some hot coffee would just hit the spot. “That would be very nice,” he said, stepping inside the kitchen. He noticed that it smelled pleasantly of cloves. He smiled at her as he shut the door behind him. “I’d love some hot coffee.”

“Of course. I’ll brew a pot right now. Would you like cream or sweetener?” She moved toward her cupboards and opened one of them. Inside it he could see perfectly arranged tins of coffee.

“Black, please.”

“Mmm.”

She opened one of the tins and began to scoop coffee into a coffee filter.

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