Page 28 of When Morning Comes Around

“Can I do anything to help?”

Jo laughed. “You’re good. There’s not enough work to go around – but thanks.”

Damon chuckled. “I’ve been getting under her feet all morning. I’ll get your drinks, but other than that, there’s nothing left to do.”

Jo turned her back to them to check on the pans on the stovetop and asked, “How did it go on Friday night? Nina said that Sadie’s an old friend of hers – hers and Terry’s. What’s she like?”

Dominic tensed, and Damon met his gaze and cocked an eyebrow. He cleared his throat, wondering what he should say, and was relieved when Jake beat him to it.

“She’s awesome! Isn’t she, Uncle Dom?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, that’s right, you met her, too,” said Jo. “Were you able to fix her car?”

“Not yet, but I will. I had to order a new radiator, and it won’t be delivered until Tuesday.”

Dominic turned to Jake. “Does she know that?”

“She does. They got back to me a little while ago – at first, they said they wouldn’t be able to get it here until Wednesday. But Jeff called me back while you were in the shower to say it’ll be Tuesday. I called Sadie to let her know.”

He nodded. It shouldn’t make any difference to him – it didn’t – but it was strange to think that Jake had spoken to her, and he’d missed it.

Jo was asking Jake about how difficult it was to replace a radiator, but Dominic wasn’t paying attention. He was wondering what Sadie might be up to right now. He froze,feeling guilty, when he noticed Damon watching him. His brother cocked an eyebrow, and he shrugged.

After they’d eaten, Jake volunteered to clear up and take care of the dishes. Dominic and Damon offered to help, but Jo shooed them out of the kitchen. She was a sweetheart. He knew damn well that it wasn’t about who cleared up; all she was interested in was strengthening the bonds in their new family. She was making sure that he and Damon got to spend time together and she loved hanging out with Jake.

“Want to go for a walk on the beach?” Damon asked.

Dominic chuckled; he’d already spent more time on the beach this weekend than he had since he arrived in Summer Lake. He wasn’t complaining, though. “Sure, I’ll grab my coat.”

He followed his brother out over the back deck and to the edge of the lawn, where they scrambled down the bank to the beach. When they reached the bottom, Damon grinned at him.

“Sometimes, I still can’t believe that I live here – with Jo, in this great house, right here on the beach like this.”

“You fell on your feet, Jo’s awesome. You deserve this.”

Damon nodded happily. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, that’s for sure.”

As they walked along the water’s edge, Dominic couldn’t help scanning the pebbles, looking for more quartz.

“You okay?” Damon asked after a while.

“I am. How about you?”

“I’m good. I’m just… Tell me to butt out if you like, but I’m curious about this Sadie.”

“What about her?”

“You tell me.”

“What do you want to know?”

Damon chuckled. “Like I said, tell me to butt out if you want to, but from what I hear, the two of you took a walk on the beach in town yesterday.”

“Yeah.”

“And?”

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