Page 37 of The Calendar of New Beginnings
“Good,” he finished. “I know. But trust me. Lucy feels like you do about your life and your health.” Funny how he hadn’t realized how similar their stances were until now. “You independent women.”
She shook her fist playfully. “Don’t say that again, buster, or I’ll box your ears. If you ever have a daughter, you’ll be happy if she’s independent. Like me and your sisters.”
But they took it too far sometimes, he personally thought, though he would only admit it under duress or bone-deep worry. “You’re all rock stars,” he said to be agreeable.
“And you’re full of hog manure sometimes,” she said, standing up and taking his empty beer bottle over to the blue recycling container. “Since you asked me for a promise earlier…”
“Which you didn’t grant,” he pointed out.
“I bet you’re the only one who knows the real story about why Lucy’s back in Dare Valley, so promise me you’lllook out for her,” she continued, bold as the blue jay squawking in her backyard.
“Mom.”
“Andy.”
They faced each other down in the kitchen. “I’ll look out for her.”
“Good,” she said simply, giving him a warm smile.
But when he left a half hour later, he realized he hadn’t made that promise just because his mother had asked it of him.
Andy was used to doing things for other people—so much so that he sometimes forgot to ask himself what he wanted.Thiswas something he wanted. He wanted to look out for Lucy for himself.
CHAPTER TEN
Lucy’s first class had rejuvenated her faith in the next generation. The celebratory beverage she had with her father at Hairy’s afterward made her spirits soar even higher. He shouted a toast across the bar, making all happy-hour-goers turn to look at them. “To my amazing kid, Lucy,” he said, hoisting his Guinness in the air. “And to all the young minds she’s going to mold.”
She wasn’t so sure about the mold part. It sounded too much like the green, stinky fungus. She preferred the image of being a lighthouse for young minds. But her dad was sweet, so she drank her pint with him and then had some heavenly fish and chips for the second time in a week. Her mother had wanted to bring her a meal to commemorate her first day of class, but Lucy had decided to draw some boundaries. While she loved her mother, she didn’t want her to start popping over all the time—even if her cottage was located in the boonies, as her mom kept saying. Like Dare Valley had boonies. Itwasthe boonies.
Dr. Jeff kept her company at the bar again, and while she enjoyed talking to him, she didn’t want to give him anyencouragement. Dating wasn’t high on her list of plans for her time in Dare Valley.
As she was leaving the bar, a car honked. She looked over and saw Andy rolling his window down and slowing his car to match her pace.
“Hey!” he called. “I was just swinging by to see if you were at your dad’s after your big day.”
“I decided to head out,” she said and then gestured for him to pull into the space at the end of the block. “Enjoy my new digs.”
He leaned toward the passenger seat window as she walked over. “How was your first day of class?”
“Epic,” she said with a grin. “Where’s the munchkin?”
“With Jane and Matt and Moira. I begged Jane to work with Rufus.”
“Good idea,” she said, resting her hands on the open window. “I could go back in if you want a drink.”
“Or you could show me your place?” he asked with a mischievous smile. “I’m intrigued by your description. What was it again? Strawberry Shortcake meets Jane Austen. Not something you hear every day.”
“I’m parked around the corner. You can follow me home.” Then a thought struck her. “Wait! Have you eaten? I don’t have much in my refrigerator yet. Dad gave me a mammoth serving of fish and chips.”
“Some things never change,” Andy said, shaking his head. “Mom fed me after our talk today.”
She gazed at him over her nose. “Talk, huh? That sounds ominous. You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice even and sure. “Now hustle it over to your car, O’Brien.”
“As you wish, Andy Cakes,” she said, giving a playful hipwiggle.
She didn’t hustle since she was healing. At her pace, a snail could have beaten her. Or a turtle. Totally embarrassing.
