Page 79 of The Endowment Effect

His complexion had tanned easily compared to Birdie’s. When they’d play by the dunes in their swimsuits, he would turn a rich shade of coffee with a splash of cream without any sun protection. While Birdie and Grant had to drench her bodies in sunscreen. Despite her efforts, freckles would eventually pop up on her nose and cheeks. Her hair developing blond highlights from the sunshine.

Since sitting in the chair, incognito thanks to the curtains, she watched people stop by to observe the sweaty men’s efforts and to chat. Cindy Hanes, now Wahim, who looked very pregnant, had pulled in with what must now be her husband, Wallis.

Not a surprise. The couple had always been joined at the hip since elementary school.

Thanks to the window being open, allowing what little breeze there was to waft through, she could hear bits and pieces of conversation.

Cindy had some paperwork for Lucas to sign and decided to stop by after attending church and having lunch at the diner.

After a brief conversation, Wallis handed his wife the keys and Cindy drove off as Wallis grabbed another scraper, and rolled up his shirt sleeves to fall in line beside Grant.

Then Cora Leigh Simmons drove up in her 1978 Pinto. Despite being a lifetime member of the Pinkie Posse, she had always been comparatively kind, despite Birdie helping herself to her granddaughter’s fake-fur coat.

Damn that girl had good taste.

Then again, Cora Leigh was the type who would see the good points in a serial killer. Probably compliment them on their predatorial skills and creative use of knifework.

The elderly woman exited her car, pulling her phone out of her pants pocket, whereby Lucas began to wag his finger at her, saying something about photos being prohibited. The woman chuckled and blushed, and Birdie shook her head with squinty eyes. What was that about?

Lucas introduced Mia to Cora Leigh, who went on and on about how much she looked like her father, and what pretty dark hair she had.

Mia was the epitome of good manners, speaking with the woman just long enough to be polite and then backing away to resume working.

Cora Leigh lifted her phone, explaining what she wanted to show Lucas, and he nodded, presumably approving.

Turning her ear toward the window screen, she could barely catch Cora Leigh asking him something about pattern day-trader rules.

Lucas stared down at the woman’s phone with his hand resting on delicious hips and nodded his head in understanding, saying she needed to maintain what sounded like a twenty-five-thousand-dollar balance if she was going to continue making three day trades in a five-day period. Then he mentioned alternatives if she were unable to do that and she waved him off, saying she had earned that much last quarter and went on her way, satisfied with the explanation.

And then the sneaky elderly lady took a discreet photo before slipping back into her car with a wave and a grin on her face.

Birdie smiled.

Cora Leigh Simmons, you dirty little naked-torso-picture-taker…

More importantly, how might she get a copy?

Over the next hour, five or more people showed up, and each time Lucas painstakingly took the time to introduce them to Mia, who said hello and even shook their hands.

So many random people pulling into Bernadette’s driveway must have had something to do with the mayor’s interesting houseguest.

Regardless, questionable motives didn’t seem to hinder Lucas’s warm greetings and generous smiles.

The more her daughter and her teenage heartthrob engaged; it became clear that Mia was absolutely crazy about her dad too.

Who wouldn’t be?

Birdie laid her forehead on her arm, her heart aching over the swoon-worthy man, she had once loved, loving their daughter too.

So much for Mia’s preconceived perception of a douche canoe of a bio-dad, missing his front teeth and unable to string together a complete sentence. Although the old pickup truck was spot-on.

Her spirits turned solemn as Birdie recognized the irony of a clueless Mia, beaming at strangers who had, at one time, looked down their noses at her mother.

Would she be so gracious if she knew how they treated her mother back in the day?

Then again, that would only lead to more questions about the past that Birdie wasn’t ready to address.

Better to let sleeping dogs lie.

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