Page 30 of The Only Purple House in Town

“Okay,” Iris said. Once this conversation would’ve crushed her. “I need to finish dinner. Bye!”

She got the last word and cut the call just in time to plop the penne in the frothing water. The meal came together quickly—penne in creamy spinach sauce with plenty of black pepper and a hint of nutmeg. She dished out three portions and topped each plate with grated parmesan cheese. Eli paused in the kitchen, smiling at the food she was plating.

Last week, we were strangers. Now we live together, eat together, he sees me fresh out of the shower…

“It’s ready. I hope you like it.”

“I’ll go get Henry Dale. I think he’s in the shed.”

“Still?” She shook her head ruefully. “I suspect he’d live out there if I let him.”

Eli laughed. “Don’t give him ideas.”

Though Henry Dale grumbled a bit, he still joined them for dinner. They ate mostly in silence, and the old man seemed to be in a decent mood until Iris asked, “I’m just curious. Have you ever been married?”

At that apparently forbidden question, his mouth tightened. “I never wanted to. Something wrong with that?”

Abruptly he set his fork down and left the table, retreating to his room. She bit her lip, glancing at Eli. “I get the feeling I shouldn’t have asked.”

“With Henry Dale, I think we need to wait until he volunteers the information. We haven’t known each other that long.”

“True,” Iris said.

It was a measure of how upset Henry Dale must have been that he’d just left his plate on the table. As a silent apology, she washed it; Eli helped with the rest, of course. She could get used to this constant camaraderie, feeling like she wasn’t alone anymore.

The whole house smelled lightly of paint, but not in a bad way. Between the professional cleaners and the work they’d already done on the place, the house no longer felt so desolate, redolent of dust and loneliness. If she took it slow and spaced out the paint costs, they might be able to do the whole house. Notsoon.But eventually. The hallways needed some TLC too, and the attic… She’dloveto brighten all that dark paneling. It wasn’t the quality kind either; this had been done in the seventies, so it was the cheap stuff, and she wouldn’t hesitate over painting or papering it.

“What are you thinking about?” Eli asked suddenly.

“House stuff.”

“There’s a lot to do.” In measured motions, he put away the last plate, then turned to her with a smile that warmed her from the inside out. “By the way, I had a look at your shop. If you have time, I have some suggestions. Should I get my laptop?”

“Already? Wow! It’s like all you do is help me.”

“Luckily, it’s stuff I’m already good at,” he said.

Which made Iris pause because…did that mean he’d learnnewskills if she needed him to? The implications puzzled her so much that she didn’t even notice him going upstairs until he returned to the table with his laptop. He drew his chair over so she could see his screen as he clicked through several design options.

“You made these?”

“They’re just samples. I can revise them if you—”

“No! The second one is absolutely gorgeous.” He’d captured the chaotic energy full of summery colors that she’d been going for, but unlike her, he’d nailed it. “I love the font, love everything about it.”

“That’s my first recommendation.”

She listened as he suggested how she could increase the visual appeal of the site, and he’d apparently made a sample account to show her how to add collages and carousels to showcase her work. He finished with some recommendations about what she could do using social media, which included contacting influencers and people who hosted related podcasts.

“This is exactly what I needed,” Iris said, fighting the urge to hug him. “It’s not that Ican’tdo these things, but I get bogged down and I don’t know what to do first, you know? Then it feels so overwhelming that I end up doing nothing at all.”

Eli nodded. “I feel the same way in social settings. I can’t figure out who to talk to or what to say. Nine times out of ten, I duck out and wind up watching a movie by myself.”

“Really? You’re so easy to talk to! I never would have guessed.” She paused, wondering if there was any way she could help him in turn. “Oh! If you ever need someone to be your plus one—for moral support or whatever—I’m there.”

“That would be incredible. Anyway, let me know how it goes. I hope sales pick up. And I’ll spread the word about your shop as I can.”

Iris beamed. “You’re seriously my hero. The dance lessons are on me.”

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