Page 59 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“Thanks, Mom.”

Margo leaned toward Conrad, so proud of him for not only offering to help with the move but for his suggestion of making dinner. “I’ll get the salad taken care of, then I’ll prep the broccoli. What else do you need me to do?”

“I could use a big pot to boil these potatoes in.”

“Of course.” Margo went to one of the tall cabinets that had pullout drawers and found the exact pot they used for that sort of thing. “Here you go. I’ll even fill it with water and add some salt.”

“Perfect,” Conrad said. He grinned. “This is fun.”

“What is?” She put the pot in the sink and turned on the tap.

“Making dinner together. We should do it more often.”

“Maybe we’ll do it a lot more often after I move in.” She suddenly realized what that sounded like. “I mean to the neighborhood.” She brought the pot to the stove and set the burner on high before adding salt.

He laughed. “I knew what you meant. But the other’s not a bad idea, either. Eventually.”

“Conrad.” She smiled despite his bold suggestion.

The elevator doors opened, and Kat got off. She looked tired, but happy. “Hey, there.”

Toby went right over to her, wagging his tail.

“How are you?” Margo asked. “And how is Alex?”

Kat stooped to give Toby a good scratch. “I’m all right. Alex is doing pretty good. He finally woke up right before I had to leave.” She shook her head as she stood up. “He thought I was going to break up with him because I couldn’t handle him getting hurt.”

Conrad nodded, eyes full of understanding. He brought a few peeled potatoes over to the cutting board. “I wasn’t a firefighter, obviously, but I had a girl break up with me when she thought I was going to be sent overseas to a particularly dangerous area. Some women can’t handle the idea of the man they care about being in danger.”

Kat gave him a quick smile. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I can’t imagine breaking up with someone for that reason. I know it happens, but it doesn’t seem like a very nice thing to do.”

“It’s not,” Margo said. “But it’s certainly something you have to think about going forward. Alex’s job, I mean. The day might come when you’ll be more than girlfriend and boyfriend. When there are children involved.”

Kat nodded. “I get that. I don’t like knowing he could be hurt again. Or worse. I don’t like it at all. But I’m not breaking up with him.” She dragged her finger along the granite top. “That would mean breaking my own heart at this point.”

Conrad smiled but said nothing. He busied himself adding the potatoes he was cubing to the water.

Margo understood perfectly. Kat was already in love with the young man. “Dinner will be about half an hour or so. Your mom is in her room doing some work.”

Kat looked up. “I think I’ll get a shower. Unless you need help?” She pointed at Toby. “Or you-know-who needs to go you-know-where?”

Margo shook her head. “We’ve got it handled. But someone else might need a potty break.”

“Okay, I’ll take him.” Kat went off to the laundry room for Toby’s leash, then took him down in the elevator.

Margo waited until doors shut. “I hope nothing else happens to that boy. Losing someone you love is a terrible thing to endure.”

“I’m sure she knows that. She’s lost her father, after all.”

“True,” Margo said. “But he wasn’t exactly a shining example of manhood, either.”

Conrad lifted his chin, showing off his square jawline beautifully. “Who do you consider to be a shining example of manhood, then?”

She laughed. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

“Who? Me? Never.” He winked at her.

“You are pretty perfect. You cook. You write. You read books.” She moved closer to him, lowering her voice. “You take very good care of me.”

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