“Can I keep the boogie board in my room?” Eva asked her, holding the shiny new toy in front of her.
“For now. After you use it for the first time, you’d better keep it under the deck. Otherwise you’ll be sweeping every day.”
“O-kay, Mom.”
Maggie reached out as Eva attempted to pass her. She corralled her with one arm, gently, and pulled her back to her. Then she smacked a kiss on her head. “I love you.”
“Love you, too. Going to my room now, ’k?”
Maggie watched her go. The room she referred to was the most popular in the house with its mint green walls and oversized white comforter with a big blue whale on it. A smile reached her lips. Man, did she and her sisters fight over that room. Usually two were in it, sometimes just one. All four girls had stayed there at one time or another, but their brother, Jake, never had. He had since worn that fact as a badge of honor. “Too girly,” he always said.
She peeked inside. Eva was lying on her stomach, headphones on, bobbing to some beat. The boogie board was on the floor in the corner, several stuffed animals curled up on it. Maggie’s smile grew. Her daughter was experiencing the same “affliction” they all had. Every single one of them had found time for idle play in the old house, long beyond the maximum age for that sort of thing. It’s what life here brought.
This was probably the same reason she met Luke and chased after him the way she did. The thought caused her to roll her hands into fists and dig her fingernails into her palms. “Ugh!”
Eva peeked out of her bedroom. “Did you say something, Mom?”
Maggie shook her head and continued heading down the hall toward the kitchen. “It was nothing, Eva. Go back to your music.”
She had to get ahold of herself. Truth was, her random meetup with Luke brought with it memories she didn’t care to relive, realities long buried. Exactly the reason it bothered her so much that he was able to so easily jump back into conversation without mention of why they hadn’t spoken a word since … that fateful night.
She stood with her hip against the kitchen island, newly covered by quartz. Jake had done an amazing job with the kitchen and she was the first one, other than him, to benefit from it. But it didn’t change the fact that, at this moment, she was currently unnerved. She wanted nothing more than to blame Luke for the sins of the past, but if she had learned nothing else in the last dozen years, it’s that they had been young. Stupid. Full of hope for a future that had been quickly doused by a flood of life happens.
Still, she wanted to blame him. A couple of times today, a troubled look seemed to cross Luke’s face. In those moments she thought, hey, maybe he remembers my heartbreak. And he’s sorry.
She closed her hand and studied her fingernails. Luke never actually said those words to her, though. Not that it mattered. Why was she so hyper-focused on this now? After so many years?
Her mouth went dry and she reached for the fridge, pulled out a can of Perrier and drank it down so fast it burned her throat. She tossed the can into the recycle bin and stared into space for a few seconds before pushing herself to get moving. She put her hand on her lower back and stretched lightly.
Several areas of the house needed a fresh coat of paint and she was determined to do her part. But Maggie had more than painting to do—she had to find a job back home. And a place to live. After her brother’s revelation about his financial status, she knew she had something to fall back on and that gave her some semblance of peace
But … relying on somebody else when she was as able-bodied as them? Not her style.
She just likes to speak her mind …
Luke’s words ripped through her because she knew it was true. And yet, she had stood there today like a wooden door, creaking occasionally, but never fully coming alive to say what she meant to say. Or wanted to say.
What was happening to her?
Her cell phone rang, jarring her from that deep dark hole she was spiraling into. Jake’s name blared on the screen.
“Hey, sis.”
“Hey, yourself.” Maggie righted herself, pushing all thoughts of Luke, past and present, away from her mind.
“Making a ten-course meal in my new kitchen yet?”
She quirked a smile. “You mean ‘our’ new kitchen.”
He laughed. “Gotcha. How are things? Really.”
“Jake Morelli, I’ve never known you to be so interested in my life. What’s up?”
He coughed his protest. “I beg your pardon. I’m always interested in my sisters’ lives.”
“Uh-huh.”
“So … how’s the painting coming? You have enough paint? Brushes? Tarps?”
Maggie exhaled and shut her eyes. He was checking up on her? Really? She bit back a retort and instead said, “Yes to all three.”
“So … you’ve got some done, then.”
“I do.”
“And the walls are a nice light shade of Swiss Coffee or similar, right?”
She wagged her head now, truly irritated. Two men in one day had managed to thoroughly annoy her. Imagine that. “Sheesh, Jake! Everyone’s always on my case about being controlling and they have it all wrong—you’re the one!”
His laughter rumbled. “Okay, I give. I know how much you girls want to sell the place. If only Mom and Dad hadn’t drawn up that crazy will. Drives me crazy that I can’t just send a crew over there and be done with it.”
“Nice problem to have, though, don’t you think?”
He was a quiet a moment. “It is.”
Maggie ran her fingers through her hair and tucked a few strands behind her ear. “Just know everything is under control, Jake. No worries at all.” That wasn’t completely true, if she counted her “chance” meeting with Luke, the one she couldn’t seem to shake from her head.
But she continued, “I’ll catch you all up tomorrow on our weekly phone call.” The five Morelli kids had been scattered to various cities for some time, but after their parents’ untimely death and subsequent will restrictions, they had made it a point to meet for a weekly video call to keep everyone updated.
“Sounds good,” he said. “Guess I’ll let you go then.”
Eva wandered into the kitchen looking bored. Already. She opened the pantry door, plucked two pieces of chocolate from a gift box Jake had left them, and attempted to leave. Maggie held her hand out. Eva rolled her eyes, handed her mother one of the candies, and started to walk off.
Again, Maggie held up a hand to stop her. “Hang on a sec, Jake. Eva wants to say hello to her uncle.”
After handing off the phone to Eva, Maggie headed down the hall where dingy walls and a couple hours of work greeted her.
Jake was right. Twenty-four hours had passed since her brother called and Maggie found herself swooning in the beach house’s new kitchen. She never meant to rely on take-out as much as she had in the past, but her rental kitchen was the pits, frankly. She hated eating in it, let alone putting raw food on any of its surfaces.
She inhaled and took in the quartz, the sea-inspired handles, the shiny new appliances. Maggie blinked, thankful, and still shocked, that her brother had been able to wrangle his vendors for good prices for all of this.
One thing she wasn’t surprised about was that he could install everything. Jake and their father had fought for years, with Jake leaving the family business to study architecture. She never really understood why the two sole men in her family couldn’t get along. To her it always seemed they were speaking the same language.
Maybe that was the problem. So busy talking that neither one heard the other.
“We having mac and cheese tonight?” Eva asked.
She planned to make a quick dinner and clean up before the weekly call with her siblings, but she was pushing it on the time. “Homemade, yes. Want to help?”
Eva nodded.
“You can measure out the breadcrumbs and the parmesan and mix it all together. I’ll let you know when it’s time to put it on top of the macaroni.”
Maggie frowned. The call was from Luke’s surf shop.
“Knock, knock!” Daisy Mcafee peeked her head through the open front door. “Hi, girls!”
Eva perked up and jogged over to the door. “Aunt Daisy!”
Daisy hugged her soon-to-be niece. The “girl next door” had recently become engaged to Jake, gaining mad respect from all four of his sisters. They’d all wondered who would be the one to tame that man’s heart.
“You want to have mac and cheese with us?” Eva asked.
Maggie nodded. The video call with her siblings would be happening soon and it would be fun for Daisy to be on the call with her. “Please. There’s tons of it and I’m already regretting all the cheese I’m going to eat.”
“Sure! You mind if I bring a friend?”
Maggie’s brows rose. Daisy’s mother, Wren, lived next door and she’d recently experienced a stroke, which is what brought Daisy back to Colibri in the first place. “Is your mother feeling well enough to join us?”
“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant. Sorry. She’s already in bed for the night. I meant—”
Jake burst through the door. “She meant me!”
Eva catapulted into his arms. “Uncle Jake!”
Maggie tilted her head. “What the …”
Daisy opened her palms with a little shrug. “What can I say? He missed me.”
“Or maybe you stopped by to spy on my paint job,” Maggie said.
Jake’s mouth popped open. “So paranoid.”
Maggie clucked her tongue. “Whatever. Mac and cheese is in the oven.” She turned toward the kitchen. “I’m about to make a salad, so feel free to spy all you like.”
He gave Eva another squeeze before setting her back on the floor. Annoyed as she was at Jake’s nosiness, she had to admit how grateful she was that Eva had a good man in her life to look up to. She practically worshipped him.
“Thought I’d jump on the call with you since I’m here.”
“Good idea,” Maggie said. The weekly calls began when Grace spent her month at the beach house and continued when Jake had spent his. The Morelli siblings had fallen into a rhythm with the calls, using them to keep each other up-to-date with the house’s progress, and frankly, with their lives.
It was the most they had seen each other in years.
Jake snapped his fingers. “By the way, I paid for the surf camp, so you’re good to go.”
Maggie stopped. She turned around, slowly. “You … what?”
Jake slid a questioning look at Eva. “You did ask your mother about the surf lessons, right?”
“I did! Remember, Mom? You said we couldn’t afford it. You looked so sad, so I asked Uncle Jake on the phone last night and he said he could buy them for me. I wanted to surprise you.”
Maggie narrowed her eyes, first at Eva, and then, Jake. “Did you … did you call Luke Hunter?”
Jake’s face still had that confused look on it. “Yes. I called and paid for them over the phone. What’s wrong?”
Wordlessly, Maggie spun around and headed toward the fridge. She popped open the door and began pulling out lettuce, carrots, and an avocado, slamming them onto that new counter.
“Did I screw up?” Jake walked up to her, his eyes searching.
“You should’ve asked me first.” She tried to control the shake in her voice, not to mention the threatening tears. In her peripheral vision she noticed Daisy gently stop Eva, who was trying to escape, and turn her back toward the conversation.
Jake pressed his lips together and nodded.
Maggie turned to Eva. “And you should’ve asked me too, Eva.”
“But I did, Momma.”
Maggie shook her head. “I told you that I won’t have much time to sit on the beach this visit.” And that lessons weren’t in my budget …
Eva wrapped her arms around Maggie’s waist and turned up her chin. Her big eyes glistened and Maggie had to look away.
Under normal circumstances, Maggie would have been thrilled to send Eva to surf camp. She was young, but every one of her siblings was too when they learned to surf at camp—except Lacy who found a cute surfer to teach her. None of them kept at it, but it was something they could all look back on fondly.
She stroked her daughter’s hair, longing to show her there was more to life than work, stress, and drama. Maggie sighed. Surf camp fit that desire to a T. The only issue was … Luke.
Her breath caught just thinking about him being in Eva’s life. Shame heated her skin. She’d been right not to tell him that … that he had another daughter. She’d made a promise, and breaking that would have hurt so many.
Maggie breathed in deeply. She pulled her daughter in tighter and snapped a look at Jake.
He raised his eyebrows. “We good?”
She rolled her eyes. “No more favors, especially without asking me. Capiche?”
Eva lifted her gaze. “What’s that mean?”
Jake came over and kissed Eva’s head. “It’s Italian for ‘I’m warning you, little brother.’”
Maggie shook her head. “That’s not an exact translation, Eva.”
Jake’s laughter rumbled through the room. “But it’s mighty close!”
Daisy gave him a shove with her hip, laughing. “I hate to break up this little debate, you two, but Maggie, I was wondering if you’d be willing to do me a favor.”
“For you, anything.” Maggie stuck her tongue out at Jake, like old times. He snickered.
“Would you be willing to cut my mother’s hair? She’s doing a lot better after the stroke, but isn’t quite comfortable yet with the idea of sitting in a hair salon, you know?”
Maggie nodded as Eva bounded over to the fridge and took out two bottles of salad dressing. “Completely understandable. And, sure, I’ll run over there tomorrow. Would that work?”
Daisy hugged her. “You’re a lifesaver. Yes! Whatever time works for you. I’m going to set up a new TV for her tomorrow and teach her how to use it. So just let me know when you’re coming over and I’ll make sure she’s ready.”
“Will do. Probably late morning—”
Jake winced.
Maggie squinted. “What?”
“That’s when you’re supposed to take Eva to surf camp.”
And, once again, run into Luke … Maggie turned toward the kitchen so no one would notice her agitation. She grabbed the lettuce from the counter and began to wash it in the sink.
Daisy cut in. “If you can’t make it over to my mom’s after all—”
“That’s not it,” Maggie said. “Was just thinking of when would be a better time.” She shook the lettuce in the sink, laid it on paper towels, and swiveled a look up at her brother. “Where is it held and what time does Luke want Eva over there?”
“It’s walking distance from here, at Segura Beach.”
Eva asked, “Oh, it’s not at our beach?”
Jake smiled. “The swells are softer up at Segura. There’s a sand break there so it’s a safer place to learn. Oh, and Eva needs to be there at ten o’clock. By the way, it’s not Luke doing the teaching.”
“Oh no?” She returned to the island with the lettuce and began to slice carrots as nonchalantly as possible.
“Yeah, he said he’s retired from surfing, and when I laughed about that, he told me he was dead serious.”
Relief flooded her. Still, what Jake said was strange. Luke not surfing? Fat chance of that.
Then again, he had been the big kahuna around Colibri after winning all those surf contests. Maybe he thought teaching the sport was beneath him now. “I guess he meant that he was done with teaching. That makes more sense.”
Jake rubbed the back of his neck, his mouth a flat
line. “I don’t know. He said surfing. Period.”
Maggie rolled her eyes and began tearing up the lettuce and tossing it and the carrots into a bowl. She grabbed a ripe tomato and began dicing it. “Okay, fine. Daisy, how about I stop by your mama’s house after Eva’s camp—I want to watch the first day.”
Eva cut in. “Aw, Mom!”
Maggie stopped the kife working over that tomato, her brows raised. “Take it or leave it.”
“Fine.”
Daisy gave Maggie a side hug and grabbed a carrot from the cutting board. “I’m so thankful for you, Maggie.”
Forty-five minutes later, after every last bit of mac and cheese had been scraped from the pan, Daisy and Eva cleared the table while Maggie and Jake moved into the living room for the call with their siblings.
Her sister Grace, a lawyer, appeared first on the screen looking fiercely busy, her eyes somewhere else. But her skin glowed.
“Hey, Grace,” Maggie said.
Grace’s chin jerked up, her eyes peering through glasses that Maggie hadn’t seen before. “Sorry. Working on a brief that’s due tomorrow.”
Maggie tilted her head. “How’s the baby nursery coming along?”
Grace crinkled her forehead momentarily. Her eyes widened and a smile made it to her face. “I’ve ordered everything online and we’ll be getting it set up this weekend. We’re going with a cruise ship motif.”
Jake spat a laugh. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
Grace’s expression was non-committal. “You’ll have to come see it for yourself.”
“Well,” Maggie cut in, “I’m just glad you’re thinking about something other than the law. A baby’s gonna turn your world upside down, if you don’t already know it.”
Grace closed her eyes and sat back. “I do and I’m excited … just so, so busy these days with the firm.”
“Hey, y’all,” Bella’s soft voice cut into the call. She looked rested and dreamy, as always, and Maggie had to wonder if their youngest sister did much other than read books all day while breathing in essential oils floating up from her bedside diffuser.
Luke's Second Chance Family Page 3