“I’m inviting my neighbor, Otis,” Maddy said, and then slapped her sister’s arm when she saw the questioning look in her eyes. “He’s eighty years old, Becky.”
Becky smiled demurely. “Who else is coming?”
“Two of the guys from my crew and their families.”
“No one single, huh?” Becky pouted.
“Only John.” Maddy found herself bristling at her sister’s unabashed interest.
“He’s the one with the two kids?”
“Yep.”
“Well,” Becky stretched languidly in her chair. “We’ll just see how cute he is.”
She sipped her wine and grinned at Maddy, who only sipped her wine. Maybe tomorrow her world would fall apart again.
eleven
Maddy woke early Friday and slipped out to her balcony in time for the sunrise. At first, the clouds on the horizon threatened to interfere, then their pale outlines blazed into fiery orange clarity with the emerging sun. She watched, mesmerized, letting the morning unfold peacefully around her, and willing herself not to worry about the day ahead.
The party, due to start around two, would include badminton and beach time. Swimming was also an option, but the water seemed terribly cold. For dinner, she’d cook steaks and burgers on the grill. She had also picked up some sparklers and other small fireworks for later on in the evening, if her guests stayed that long. All in all, she felt prepared for whatever the day might bring.
John called mid-morning, and their brief conversation ended in an invitation to his sister and her daughter to join their party.
Maddy sighed; more sisters.
When Becky rolled out of bed around eleven, Maddy started a fresh pot of coffee. Untangling the badminton set had dominated her morning, and her hopes that Becky might help with the rest of the preparations were short-lived. Her sister planned on taking a run on the beach and then a long soak in Maddy’s antique bathtub.
“After all, I’m on vacation,” Becky reminded her cheerfully.
Otis arrived promptly at just before two while Maddy was finishing a cheese-and-cracker tray. She brought it outside just as he walked up the steps.
“Hello, Maddy,” he said. “Great day for a picnic!”
“It’s perfect,” she agreed with a smile.
“How is your sister?”
“Becky is Becky,” Maddy replied. “She took Burt out for a run, and she’s not back yet. She knows people could get here any time.” Maddy poured Otis a glass of lemonade. “Anyway, I’m determined to have fun at my first party. I tend to get tense when she’s around, as though I’m responsible for her behavior. I have to let that go.”
“Easier said than done.”
Maddy nodded. Wise Otis.
He lifted his glass to her. “You make a lovely hostess,” he said. “This vocation suits you. It brings out the color in your cheeks.”
Maddy smiled, clinking her glass with his.
The doorbell rang, and Maddy found Frank and his family at the door. He introduced her to his wife, Linda, and their six-year-old daughter, Kelsey. Maddy walked them out to the porch, where they met Otis. Not long after, John and his boys arrived, and Maddy’s first party began.
John greeted the others and then went down to the beach to spell out the water rules for the kids. Maddy poured lemonade and watched as he knelt down to talk to them, putting his hand on Parker’s shoulder and pointing out to the ocean. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the gist was clear.
Becky then came jogging up the beach with the dog, perhaps a little faster than she would have liked. Burt knew exactly whom he was running to greet. The boys ran up to Becky because of the dog, and John stood to greet her. Maddy watched from the porch and poured lemonade on the table.
“Shoot!” she said, drawing the attention of her guests.
Linda got up to help, and the others resumed their observance of the pretty runner. They could hardly help but watch her.
Maddy, trying to smile, told them, “That would be my sister, Becky.”
Frank gave a low whistle, and Linda smacked his arm. He grinned at her, and kissed the hand that slapped him.
Maddy took a deep breath and prepared herself to formalize the introduction. She walked down the steps to the beach, and Otis watched approvingly as she neared the couple.
“Hey, Becky,” she called out, shading her eyes as she approached them. “I see you’ve met John.”
“Have I!” Becky gushed. She put her hand on his forearm and said, “Maddy, I have half a mind to get my apartment refinished!”
Refinished? Maddy agreed with the half a mind part. “Good luck with that.” She turned to John. “This is my sister, Becky.” She boldly looked up, fully expecting to wait for John to pull his attention away from the dazzling jogger.
John met Maddy’s gaze immediately, nodding as he gently removed his arm from Becky’s grasp. “She said she ran all the way to the public beach and back. I’m impressed.”
That was all Becky needed to hear. She chattered on about running, Burt and the seagulls, shells in her shoes, and then acknowledged that she needed a nice long bath. She smirked coyly at John, who looked to see where his boys had gone with the dog.
“Come on back, Blake!” he called. “That’s further than I want you to go.” His boys turned and ran back toward their father.
“They’re so good,” Becky simpered.
“Thank you,” John said. “I’d better go over the rules with them again. Excuse me.” He smiled at Maddy and joined his kids.
“He’s fabulous!” said Becky, barely lowering her voice.
Maddy gritted her teeth into a smile. “I’ll introduce you to the others, and then you can go and get cleaned up.”
“Seriously, Maddy, how do you concentrate when he’s around? Did you see his…”
“Here we are!” Maddy sang out as they stepped up onto the porch. “Otis, Frank and Linda, I’d like you to meet Becky.”
Otis stood and Frank followed suit. Becky greeted them all effusively and then excused herself.
Maddy watched her leave. “Okay, who’s up for badminton?”
John and Linda, along with Kelsey and Parker, took on Frank, Maddy and Blake. Otis relaxed at the table and played referee.
They volleyed for a while, and then Frank said, “Enough of this. Let’s start some serious competition, here.”
“Sorry, Maddy,” Linda said. “This was bound to happen with these guys.”
Maddy smiled at Linda, and then looked through the net at John. He grinned and shrugged, but his stance had definitely changed. He crouched and looked ready to spring. She briefly took in what she could see of some very nice quads. She’d never seen him in shorts.
“We’ll let you guys have the serve,” she decided, bouncing the birdie and then tossing it to John. “Let’s see what you got.”
“As you wish,” he replied formally. Moving back into position, he announced, “Zero serving zero!” and sent the little birdie like a bullet over the net.
Frank dove, but didn’t have a chance. Spitting sand, he said, “Okay, lighten up, Johnny boy. No spiking on the serve.” He got to his feet and resumed his “ready” position. Linda rolled her eyes and Kelsey giggled at her dad.
Maddy just stood looking at John, who grinned and got ready to serve again. Winding up the same way, he let the birdie float gently over the net. Blake hit it back, and Kelsey made a successful connection, much to her mother’s delight. When Frank ripped it over the net, John just barely got under it. Maddy returned it, and Linda sent the birdie high in the air.
Blake waited for it, and then popped it back over. This time Parker tried to send it back, but didn’t quite connect. John ran up behind him with a growl and scooped him up. Parker squealed with laughter, forgetting his missed shot. John spun him around and then set him down, jogging back to his spot. Frank served, and the play continued.
Half an h
our later, they were finishing their second game. Maddy’s team lost the first by two points, and they were determined to win the second one. There had been some ominous talk of the losers of the match taking the first dip in the ocean, willingly or otherwise. Maddy was not about to be among the reluctant swimmers.
Then Becky showed up. She was dressed to the nines; every detail was flawless, from her movie-star sunglasses down to her ankle bracelet and French-manicured toenails. She sauntered out to the group and stood by the sideline, watching.
Maddy knew that she should probably invite her sister to join them, but decided to finish the game first. Too much was at stake. She wished Becky would sit with Otis, but instead she hung out right by the pole, marveling over every other play. Finally, she called out while Maddy was serving.
“Maddy, I hate to interrupt, but something’s wrong with your tub,” she drawled. “The water won’t turn off.”
Maddy stopped and looked at her sister. “Really? Why didn’t you tell me right away?” She threw the shuttlecock to Blake. “I need you to take over for me, buddy,” she said, leaving the court.
“Let me check it out, Maddy,” John offered.
“No way. This is not a work day,” she insisted. “I’ll figure it out.”
She tossed the racket to her sister, who squealed and let it drop at her feet. “Why don’t you take my place, Becky?”
Maddy ran to the house and upstairs into her bathroom. The water was running lightly, so she gave the handle a good crank, and the water shut off. She sat down on the edge of the tub, trying to get a hold of her frustration. It wasn’t just the games that her helpless sister played that made Maddy so crazy. She’d seen them a hundred times before. Even the one time Becky met Phil she had shown little restraint, but it hadn’t bothered Maddy this much. She knew it was irrational. She reminded herself that she didn’t have any official claim on John.
Maddy sighed. It was Friday afternoon and Becky was staying until Sunday. How much damage could be done in a weekend?
John’s sister and her daughter arrived later in the afternoon, just as Frank and his family were leaving. They exchanged greetings on the porch, Frank mentioning that they might return for the fireworks. The town put on a display at the public beach, and they would have a great view from Maddy’s house.
John introduced Karen and her daughter to the others, and Annie immediately ran off to play with her cousins.
“You have a great spot here, Maddy,” Karen observed.
“Thank you,” Maddy replied, adding Karen’s tray of chips and dip to the other snacks on the table. “This salsa looks wonderful. Did you make it?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.” Recipe banter ensued, and John excused himself to go swimming with his boys.
“Can somebody help me with this blender?”
A call of distress sounded from the kitchen, where Becky had gone to make daiquiris. Maddy was only mildly surprised that her sister couldn’t operate the machinery necessary to complete the task. She went in to see if she could do any better.
Karen was the only taker, besides Becky, when they reappeared with drinks a few minutes later. The women sat with Otis and talked while John played with his boys and their cousin in the water. Becky was itching to discuss John with Maddy, but refrained while his sister was with them.
An opportunity presented itself after a few minutes when Karen walked down to the beach and Otis went home to get his sunglasses. As soon as they had the porch to themselves, Becky opened up on her sister.
“Will you look at him, Maddy?”
It was an unnecessary request. Maddy was acutely aware of the fact that her contractor was half-dressed in her front yard.
“He’s gorgeous! Check out his abs. I bet he works out.”
“Hmmm,” Maddy replied.
“I don’t suppose he dresses like that while he works?” Becky sighed.
Maddy was jarred back into the conversation. “No, Becky, he doesn’t wear his swim trunks while he’s working on my house.”
“I know that. I mean, it must get hot, though, and I don’t know what I’d do if I had a bunch of half-naked construction workers wandering around my house.” Becky knocked back her daiquiri, her eyes on John. “I’d never get anything done with him around.”
Maddy held her tongue.
“Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two?”
“I don’t know why you keep asking that.”
“I don’t know; he smiles at you a lot. I can’t believe you haven’t noticed.”
A lot? I hadn’t noticed. “We’re good friends, nothing more.”
“Well, if you’re sure…” Becky got up and carefully removed the little cover-up jumper she’d been wearing, unveiling her scanty bikini and tattoo. “Maybe I’ll just go out and get some sun.”
Maddy bristled. “Come on, Becky, don’t you think you’re being a bit obvious?”
“I hope so,” Becky smiled, strolling down the steps.
Maddy rolled her eyes, not wanting to watch the scene unfolding in front of her, yet perversely unable to look away. She cleaned up the snack table and watched as Parker and Blake jumped over the waves rolling in. John stood hip-deep between them and the deeper water. Focused on being a watchful dad, he probably had no idea of the distraction he was causing.
Otis’ return spared Maddy further private reflection on the situation. He stood next to her and followed her gaze out to the beach. “How is it that you two are so different?”
“I don’t know,” Maddy answered slowly.
Becky had reached John, who was herding his boys out of the water. He immediately became very interested in the castle the kids had been working on, and Maddy had to smile. Such a gentleman. He may not want to gawk, but he’d have to start doing somersaults to keep from looking at Becky. She was sure to make every effort to stay in view.
“Becky didn’t buy into many of the reasonable life lessons our parents tried to teach us,” Maddy explained. “She’s always worried them. Not that we haven’t all done our share of that,” she conceded after a moment.
“She’s a pretty girl, but I don’t think she’s John’s type,” Otis said, cutting to the chase and patting her hand. Maddy smiled at him, and he continued, “I think I’d like to go get my feet wet, young lady. So if you’re finished here, why don’t you join me?”
Maddy, Otis and Burt made their way out to the rest of the party on the beach. John looked up to see them approaching and stood.
“Hey, boys, Miss Maddy’s coming out for a swim!”
Parker cheered without looking up from the moat he was carving out of the sand. Blake stood up and grinned.
“No, I’m just coming out to see your castle,” she corrected him. “I’m not dressed to swim,” she further pointed out, observing with some concern the look on John’s face.
“Sure you are.” He took a few steps in her direction, and Maddy checked her advance. Becky watched from beyond the sand castle, pouting, and Karen knelt in the sand with her daughter, looking on the scene with a half smile.
“John…” Maddy tried to think of a way to threaten her guest.
He smiled and continued walking calmly toward her.
“You recall the outcome of our badminton match?” he asked. “We beat you both times.”
“Congratulations?”
“Thank you. And losers agreed to take a swim.”
“I’m not a loser, and I’m not swimming.”
“Yeah, I think you are.”
“A loser?”
John laughed. “No, but you are swimming.”
“What about Blake and Frank?”
“Blake already went in, and Frank left.”
“What about Becky?” Maddy was getting desperate. “Why don’t you toss her in?”
Becky squealed in delighted distress, but John shook his head and continued to close the distance between them.
Maddy started walking back
ward. “I’m not going swimming. It’s freezing! Burt, protect me!” Her dog was now the only thing that separated her from her contractor. Maddy tried to keep her eyes on John’s face and off of the rest of him. He smiled wickedly and pet Burt.
Otis had wisely stepped away from the confrontation, and Maddy tried to look defiantly at John. “Burt will kill you if you chase me.” Her dog wagged his tail and looked adoringly up at them.
“Who said anything about chasing?”
“You wouldn’t,” she breathed, taking another step back.
“Oh, I would,” John assured her, matching her step.
Maddy quickly considered her options. “Let’s negotiate.”
“Excuse me?”
“If I go willingly, will you promise not to pick me up and throw me?”
“Well, I wasn’t really going to throw you. Maybe just drop you,” John offered kindly.
“How thoughtful. I think I’d rather go in on my own.”
Maddy stepped carefully around him and walked slowly toward the water. John followed her, and the boys began cheering her on. She stopped when her feet hit the cold, and John came right up be-hind her. Normally his proximity had a more thrilling affect on her senses. At the moment, she would have been okay with him backing off a bit.
“Need help?” His voice was low and alarmingly close.
“Not your kind.”
“I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“I need you to go away.”
John chuckled, but didn’t move.
Maddy thought of a new tactic. “You know, I don’t want to get my clothes wet. How about if I go and put my suit on?”
“I think you already have your suit on.” The tell-tale straps crossed her shoulders under her tank top. He gave her a little nudge in the small of her back, and she stepped unwillingly forward. She was up to her shins in icy water. “Well?” he prodded.
“Okay, how about this,” she turned to make one more offer, and John simply picked her up and began walking out into the surf.
Maddy’s natural instinct was to try to break free, but when John responded by loosening his grip, she quickly reconsidered. Breaking free meant immediate cold, and there was still time to bargain. She stopped thrashing and took the only reasonable step for self-preservation. She threw her arms around his neck and hung on. He responded by cradling her quite nicely.
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