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“You’re not going to stop walking Beans because I made things weird, are you? I can take it all back.”
“It’s not weird, and I’m definitely not going to abandon Beans. Bagel would be heartbroken.” I crouched down to pet them both and Ms. Winslow watched us all with a soft gaze.
“I didn’t want Beans at first.”
“No?” I scratched the pup behind his ears.
“My husband got him for the girls after he moved out, and of course they were so excited and instantly in love so I couldn’t do anything about it. I don’t hate dogs or anything,” she quickly amended. “I’m exhausted and Beans is more than I can handle on my best day lately. I can’t thank you enough for helping me to give him a better life.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
“Did you want to come in for some lemonade? We could be…friends?”
“Lemonade sounds great.”
Relief brightened her face. She didn’t look a ton like Luna except for the basic coloring, with them both having blonde hair and blue eyes, but the more I looked, the more I noticed tiny similarities—the shape of their smiles, the slightest upturn at the tips of their noses.
“I have to keep an eye on the kids. They’re napping, but as long as I can see them, we can rest.” She led me inside, tucking Beans and Bagel behind a baby gate to keep them away from the kids she watched during the day.
“Can I help with anything, Ms. Winslow?”
“Oh god, don’t call me that,” she said, laughing. “Stella, please. I already feel old enough.”
“Stella, then. I help lots of the neighbors with random work so if there’s something you haven’t been able to get to, or you just can’t, I can always see if there’s something I can do.”
I wasn’t entirely certain what Luna would think if I struck up a friendship with her sister, but at the moment I didn’t want to be rude. Stella seemed like she could use a friend.
She poured us each a lemonade, and we sat where we could see the kids. “So what do you do with yourself besides being the savior of the neighborhood?”
I laughed at the title. “Hardly that.” I told her about my job, and my plans to prepare to try out Jasper’s bakery.
“My partner isn’t huge on gifts so I’m happy to take advantage of the loophole that she accepts treats.”
“That’s so cute. My husband was never a gifter.”
“Hopefully the next someone you find will be.”
Stella fussed with her lemonade, staring at the sleeping children as she took a sip. “I don’t necessarily need gifts, but it’s a little sad sometimes when birthdays and anniversaries go unmarked.”
“When’s your birthday?”
“September seventh,” she replied.
“Well, happy belated. I’ll put it on the calendar for next year and bring over cookies for you and the kiddos.”
We talked about little of consequence. I found out mostly things I already knew from Luna—that Stella had two kids, was in the middle of a divorce—and a few more tidbits I learned on my own—that she secretly wanted a cat, but her husband hated them, and she didn’t feel safe getting one with Beans in the house; that she would’ve turned the entire yard into a garden if she had more time and energy and if there wasn’t a pack of children making use of the grass every day; and that she was considering turning the basement into a renter suite to help make ends meet, but that she was also completely overwhelmed by the work involved in doing so.
“I’m not a carpenter myself or anything, but I do know how to do some stuff, and we have a lot of tradespeople in the Marino clan. I could put out some feelers, see who might be willing to help out?”
Her eyes shone. “Really?”
“Sure. What are friends for?”
I left Stella’s feeling lighter. I texted a few people on the long list of Marino cousins to see who might be able to assist a single mom with renovations. Realistically, I probably should’ve checked with Luna first, but I didn’t think she would have a problem with me helping her sister. Stella had seemed so nervous when she was telling me about the potential rental suite, wondering if it was actually for the best. It would help the resale value of the home even if she didn’t end up renting it out, and that had been what pushed her toward the decision. Once it was all done, she could properly decide if it was right for her.
I could talk to Luna about everything tonight. There were still hours until then, and I worked through a few more of my neighborhood chores to pass the time. By the time I was finished, one of the general contractor cousins had agreed to donate some hours.
Luna’s yoga class went by quickly, and she seemed distracted, but I wasn’t sure if anyone else noticed. I helped her clean up like usual, and when we got to our vehicles, she turned to me. “Do you think I suck?”
