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Chapter Three
Eve
“You finally made it.”
Aunt Winnie engulfed me in a big hug. I swear we were the same height at one point, but for the past few years I have to bend slightly to accept her embrace. But everything else about her is the same. Braided hair hanging to the middle of her back, flowy boho dress, and lingering scent of patchouli define her as much as her well-worn Birkenstocks, silver bangles, and turquoise rings.
“It’s so good to see you.” I pulled back to look at her beautiful face. “When my flights kept getting postponed, I thought I was going to end up sleeping at the airport.”
She shifted but kept her arm around my waist, leading me toward baggage claim.
“You poor thing, you look exhausted.”
“I was afraid I was going to oversleep and miss my flight, so I didn’t sleep well. And for whatever reason, sitting around the airport for hours is exhausting.”
We lined up at the baggage claim carousel with the other passengers.
“Besides being tired, you’re probably starving. I didn’t plan dinner because I figured we’d go out, so we’ll just grab some takeout on the way home. You can eat, decompress a little, then get to sleep.”
“Add a shower to that list and it sounds like a perfect night.”
Aunt Winnie nodded then shifted her attention to the carousel as it started moving.
“How many bags do you have?”
“Just one.”
“One? For the whole summer?”
“It’s really big.” I nodded toward the laptop case hanging from my left shoulder. “And I have some things in here just in case they lose my luggage.”
Thankfully that last thing didn’t happen. I breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted my orange suitcase. I stepped up and grabbed it, then moved back next to Aunt Winnie. After pulling the handle up and sliding my laptop case over it, we were on our way to the parking lot.
“I can’t believe you still have Gertrude,” I said, referring to the yellow Volkswagen Beetle she’s been driving as long as I can remember.
“Gertrude and I have been together a long time. Anytime I think about trading her in for something with all the bells and whistles, I feel guilty.”
She unlocked the doors the old-fashioned way and I placed my bags in the back before climbing into the passenger seat. Aunt Winnie got behind the wheel and with the turn of the key, the engine purred to life and we were off.
I’m too exhausted to appreciate the scenery during the short ride but consoled myself with the fact that I’d have the whole summer to enjoy it. After a quick stop at Mo's Seafood & Chowder to pick up dinner, we pulled into Aunt Winnie’s driveway.
I got out of the car and opened the back passenger-side door to retrieve my bags.
“I was expecting you tomorrow.”
Aunt Winnie’s words confused me until I saw an older gentleman walk toward us from the back of the house. I slammed the door shut and missed the first words he spoke, but heard the last few.
“I’m just checking the measurements for your steps.”
He glanced at the small notebook in his hand then tucked it into his back pocket.
“Henry, this is my niece Eve Reese. She’s staying with me for the summer.” Aunt Winnie looked at me. “Eve, Henry Corbin is the town handyman. I’m having the back porch steps replaced and a window in my studio fixed.”
I smothered my smirk as I said hello to Henry. My pole peeps will be disappointed to hear the town handyman would be a better love match for Aunt Winnie than me. Not that I’m surprised. Like I told them, my life isn’t that romantic.
Max
I slammed the tailgate closed with more force than necessary. It’s been a clusterfuck of a morning and I needed some way to vent my frustration. Childish? Maybe. But as I got behind the wheel, I have to admit it helped a little.
