“Hmm, I wasn’t born all that long after those cupboards were installed. I wonder if that’s what people say about me, too. ‘She’s retro, so that makes her kind of cool.’”
“At least you’re not as old as the wallpaper in the best room. Nowthat’shideous. It looks like a scary museum in there.” Gabi stood and pulled her aunt to her feet. Before she let go of her hand, she said, “I promise not to tell anyone anything we talked about, Aunt Zoey.”
“I know. I trust you.”
When they got home, Zoey was pleased to discover her aunt still in bed, faintly snoring. The past three nights when Zoey had gotten up to fill a glass with water, she’d noticed Ivy’s light was on. Each time she’d gone into her room and stayed with her for at least an hour while Ivy wept, reminiscing about Sylvia. Since the older woman hadn’t been getting enough sleep, even though it was almost five o’clock, Zoey decided she’d let her nap a little longer.
“Are we having salad again for supper?” Gabi asked when she came back downstairs.
“Why, is there something else you’d rather eat?”
“Anything that’s warm.”
“We can’t use the stove, remember?”
“I know how to make healthy microwave mac and cheese. All I need is cauliflower, cheese and cream.”
“And a microwave.” Zoey chuckled. “In case you didn’t notice, Aunt Ivy doesn’t have one.”
Gabi’s eyes darted around the room. “I guess that makes sense. They probably weren’t invented yet the last time Aunt Ivy renovated, were they?”
Zoey was about to reply when someone knocked on the back door. She hurried to get it so the rapping wouldn’t wake her aunt.
“Hi, Zoey,” Nick said. A kid who could have passed for his taller, thinner twin stood beside him. “I need to double check a couple of specs for the stove and my son has some mulch to unload in the back yard. He can also put the screens in like we talked about. Aidan, this is Ms.—sorry, I don’t know your last name.”
“Hi, Aidan. My last name is Jansen but please call me Zoey.” Her niece’s remark about the invention of the microwave had already made her feel outdated. If Nick’s son called her Ms. Jansen, she’d feel downright ancient.Now I understand why Aunt Ivy doesn’t want Nick calling her Mrs. Winslow.
She gestured for them to follow her into the kitchen. “Go ahead and take a look at the range. But my aunt is napping and the screens are in the attic. I’d prefer that you didn’t go up there. You might wake her and she really needs her rest.”
“No problem. I can come back another time,” Aidan amicably agreed. He stopped short when he spotted Gabi standing on her tiptoes, reaching into a cupboard. “Hi. I’ve seen you at school but we haven’t met. I’m Aidan.”
Gabi lowered her arm and Zoey noticed she smiled without showing her braces—was she trying to disguise her age? Aidan was probably one of the few really tall boys on the island and he was undeniably cute. “I think I’ve seen you, too. I’m Gabi.”
“You play the flute, right? I showed a clip of your performance to your aunts once. It sounded really good.”
“Thanks.”
Is she blushing or did she get sunburned at the beach?Zoey wondered.
Nick cleared his throat. “Hi, Gabi. I’m Nick, Aidan’s father. I’m installing your Aunt Ivy’s new stove for her.”
“Oh, good. Now we don’t have to have salad and sandwiches for supper again.”
“Uh, sorry to get your hopes up. I didn’t mean I’m installing itnow.I meant once it’s delivered.” Nick turned to face Zoey. “You do know you can use this range until the new one gets here, don’t you?”
“But you told us it wasn’t safe.”
“I said it had several things that needed repair or replacement. Things that could be hazardous sometime down the road if they went unchecked,” Nick reiterated. “Believe me, I wouldn’t have left the stove hooked up if I thought it posed a danger to you or your aunt. And I definitely wouldn’t have allowed you to make breakfast on it, either, no matter how much I wanted an omelet made from freshly gathered eggs.”
A smile wrinkled his skin but Zoey was flabbergasted. Had she really been worried over nothing? What’s more, had she encouraged her aunt to buy a major appliance for no good reason? He must have known what she was thinking because he added, “As I mentioned, my biggest immediate concern regarded safety as it relates to the stove’s performance. Like if your aunt’s meals were cooking unevenly or weren’t cooking all the way through, she could get sick.”
“So you’re sure it’s okay to use the stove?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I should have been clearer about that.” He looked so remorseful that Zoey took the blame herself, although her response was as much of a warning as it was an apology.
“No, I misunderstood. I can be hypervigilant when it comes to my family. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize—that’s a lovely quality in a person.” When Nick’s eyes met hers, Zoey was disarmed by the sincerity she saw in them. “Listen, Aidan and I were going to grab pizza for supper when we’re done here. Why don’t we bring it back—my treat, for inconveniencing you with my miscommunication.”
