“What, now you’re talking,” J.J. said.
“Yeah, I had no idea that I had a neighbor in the next door cottage.”
“Oh, you met Greg. He’s a good guy,” Keith said.
“Well, I hope so. I mean, the man’s seen me at my worst twice now. Day one, I didn’t have a bathing suit, so I took a dip in my old granny panties.”
“I’d say he’s a lucky son of a gun. You’re a hot mama,” J.J. said.
“Yeah, well, not exactly how I envisioned meeting my new neighbors.”
“Greg’s actually retired from the Detroit Police Department. He’s contracting with the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office here, as needed. Since Irish Hills is too little to have a police force. He’s been great,” Libby said.
“Not a creepy stalker?” Hope replied.
“Nah, well, not that I’m aware of.” Libby shrugged.
But it was clear they liked her neighbor. Which made today’s bird incident even more embarrassing.
“My formal introduction included me screaming bloody murder because a couple birds invaded the house, right before you guys picked me up, actually. I’m screaming, and this shirtless man with a sidearm shows up to rescue me from what I’m sure sounded like murderers, marauders, or pirates. I was screaming like it could have been all of the above.”
“Shirtless, whoa, so a full view of all the guns, lucky you,” J.J. said.
Libby rolled her eyes.
“You’re a married woman, J.J. Tucker,” Keith said.
“Yes, Dean’s aware that I’ve got a dirty mind. It’s one of my best qualities,” J.J. said.
Hope’s cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing with these three.
It had been a long time, and as Keith slowly rounded Lake Manitou for the third time, she was very glad that they decided to take a fourth loop.
Despite the invading birds and inadvertent exhibitionism, Hope was feeling like she was going in the right direction. For the first time in decades.
As they floated on the water, J.J. leaned toward her. “Here’s what I’ve been wondering, you’re a brilliant chef and always were. Why didn’t you open a restaurant before now? What got in the way?”
“No one thing…everything. Just life.”
ChapterSixteen
Hope, 1995
Julia was watchingGullah Gullah Island. Hope thanked whoever was in charge of making TV shows for kids forGullah Gullah Island. She couldn’t take much more,Barney.
Sara was still taking an afternoon nap. She thanked the Lord for that afternoon nap. During the brief and rare lull that was life with toddlers, Hope ran out to the mailbox outside of their apartment.
Her stomach felt disconnected from her body. She’d checked the box obsessively this week. She opened the lid, and there was one thick envelope.
She pulled it out, and there was the Cincinnati State logo in the corner.
She slipped open the seal.
“Congratulations, and we’re excited to welcome you….”
She was in! She’d applied to The Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State and had been holding her breath ever since. She was hopeful but worried. She’d done more diaper changing than recipe building in the last few years.
But they had accepted her application. It wasn’t even far away! Cincinnati State was the best option for her life, and right now was the time. The girls were in preschool. They weren’t infants anymore.
