“Thanks, I think it turned out pretty well,” I say, sidestepping to give him more space to enter.
“It did,” he says, turning a jovial grin my way. “Your gran told me she sawyouon it for a few minutes once it was hung up.”
I grin and drop my gaze, chuckling at how it must have looked to her. A grown man standing on a tire swing, pulling against the chains to make it sway. “Well, I figured if it could support me, it was safe enough for Lennox.”
“Andyou just wanted to,” Grandad says, laughter bubbling up.
“That too. It’s been a long time since I was on a tire swing.” The feel of it was almost euphoric. I know I was grinning like an idiot the whole time and I guarantee Gran got a good laugh out of watching me. It was the wind in my hair along with the knowledge that I’d built it that made me so gleeful. “I hope Lennox will enjoy it.”
Something pinches in Grandad’s features for a second before he turns to take in the room. “I’m sure he will. You and Avi always did. So, how’s the story coming?”
He walks over to my desk, where my laptop is open next to my copies of their letters.
“Really well. There’s a piece of the timeline where I don’t have any letters, so I was thinking this week we could sit down and you can help me fill it in a bit.”
I’ve had several sit downs with one or the other, or both of them, to go over details from the letters that needed clarification or to paint the picture in more vivid color, but this period is completely blank.
“Yeah, we can do that.” He nods, brow furrowed in a contemplative look. “Maybe this weekend, after Lennox leaves? Your gran and I are going to help Avonlea keep an eye on him while he’s here, since she’ll be in the kitchen,” he explains.
“Of course. I’m here to help too, if she needs it,” I offer. I don’t have a lot of experience with kids, but Rory’s boyfriend has a daughter a little younger than Lennox and I actually really enjoyed hanging out with her this past winter when they were in Tahoe. I wouldn’t mind getting to know Lennox a little bit too. He reminds me a lot of how Avi and I were at that age. It’s kind of a trip.
“I’m sure that would be appreciated. He might enjoy your company more than ours.” Grandad’s eyes twinkle in the light, that look he’s always had—the one that hides his secrets—showing on his face. “Speaking of, I think he was about to find his way onto that swing when I passed, so I better go check on him.”
“Let me go. Why don’t you go check on the kitchen? I know you can’t stay away for long,” I say, wanting to be there to see what Lennox thinks of the swing.
“Aye, you’re not wrong… Just don’t tell your gran if you see me helping out a wee bit.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t overdo it and it can be our secret.”
I throw my towel across the back of the chair—I can hang that up later—and slip my shoes on before following him out the door.
The kitchen is pure chaos when we arrive. Apparently a sauce spilled and nearly caused a fire, so everyone is moving a million miles a minute to get everything cleaned up and back on track.
Avi’s hair is a frizzy mess piled atop her head, perspiration beaded at her temples. Hamish looks stoic but irritated—it’s a quintessential look for this particular Scotsman. Yet, as soon as Grandad enters the fray, the whole tone of the place calms and begins to settle. He’s always been good at that. Settling things that feel out of control.
Not wanting to be in the way of an already hectic situation, I head for the garden. I expect to find Lennox on the swing, but he isn’t there. It sits empty, swaying gently in the breeze.
Where are you, Lennox?
Did Avi give him permission to roam beyond the garden?
I bite my lip, not wanting to worry her but also not knowing where else he might be. It’s fine. I’m sure he’s here somewhere. Probably just walking around.
Think, Jamie. Where did you go when you were his age?
That’s when it dawns on me and I turn away from the swings to look straight at the ladder to the roof.
Of course.
I’ve only been up here once since that first night Avi arrived. When I yelled at her and she hit back with the comment about being there for the people who want her. I always wanted her. I just realized it too late, and she didn’t want me anymore by that point.
I was too late.
When my head pops up over the roof, I see Lennox, leaning against the far side of the chimney, legs out in front of him as he stares out toward the loch. Avi and I usually sat on the other side, facing away from the street and the farm next door so no one would be able to see us… Also so we’d be able to see anyone coming up the ladder. Lennox hasn’t figured that out yet, and he likely doesn’t know he’s been found.
I purposely make more noise than necessary so he can hear me coming and not get scared. The last thing I need is to explain that I startled him and he fell off the roof.
I scramble closer and he turns, a sheepish expression covering his features.
