Page 146 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

Myles managed to refrain from whining about the end of the kiss. “I am now, yeah.”

“Okay.” Steven sat back, but he kept Myles’s hand in his. “Now you can ask your questions.”

This time, he got the order right. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“But your house?”

“Is sick.” Steven’s jaw clenched momentarily, but he shook it off, tossing his hair out of his eyes. “Ozzy has it in hand, and I found it easier to not be there while it was going on.”

“He said there was a leak?”

“There’s… a lot. Turns out there’s more to home ownership than just living in a house.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Who knew. But Ozzy is on it, and I’m sure Eddie will be just fine once he’s done.”

“Eddie?”

“Edwina. I found some plaques Dad had made before he… well. You know the bells in the kitchen? Dad had some brass plaques engraved to label them. “Edwina’s Alert System” and one for the Residence—by which he meant the upstairs, for the Labyrinth, and for the Shop. He never got a chance to install them. I didn’t even know they existed until I started cleaning out his office.”

“Edwina.”

Steven shrugged. “I was never going to guess that name. Good thing Dad wrote it down.”

Myles said nothing, studying Steven’s stiff shoulders and preoccupied expression.

“Why are you staring at me?” Steven asked after a few minutes.

“You’re worried.”

“I’m okay.” He held up his phone and wiggled it. “Therapist on speed-dial and all.” He let out a breath, and this time when he smiled, it looked more real. “Steph and Bob are looking after the house, and between them and Jake, the shop will be fine. If they need help, we have a couple of high schoolers who cover for us occasionally, and there might be some of Lucky’s kids who can take a shift.”

“You dropped your entire life to bring me my car.”

“Like I said, it’s easier for me to not stress out over it all if I’m not in the middle of it every day. Once I go back…”

“When will that be?” Myles asked gently, trying to stay neutral. He could deal if Steven was going to turn around and fly home tomorrow, but he hoped there would be a visit.

Steven met his gaze. “Playing that by ear.”

“So you’ll stay a while?” He managed not to hold his breath, but he couldn’t help but feel hopeful anyway.

“I hoped that would be okay.”

“More than.”

“Thank God,” Jet said and threw himself onto the couch next to Steven.

“Jet?” Myles glared at him.

“Uncle Myles, no offence, but you are so much more chill when he’s around.” He turned to Steven. “I can’t even with him hovering all the time.”

“I do not hover.”

“You hover.”

Myles lifted both eyebrows at his nephew. Steven put a hand on his, and he sighed. “Yes, okay, that’s fair.”

Pat came back then with a tray of coffee mugs, cream and sugar, and cookies. Shelly followed, a huge plastic cup with a lid and straw clutched in both hands.