Page 42 of Windward Hearts

“Right,” Shane said, nodding like she was agreeing with him. “Exactly.”

“No, Shane, I… Shane! What’s wrong with getting wine at the grocery store?”

“Never change, sis!” he called, halfway out the door.

“But Shane! Shane, I⁠—”

The door clicked shut behind him.

She frowned at the blank panel of wood that now obscured her brother from her glare. Had he just been messing with her? Was her wine acquisition process somehow inferior to whatever secret method he deployed?

She was going to make that little punk sorry for underestimating her. She was going to make him the best gosh darn dinner of his life. She was even going to find a really good bottle of wine, and then she would make him admit that he liked it! He would be sorry for underestimating her.

Admittedly, she wasn’t sure that giving someone a really good dinner was a strong way to make them rue their words, but they all had to eat. And it wasn’t like Eleanor didn’t like good food and wine too.

So, all in all, she had to decide that this bet had ended quite nicely for everyone, indeed.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“I don’t need to go to the eye doctor, Mom,” Izzy tried for about the seventh time that morning.

“Maybe,” Cadence said, because this had proven to be the path of least resistance. Also, her daughter’s claims had become increasingly unconvincing. “But the doctor will be able to tell us for certain. Besides, sometimes you have to get checkups even when you’re healthy too.”

Izzy sighed, slumping in her booster seat.

“Okay, fine,” she said.

Cadence shared a sidelong glance with Tyler from where he was sitting in the driver’s seat. They had decided that this was an outing best taken by all the members of the family.

When Cadence had first told Izzy that they would be coming to this appointment, Isabelle’s reaction had more or less definitively confirmed that Mary’s guess about Izzy’s school woes was correct.

“Uh, why?” she’d asked, not making eye contact. “That’s for people who need glasses. I don’t need glasses. I don’t even know anybody who needs glasses.”

As far as lies went, it had not been overly compelling.

Cadence had been pleased to learn that there was actually a pediatric optometrist who worked a few towns over. She’d made an appointment there, even though it meant a slightly longer drive, because she figured that a doctor who specialized in kids’ eye care would know a little bit more about dealing with reluctant glasses-wearers too. Plus, the office sold frames right inside the building, and they carried far more kids’ sizes than most glasses stores.

The instinct to make the effort was rewarded whenever Izzy’s expression lightened at the idea that she could pick whatever glasses she wanted.

“If I need them,” Izzy had added, albeit with decreasing ferocity.

“Of course, honey,” Cadence kept saying.

Now, as they approached the building, Cadence could tell that her daughter was nervous. Fortunately, the office inside was cheerful, clearly decorated to add to children’s comfort. The staff greeted them warmly and gave Izzy a little activity book tailored for her age while Cadence and Tyler worked on the requisite paperwork. Izzy worked on the maze and word search, but Cadence noted that she kept darting glances to a pair of younger girls, twins, who both already wore glasses and looked not at all worried about their upcoming appointment.

Izzy’s shoulders relaxed, just a smidge.

Soon, the Meadowses were called back into the examination room.

“Hi, Izzy,” the doctor said. She was young, perhaps thirty, and she had curly red hair that instantly reminded Cadence of Mrs. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus books. “I’m Dr. Miller. I’m going to look at your eyes today and see if we can help you see a little better. Okay?”

“Okay,” Izzy said, kicking her feet nervously against the chair. “Will it hurt?”

Dr. Miller’s smile was small and reassuring. “There is a part where I have to put some drops in your eyes that stings a little. But it will be over very fast, and it will help me look inside your eyes to see what’s going on.”

“How much will it sting?” Izzy asked suspiciously. Cadence pressed her lips together against her smile. Dr. Miller seemed totally unfazed by the question.

“Less than getting shampoo in your eyes,” the doctor said. “Maybe about as much as getting a drop of salt water in your eyes if you’re swimming in the ocean. Has that ever happened to you?”