Page 53 of The Sound of Harmony

“No, Mitch got those too.”

She put a hand on her hip. “However are you getting by?”

“On sheer luck, mostly.”

“Uh-huh,” the woman said. “Emma told me you were charming. I’m Gwendolyn.”

Kendrick sucked in a breath. Now he saw the resemblance. Gwendolyn was shorter and fairer, but she had Emma’s cheekbones and chin. And she’d spent half an hour talking to Mitch because she thought that was who her sister was dating.

“Gwendolyn, that’s a lovely name.” Mitch tried to get back in the conversation. He nodded toward Kendrick. “And watch out for this guy. He could talk the underwear off a nun.”

“Not true,” Kendrick said.

“So true. He’ll start with the weather and in two minutes, find out what color bra you’re wearing.” Mitch leaned in. “What color bra are you wearing?”

Kendrick shouldered Mitch out of the way. “I don’t care what color bra you’re wearing, I mean, if you’re wearing any bra at all, I won’t assume, because you can wear—or not wear—whatever you want and oh God, I’m still talking aren’t I?”

“You are,” Gwendolyn’s voice turned cold. “And my bra is none of your business.”

“My luck doesn’t seem to be holding out. Can we start over?” Kendrick held out a hand. “Hello. I’m Kendrick. I’m so glad to meet Emma’s sister. I think she’s terrific.”

Gwendolyn looked down at his outstretched hand, letting him hang. “What do you like about her?”

Kendrick swore he heard the snick of a sword being released from a scabbard, but that was probably his plugged-up ear playing tricks on him. Gwendolyn’s expression told him that this was a test, and if he got this question wrong, she wouldn’t ask him another.

I like her kindness, her brains, her beauty, her voice, her passion, her humor, the way she’s finding her own way in the world. And, to be honest, the way she kisses would be high on that list too.

He didn’t say any of that. Instead, he looked Gwendolyn straight in the eye. “She drives a pickup truck,” he said. “Unironically.”

Gwendolyn nodded once, then took his hand to shake it. “I’m Gwendolyn. And I’m glad to meet you at last. Do you happen to know where my sister is?”

“Emma’s upstairs,” Kendrick said, “Where there is much fine merchandise to buy if you’d like a silk flower arrangement or DVDs of classic movies.”

“Thanks,” Gwendolyn said. “I’ll go find her. Nice meeting you both.”

“We’ll be here if you need anything,” Mitch called after her. “Anything at all.”

“She’s not here to buy,” Kendrick told him. “It doesn’t matter what you’re selling.”

“I’ll be outside,” Mitch grumbled.

The first floor was beginning to fill again as the afternoon crowd made their way through the house. Kendrick was straightening things in the kitchen, wondering what Gwendolyn was saying to Emma, when a middle-aged man wandered in wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt advertising a 10k race. He turned up his nose at the dishware and clucked his tongue. Kendrick couldn’t remember when he’d last heard an actual tongue cluck. He did it himself a couple of times, just to hear the sound.

“Are you mocking me?” the man asked.

“No, I was just making a stupid noise. Don’t mind me.”

“So now I’m stupid? I see.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Kendrick watched the man disapprove of every piece in the kitchen one by one. His headache was worse than ever, creeping down to his neck and shoulders. “Are you looking for a specific item?” he asked.

“I certainly am not.” The man’s high tenor voice carried the flat Midwestern accent, but something broader was layered on top of it, as if he’d spent time on the west coast. “Jesus, I thought my parents’ house was bad.”

“Your parents?”

“They live across the street. I’m trying to get them to downsize so I won’t have to go through this pathetic exercise someday. I brought my mom over here so she could see for herself.”

Kendrick nodded as he figured out who this guy was. Emma had told him about the delightful couple across the street and their repulsive son. This had to be Luke.