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The girls entered ahead of Cody and her, leaving the door open. He pushed it wider. “Welcome.”
The hallway, laid with gleaming wood, went the length of the house. There was a staircase near the front door and large rooms off the hall. It was gorgeous.
“Head on back to the kitchen.” Cody indicated down the hall to the back of the house.
As they made their way there Stacey could tell that it was a functional home with little extras for decoration. It screamed that no woman lived there. In the kitchen, she found a large bar and picture windows through which she could see a porch running the length of the house. There was also a great view of the ocean beyond.
“Girls, let’s get what we need together before we go out to check the lobster pots. Jean, you get the fire supplies. Lizzy, the pot, napkins, plates and bowls.”
Both went into action. Stacey couldn’t help but be impressed. Cody was teaching his girls important lessons like teamwork. “What can I do to help?”
“Uh...how about getting the butter and drinks out of the refrigerator and the bread off the counter?” He pointed to the other side of the room.
A few minutes later the girls headed out the back door, down the steps of the porch and along the path to the water. She and Cody followed with their hands full. He had pulled matches out of a high cabinet, put a roll of brown paper under his arm, located a butcher’s knife and picked up a bag of tiny potatoes before he was ready to go.
They continued down the path through the rocks to a small sandy beach where a wooden rowboat sat beached and tied to a pole.
“You run a smooth operation, in and out of the OR, Doctor.”
He grinned. “It helps to be doing something they want to do. I can’t say that it’s always that way.”
“They’re nice girls. You should be proud.” She watched Jean and Lizzy place the things they had on a rock.
“I am. It hasn’t always been easy for them.” There was a sad note in his voice.
“My guess would be not for you either.”
He gave her a wry smile and continued ahead of her. He called, “Girls, get your lifejackets on.”
Both girls scrambled to the boat.
Cody put his things down beside the others and turned to her, taking what she held. “Thanks for asking me along. I could tell your heart wasn’t in the invitation.”
“The girls are right, everyone should experience a lobster bake when they have a chance. I’m glad you agreed to come. Really.”
He sounded sincere. “I’m looking forward to seeing how this all works.”
“Have you ever been out in a rowboat?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“Thankfully it’s a calm afternoon so we should have a good trip out and back. We aren’t going far. You’ll need to put on a lifejacket as well.”
They walked to the boat. Cody reached inside and pulled out a lifejacket, handing it to her. While she put hers on, he did the same with one of his own and checked the girls. Stacey was glad she’d worn her windbreaker, her old jeans and canvas shoes. Her evening walk had become an unexpected adventure.
Jean and Lizzy scrambled over the side of the boat and took a seat on a bench in the middle.
“Get in,” Lizzy called. “Daddy will push us out.”
Stacey looked at Cody. “You don’t need my help?”
He gave her a pointed look. “Just have a seat.”
She did, taking the small one up front, facing the girls and the back of the boat. They were soon sliding into the water. Cody hopped in with the litheness of an athlete at the last second, keeping his feet dry. He took the bench seat in the back of the boat and picked up the oars. Moving into a rhythmic pull, with determination, he had them out in the water in no time. With skill he turned them around so that he was facing out to the horizon.
Since Stacey faced him she couldn’t stop herself from appreciating the flexing of his body as he heaved the water forward. The tendons in his neck rose, making him look more masculine. This type of exercise must have something to do with creating his firm chest. She was staring, but she couldn’t help herself.
“We’re going out there to where those red and green floats are. Our pots are tied to them. Those are our colors so the lobster fishermen know not to pick them up.”
Stacey pulled her attention away from Cody long enough to crane her neck around to see the bobbing buoys behind her, which were large enough to see clearly.
“Hey, you okay?”
She met Cody’s gaze, hoping her expression revealed nothing.
“You’re not scared, are you?” He was watching her closely. “You do know how to swim?”
Stacey swallowed. “Uh...no. I mean yes. I’m just enjoying the scenery.”
