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Megan noticed her parents exchange a glance. “Yes we did,” her dad said. “I’ll take a closer look at it later. It was very noisy and full of young people when we arrived.”
“I saw somebody drinking beer there,” her mom added.
“Can I get you a drink?” Meghan asked them. “Or would you like the tour first?”
“I brought some homemade lemonade,” her mom said, passing the insulated bag to Meghan. “Why don’t you pour us all a glass and Isla can take us on a tour?”
“Yay! Can we start with my bedroom?” Isla asked, looking hopefully at Meghan.
Meghan nodded. “Sure. Go ahead, sweetie.”
Taking four glasses from the cupboard, she exhaled heavily, only half listening as Isla took them into each room, giving them a running commentary on her week at school. She could get through this. Her parents being here made Isla happy, and that should make her happy, too.
“I’ve brought some extra locks to install on your front door.” Her dad’s voice behind her made her jump. At least that explained the tool box.
Meghan passed him a glass of lemonade. “I don’t think you can do that. My lease doesn’t allow any changes to the security.”
Her dad frowned. “Do you have the landlord’s number? I’ll call him and explain.”
“It’s Sunday. And it’s fine, Dad. There’s no crime here, and my neighbors are very friendly. You don’t have to worry.”
“Your mother hasn’t been able to sleep worrying about Isla’s safety. I just want to put her mind at rest.”
Meghan swallowed down a sigh. “Why don’t you leave the lock here? I’ll talk to the landlord and if he says it’s okay, I’ll install it myself.”
Her dad pressed his lips together, and gave her a tight nod. “Let me show you where it should go.”
Meghan followed him to the door, where he pointed out the best location. “You want to put it here. It’s easily released in an emergency, in case of fire or anything else.” He opened the door, and was about to point out something on the other side when the elevator pinged.
Rich walked out, his eyebrows lifting in surprise as he saw the two of them standing in her doorway. “Hey.” He rubbed his thumb along his jaw.
“Hi.” Meghan smiled. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a black polo shirt, the sleeves tight on his defined biceps. “This is my dad. Dad,
this is my neighbor, Rich Martin.”
Her dad eyed Rich suspiciously. “Hello.”
“He’s a doctor at the local hospital,” Meghan added. She wanted to roll her eyes again when her dad relaxed next to her, and he gave Rich a big smile.
“You are? What do you do there?”
“I’m an attending physician in the Emergency Room.” Rich caught her eye, and she widened her own, hoping he knew she was sorry. Because her dad was almost fawning now that he knew her neighbor was a doctor.
As if that mattered.
“Jennifer,” her dad called over his shoulder. “Come meet Meghan’s new neighbor. He’s a doctor.”
Her mom rushed over, her lips curling into a smile. “Hello. It’s a pleasure.” She reached out a hand and Rich shook it. He looked so confused. She couldn’t blame him. “So you’re a doctor? How lovely. And what does your wife do?”
Rich’s gaze met Meghan’s again. She could feel her face flush. “I’m not married,” he told them.
“Oh.” There were a thousand syllables in her mom’s response. Meghan could feel every single one of them.
“Have you lived here long?” her dad asked him. Were they seriously doing this?
“About five years.” Rich’s smile was polite but closed.
“And is it safe here?” her mom asked, leaning forward. “We worry about Meghan and Isla all on their own.”
