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“Exactly,” Mary agreed. “You two fit together so perfectly. Youbothdeserve happiness. But honey, why do you keep hitting the brakes?”
“You know why—I have a daughter to consider.”
Mary pulled her hand away, bristling just a little. “And you don’t think Mike can be a good stepdad?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course he’d be great. But Hazel has specifically and repeatedly told me she does not want medating, much less getting in a relationship.”
Tani nodded thoughtfully. “I get that. But Hazel is a thirteen-year-old. She’s half child and half woman. It’s the child in her that doesn’t want to share you with anyone. Childrenneverlike sharing. But she’s smart and she’s adaptable, and she’d want you to be happy.” Tani nibbled on one of the french fries from her plate, even though it had to be cold by now. “It’s time to bring her in the loop and deal with it.”
“I agree with Tani...” Mary reached over and stole one of Tani’s cold fries. “Just because Hazel may be upset at first doesn’t make you a bad mom. Hell, my kids are mad at me over something every damn day.”
“I hear that,” Tani said, lifting her soda glass in a toast. “Doing what’s best for your children doesnotmean making them perpetually happy. Hazel’s a good kid—she’ll deal.”
Zoey went home from lunch to an empty house. Mike had gone to an auto race in Watkins Glen with some friends, and wouldn’t be back until late. With Chris and Genna headed off to their honeymoon in Vegas, Hazel would be with Zoey all week. Maybe this was the week she should tell her daughter about Mike. Or...maybe not. She’d often said that growing up without a mother left her feeling like she had no road map, and that was something she could really use right now. She was going to miss her mother even more over the coming years as Hazel navigated her way to adulthood.
Two days later, Zoey was sitting on the front porch, still trying to solve the puzzle of raising Hazel, when Mary dropped Hazel off at the bottom of the driveway. She’d been babysitting Mary’s children while Mary worked. When Zoey wasn’t worrying about Hazel, she was worrying about what to do with Dad’s sculptures. She hadn’t heard anything from her neighbor in a few weeks, but she had a feeling the other shoe was going to drop eventually. Karen Schiff didn’t seem the type to give up easily. But Zoey didn’t like the idea of just stacking them in a pile.
Hazel jogged up the steps and accepted the cold can of soda Zoey held out. “Slow day in Repair-ville, Mom?”
“For once, yes.”
The past few weeks had put Zoey on the road more than she was used to, but the increased commercial work had helped put the business solidly in the black. She was much happier heading into business settings than going into strangers’ homes.
She was picking up more vintage repairs, too. The local antiques dealer, Clive Markham, had shared her name with other antiques dealers, and she had a shop full of clocks and mechanical toys. Collectors paid good money for her work, and she enjoyed it.
“To be honest,” she said, finishing her drink. “I’m working now. I’m waiting for a delivery. A guy up in Penn Yan wants me to rebuild his vintage jukebox. It sounds like it will be quite a project, but I’ve got a month to finish it. He wants it working in time for his sixtieth birthday party.”
“Better than scrambling under some old man’s kitchen sink, huh?” Hazel had heard some of the house call horror stories, but she had no clue about the worst ones.
“Definitely. How were Mary’s little ones today?”
“Wired!” Hazel laughed. “Katie’s birthday is coming up, and she was determined to find where her presents have been hidden, so I had to really keep an eye on her so she didn’t destroy anything in her search.”
“Did she find them?”
“Not a chance. Mary put them all at Mike’s place.” Hazel leaned forward, her eyes bright. “He said even if Katie comes to his house, she’ll never find the stuff up in his attic!”
Zoey caught her breath. “Was Mike at Mary’s place today?”
“Today? Yeah. He stops by quite a bit, just like he does here.” Hazel gave her a sad look. “Mary says he doesn’t like to be at his place alone, so he finds excuses to go hang out with people. Is that why he comes here? Because he’s lonely?”
“Well...” Zoey licked her suddenly dry lips. “Mary’s right about him being lonely since he lost his wife. He knows he can hang out here anytime he wants. Does that bother you?”
“Why would it? Mike’s chill.” Hazel was pulling her phone from her pocket. “This is Sienna...she wants me to stay over at her place tonight. Is that okay?”
“Sure, as long as it’s okay with her mom. Don’t forget you’re working for Mary again tomorrow, though. I’ll pick you up there when you’re done.” Sienna lived just down the street from Mary and Sam, so Hazel could walk to Mary’s in the morning. “But most important is checking with Monique first to get her permission.”
Hazel’s eyes rolled dramatically. “She’ll probably be on another hot date.”
“I thought she stopped dating?”
“She said she would, but she’s just being sneaky about it.” Hazel typed a quick answer to her girlfriend. “As if Sienna can’t track her with her phone app. She’s been going to the Purple Shamrock when she says she’s going shopping or to visit a sick friend.” She stood and headed for the door, then turned. “Sienna didn’t like her mom yapping to her about all her dates, but it’s so muchworsenow that she’slyingabout it. Sienna doesn’t trust her anymore.” Hazel was in the house and up the stairs before Zoey could respond.
Her heart dropped. Everyone else had been right—hiding the fact that she and Mike were together was a mistake. She was going to sit her daughter down this week and get it out in the open. Tomorrow—right after they got home from Mary’s. Hopefully it wasn’t too late. She didn’t ever want Hazel thinking she couldn’t trust her mom.
A red pickup truck came up the driveway with a beautiful old jukebox strapped in the back. This project was going to be interesting. And profitable.
She had the jukebox in pieces in the shop that evening when her phone pinged with a text from Mike.
