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Yes, he’d tucked in his polo, and he carried a bit of a paunch, but not all men could be body-builders. He was handsome in a Joy-kind of way, but not Lauren’s type at all. “You must be Chester,” she said.
“Guilty,” he said with a laugh. “It’s great to finally meet you. Joy talks about you all the time.” He extended his hand for her to shake, and Lauren had to reach up to get to it. She wasn’t as short as Joy, and he had to be a good foot—or more—taller than her. Which meant he was fifteen or sixteen inches taller than Joy.
“Same,” she said. “Joy says you deliver packages?”
“That I do.” He wore a friendly smile, and Lauren had no reason to disbelieve him.
She loved the intricacies of people, and she liked talking to them. It had made her extraordinarily good at her job, and Mark, her former boss, had always said her mother must’ve taken her to Ireland and had her kiss the blarney stone for how talented she was at talking to people.
“Have you always done that?” Lauren shifted her weight and looked up at him. “You’re so tall. You didn’t play sports or anything?”
Chester’s smile dimmed some. “I…” His gazed shifted beyond Lauren, and he said, “Joy.” He ducked under the top of the doorway and into the house without being invited.
“Sorry,” Joy said somewhat breathlessly. “I spent longer at the farmer’s market than I intended.” She gave Chester a smile, and Lauren found the pair of them comical.
Do not laugh in front of Joy, she told herself. Besides, it wasn’t like she and Blake had anything on them. Since he’d driven her to look at two properties last week, they hadn’t been out again.
He’d asked for the one evening he didn’t have his son, and Lauren had allowed herself to put up a low wall between them. Yes, she had a strategy in mind for her move to Hilton Head Island. It wasn’t a crime, and she didn’t have to explain herself to him—or anyone else.
“We’re going to the theater in the city,” Joy said, tugging on the left sleeve of the dress she’d put on lightning-quick. “So I’ll be back late.”
“I’ll be here,” Lauren said. She quickly smoothed Joy’s hair as Chester moved past her, and she hissed, “You’ve only got one earring in.”
“Shoot. I had two.” Joy’s hands went to her ears, and she searched the floor.
“I’ll find it,” Lauren said. “Go without. It’s fine.”
Joy pulled out her single earring and dropped it into Lauren’s hand. Then she flashed her a somewhat pained smile and hurried after Chester. Lauren went to close the door, thankful it hadn’t been open long enough to trigger the alarm again. She had the safe phrase memorized now, so she supposed it wouldn’t be a big deal if it had.
She found Joy’s other earring on the second step leading up, and she put the pair of them on the kitchen counter. Looking around the silent house, she wondered, “Well. What now?”
Lauren looked at the hooks beside the garage door entrance. A single set of keys hung there. She didn’t have a car, but Joy had gotten a long-term rental so she could get to the library and back every day. She plucked her phone from her pocket, a strategy forming in her mind.
Can I borrow your car tonight?she sent to Joy.
It needs gas, she said.
I’ll fill it up.
Where are you going?
Lauren didn’t want to answer her, but she didn’t want to leave Joy in the dark either.I just have something to do. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.
Okay, but I’m holding you to that.
Lauren didn’t answer that one, because if she didn’t take the keys and go now, she might not go at all. She grabbed her purse and swiped the keys on her way out to the garage. She didn’t know the island as well as Cass, Bea, or even Joy, but she was exceptionally good with directions, and if she’d been somewhere before, she could almost always get back to it.
And she’d been to Blake’s century-old house.
She connected her phone to the Bluetooth system in the car, and she said, “Call Bea,” as she pulled out of the garage.
“Calling Bea,” the car repeated to her, and her friend answered on the second ring.
“Lauren,” she said, a smile in her tone. “What’s up, girl?”
Lauren blinked, not sure how to answer. Bea pealed out a stream of laughter, and Lauren could see and hear and feel how happy she was. Since she’d come here for vacation, met Grant and fallen in love, her life had changed dramatically.
“Sorry,” Bea said through her laughter. “Shelby dared me to say that.”
