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“But everyone calls me Alex. Otherwise people get confused.”
“Well, Alex, I’m pleased to see you again. Do you remember last summer? I was the sea monster.”
“No, sir.” His eyes flickered to his mother, as if he might be in trouble for not remembering.
“You were a lot smaller back then,” I said quickly. “It’s a whole year since we saw each other last.”
“I shall remember you this year.” Alex spoke stoutly. He would will it into reality, I thought. Like his grandfather, he would be a force in the world.
“Is it James West in the flesh?” I looked up to see Cymbeline striding across the lawn toward us. Her two little girls each held on to a hand until they saw their cousins and left their mother to come tearing across the grass.
I stood to greet Cym, kissing both her cheeks, feeling the strength of this fine woman in the grasp of her hands in mine. “It is I once again, Mrs. Olofsson.”
“Has the city starved you?” Cym sized me up and found me lacking. “We’ll have to fatten you up before we send you back to that awful place.”
I knelt to say hello to the girls. “You’ve both grown since I saw you last.”
“We know,” Annie said. As the older one, I’d noticed she often answered for her and her sister. She looked so much like her father, I thought, as I looked more closely at her light blue eyes. “I’m almost six and Mother just measured me for the wall.”
“The wall?” I asked.
“Where Mother writes down the date and then makes a line over my head. I’ve grown two inches since last year.”
“Two inches. My God, what is your mother feeding you?” This prompted a fit of giggles from both girls. “Holly, how many inches did you grow?” I asked her.
“I don’t know.” She buried her face in her mother’s skirt, dark curls covering her cheeks.
“She’s going through a shy phase,” Cym said, without sympathy. “I don’t know why.”
“I understand.” My knees popped as I straightened.
“Can we have cookies?” Annie asked.
“Yes, but only one each,” Cym said. “And then play with your cousins. Wear yourselves out.” She said the last part under her breath, before turning back to me. “James, you look well, other than your thinness and this suit.” She ran her fingers down the threadbare arm of my jacket. “Viktor’s father will have you looking dapper by the time you leave.”
“I’m a poor city mouse,” I said. “And all my money goes to books, not suits.”
“You poor darling,” Cym said. “Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of you until it’s time for you to go back to that dreadful city. We’re delighted you could come. Do you have a young lady yet? Every summer, I fear it will be the last when some feline gets her claws into you.”
“There is a girl, in fact,” I said. “I’ll tell you all about her later.”
“A girl?” Fiona asked, sitting up straighter. “Why haven’t you mentioned her before?”
I shrugged, as if it were nothing. “It’s rather new. Quite serious,” I added, knowing I would have to tell them the entire sordid story. Not today, though. Today I wanted to enjoy their company and pretend that the life waiting for me at home was meant for some other man.
Behind me came the sound of porcelain crashing into the floor of the porch. I turned to see that it was Addie’s teacup, which was now in a half dozen pieces. She was already stooping to pick it up but I brushed her aside, swooping in to gather the broken pieces myself. “We don’t want your writing fingers cut, now do we?” I asked gently, taking in her flushed cheeks and neck. Something had upset her. “Are you all right, Addie? You didn’t cut yourself, did you?”
“No, I’m fine.” Addie met my eyes briefly. Long enough for me to see that hers were glassy with tears.
A bell of alarm went off in my head. What was wrong? Was it the heat? I looked over at Fiona, but she and Cym were huddled together talking. Had anyone else noticed the broken cup? Alexander and Quinn were busy with all four of the children, doling out cookies and asking for promises that later they must eat their dinner, including all their vegetables.
“Addie, come with me,” I said, offering her my hand. “I’d like to see the flowers, and you can tell me all about your life.”
She nodded and allowed me to help her to her feet. “Excuse us,” I said. “We’re going to stroll around the garden for a moment.”
“Yes, enjoy the garden, but be sure not to get overheated,” Quinn said, more to Addie than me. She’d been ill as a child, and Quinn had never quite been able to discard her fears.
“Take him out to see our newest addition in the barn,” Cym said. “You’ll be tickled, James.”
