AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She stared at him. “You made that dining room set? When did this happen?” The question wasn’t just about when the furniture was crafted, though she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
He frowned at her. “Don’t sound so disbelieving. I am capable of it.”
She blinked and looked away, all the words that he hadn’t said floating above her. The phrase “if you ever came home long enough or often enough you would know,” was the most prominent. She tried to contain all the hurt, the pain and the confusion that the thought brought her.
She forced herself to smile. “It’s beautiful, Tom. And I have no doubt that you’re capable of making something like that.” She leaned closer to him and tried to adopt a conspiratorial tone. “So not just selling the furniture like Dad, you’re making it now? What does he think?”
He shrugged. “He doesn’t mind. You know the furniture store was really just a job that Granddad forced on him.”
She stifled her surprise. She didn’t remember that. When had her dad told Tom that? She tried to let it go. “So are you selling your own pieces now? Do you have commissions?”
Tamzin leaned forward, her expression intent. “Tom’s pieces are works of art. There’s nothing commercial about them. They should be shown in spaces that show off their beauty.”
Kate gave Tamzin a puzzled look and then shifted her gaze to Tom. “So are you exhibiting your pieces yet?”
“He’s assembling a collection,” said Tamzin. “There’s a few galleries up in Boston interested. It’s only a matter of time.”
Kate studied her brother. His gaze was neutral. He looked at her and shrugged. “I’m still working out what I want to do with it. In the meantime, I’m still helping Dad out at the store, and I work in the back in the old storage area on my own designs.”
She nodded. “Well, the dining room set is amazing.” And it was. She’d seen that. Was it just that it looked out of place in the worn, comfortable house she grew up in that it made her uneasy?
Behind her, the porch screen door slammed open. She turned and saw that her father had propped it so that it hung wide. Ethan came through a moment later burdened down by a couple of the old low risers they used to use to make the old stage in the large living room when they were growing up. The one their dad said was their own concert arena. Phil followed closely behind with more risers and then Stokey, his tall, lanky frame easily visible behind the others.
She turned back and looked at Tom. “What’s this all about? Is this the surprise Dad was talking about?”
“Surprise?” said Tom. “He’s setting up the stage. They’re going to have a kind of band reunion and sing along. Dad thought it would be fun.”
A coldness settled inside her. “A sing along?”
Tom shrugged. “You know him.”
She looked around at the large group of people chatting, drinking and idly eating, some at the picnic tables, some in the various assemblies of lawn chairs and folding chairs, others on blankets they’d brought. There was nothing alarming about any of it. It all spoke of enjoyment.
“What about the neighbors, Tom? Won’t they complain?”
“The neighbors are here, Kate,” said Tamzin, a bemused look on her face.
Kate frowned at her, but couldn’t find a suitable retort for her. She sighed. “Whatever.”
Tom laughed. “Oh, Katydid. You sound just like you did when you were sixteen. Whatever, Katydid.” He laughed again, this time shaking his head.
Kate burned under his comment but managed to resist saying anything else. She rose. “Well, I’m just going to check on the food. See if there’s anything that needs topping up.”
“Oh,” said Tamzin. “No need for that. I did it a little while ago.”
“Right, well…I’ll just go get myself something to eat, then. I really haven’t had a chance to do that yet.”
She rose and drifted off to the food table, not waiting for their response. She put aside her thoughts about what had transpired, determined to focus on the simple act of deciding what to eat. She was just loading her plate with a burrito and a helping of a green salad when Ethan spoke behind her.
“Your dad said that your guitar is in your bedroom. Do you mind if I go up and get it?”
She whirled around to face him. Standing next to him was another guy. He looked familiar and then she realized it was Zig, Ethan’s old college roommate. She blinked and looked back at Ethan.
“My guitar?” she said after a moment.
All other thoughts but panic left her as she studied his face. He wore sunglasses and a ball cap, so half his face was shaded, his mouth really the only indication of his expression, though it was giving nothing away.
He nodded. “Yeah. He’s getting all the instruments together. To play. He said I could use your guitar. That’s if you don’t mind.” He glanced over at Zig. “Oh, right. You remember Zig, don’t you?”
