AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, same old,” I say, deciding it’s not the time to talk of my father’s legal and financial troubles. “I don’t see them visiting anytime soon.”
“They like that warmth, huh? Can’t say that I blame them.”
Something like that. Actually, even if he could, my father would have a lot of balls showing his face around here after what he did. A lot of people suffered because of his mishandling of their retirement funds—some of them losing much of their life savings. His only saving grace is that most of the people he scammed are probably dead by now.
She taps her chin, thinking. “Ah, I remember what Cooper said. Something about you moving in near Anastasia? Are you living in Sapphire Shores?”
“That’s right. I live in the same complex, as fate would have it. By Ted’s. The pizza place?”
“Of course, of course.” She claps her hands again. “That’s wonderful. Really wonderful. Have you seen our girl?”
Our girl. She’s probably talking about her and Mr. Hutton, but I can’t help thinking she means all of us. All of us Huttons. She belongs to us, and we should all be looking out for her. If only I’d done a better job of that when I was younger.
“Once or twice,” I murmur, bristling as if she can see right into my thoughts. She wouldn’t like to know what else I’ve been doing with her daughter, because it isn’t exactly a family activity. “I guess we’re on different work schedules.”
“Ah. I suppose it’s good she’s working, even if it is just at that pizza place. She has to keep active. You know, I’ve been a little worried about her …”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
“Oh, I hate to talk about it. But us moms, we worry. And she’s just been a little directionless since her engagement ended last year.”
“Engagement?” This is news to me.
“You didn’t know? I suppose you wouldn’t, being down south. We really did lose touch, didn’t we? Well, poor Anastasia, she won’t talk about it much. His name was Mason. They dated in college and he treated her like gold. They were living in Manhattan and seemed so happy, I really thought this was it for her … and then it ended. I don’t really want to speak more on it, but I think she’s been afraid of getting too close to anyone, ever since …” She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. I think it’s great you’re there to keep an eye on her. You will, won’t you?”
I nod. How can I possibly say no? I will try to keep an eye on her, even if she doesn’t want to be seen by me. “I’ll do my be—"
“—I just worry. She doesn’t even have a car,” Mrs. Hutton continues. “She Ubers everywhere, and I always think those are dangerous …”
I don’t have time to get a word in edgewise, but I don’t mind it. Mrs. Hutton is the fluttery type, who moves on from one topic to another without stopping to take a breath. But everything she says is sweet and shows what a big heart she has.
We’re impeding the flow of traffic, so we start to walk together down the aisle. I have everything in my basket, anyway, so I listen politely as she talks about Aidan and Cooper and their families and her grandchildren. Then I help her put her groceries on the conveyor and load them back into her cart.
When I finish paying for mine, we walk toward our cars. I notice she still has a blue minivan. She’d driven us to a thousand hockey practices in a van just like that one—I think it might even be the same one.
As I help her load her trunk, she says, “Thank you so much, Alec. You’d think I’d buy less, since it’s just me and Mr. Hutton, but I always go overboard for our Sunday dinners. Remember those?”
I laugh. “How can I forget? You made the best meatballs. Sometimes I still dream about them.”
“You’re so sweet. It’s a secret recipe, I—” She suddenly gasps and grabs my arm. “Oh, I have a great idea.”
I smile as she squeezes my arm tight. “And what’s that?”
“You have to come to Sunday dinner. Meet the grandkids, my daughters-in-law. Actually, Cooper’s just engaged, but to the most darling girl, Abby. She’s a dental hygienist, and already part of the family. It’ll be such a hoot. You’re not working, are you?”
“No … but …” I hesitate, because as much as I want to be there, as much as I wouldn’t dream of letting Mrs. Hutton down, I know someone who won’t want me there at all.
Mrs. Hutton shakes my arm a little. “Now, don’t say no. You don’t need to be polite. You’re our family. And you’d be doing us a huge favor. I hate when Stassi has to take those Ubers. So you can drive her. It’s perfect.”
