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“On or off the girls?”
“I always look at them on a girl’s body,” he said solemnly.
Jecca laughed. “I meant off the girls but on a hanger in a store.”
“Did you?” he said, teasing. “I must have misunderstood. Did you happen to see the playhouse?”
Jecca groaned. “If my dad were here he’d report you to some historic house association.”
“Yeah, I know it’s bad. I’ve been meaning to have it fixed, but I’ve been busy.”
“Saving lives?”
“I like to think so,” Tris said. “Nell wants to talk to you.”
“When you get back I’ll—”
“No. Now. She’s right here, and she’s giving me a look just like her mother does. Okay?”
“Sure,” Jecca said, but she had no idea what to say to an eight-year-old child. Should she talk of candy? Use a baby voice?
“Did you see my playhouse?” the young voice of Nell asked in a very direct way. She didn’t sound childish at all.
“Yes, I did,” Jecca said. “It’s very nice.”
“It needs a carpenter.”
“That’s just what I thought!” Jecca said.
“I told Uncle Tris that the roof is going to fall in on me.”
“And what did he say?”
“That he’d get to it when he has time, but he never does.”
“It needs to be done now,” Jecca said. “You’re right that the place isn’t safe. Who can help me find a good contractor?”
“I’ll ask Mom.”
“Good idea. She can—” Jecca heard the phone drop. It seemed that Nell wasn’t going to waste time but was going to ask right now. Jecca smiled. She’d always liked people who made decisions quickly and acted on them immediately. She heard the phone being picked up.
“Nell says you’re going to oversee the renovation of the playhouse.” It was an adult female voice.
“Are you Tristan’s sister?” Jecca asked.
“Sorry,” she said. “Yes, I’m Addy. It’s so hectic here I’ve forgotten my manners.”
“I understand,” Jecca said.
“About the playhouse . . .”
“Oh,” Jecca said. “I saw it and it’s in pretty bad shape.”
“Very bad. I’ve spent a lot of time nagging Tris to get someone to fix it, but he’s always too busy.”
“I guess he is,” Jecca said. “As the town doctor—”
&1em">“That’s the eternal Aldredge excuse. Been used for generations. Would you like the job?” Addy asked. “I don’t mean that you have to do the actual work, but Tris says you know a lot about construction and design, so maybe you can oversee everything.”
