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They weren’t out of options yet.
CHAPTER8
Morning sunlight burnished the marsh grass surrounding Amos’s houseboat. Cardinals, chickadees, and mockingbirds all twittered in the nearby trees. The pungent, marshy odor hanging in the cool air made Grace remember how the Amazon had smelled at dawn when she awakened and peered lovingly down at Mateo, asleep on his pallet next to her bed.
Spotting Amos lounging on his elevated deck, her stomach swiveled. Even with his face in shadow, Grace could feel his eyes on her as she coursed the pier. He stood up abruptly, framed in sunlight and looking like a Roman god—Neptune, she decided, the mythical god of the sea. Why did he even appeal to her when he was so brash and bossy?
If it weren’t for the money he was going to pay her, she wouldn’t have returned at all today, she told herself. Simon was bright enough to catch up when he went to school. Plus, it never hurt to hold a boy back a year as he would then be the biggest, oldest boy in high school and the first to drive a car. On the other hand, she needed every dollar she could earn to stave off bankruptcy, so here she was.
“Come on up,” he called as she reached the gangplank.
His easy tone assured her Amos didn’t hold a grudge for her parting comment the day before. Telling him she didn’t like him was a bit of a low blow, and it wasn’t exactly true anymore since she’d gleaned a few redeeming traits about him.
Once on board, she climbed the narrow run of exterior steps that conveyed her to the deck above the living area. As she reached the top, her gaze connected with his. To her annoyance, he checked his watch.
“You’re right on time today. Unfortunately, Simon is still sleeping.” He rolled to his feet. “Coffee?”
There seemed to be no way to avoid a tête-à-tête. “Sure.”
“How do you take it?”
Why did that question sound so loaded? “Cream and sugar.”
“Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
Grace eased onto one of the two heavy chairs and tried to relax. The sound of water lapping against the shore usually relaxed people—not her, though. Only the leaves fluttering in the cool, gentle breeze eased her anxiety.
Soon, Amos reappeared with a mug and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” As she took a hesitant sip, he resumed his seat in the other chair and sat back to stare at her.
He’d made her coffee just right, with a touch of cocoa in it, and possibly honey. “Mm, this is good.”
“I have hidden talents.”
What is that supposed to mean?“I’m sure you do.”
“I’ll be leaving you and Simon alone this morning.”
“Oh?”
“No need to take him to the library.”
“I see.”
“You’ll have the houseboat to yourselves.”
Where are you going?She caught back the question as it was none of her business.
His attention had fallen to the bag she carried. “More whipped cream and paper plates?”
“No. She pulled a brightly colored workbook from her bag and showed it to him. The workbook was a decoy, but he didn’t need to know that.
Amos sent her an approving nod. “Can’t say that I understand your methods, but some of what you taught him seems to have stuck. All evening he kept identifying letters and the sounds they make.”
The news cheered Grace. “That’s great. Did you take him to the aquarium?”
“Not yet. He had to get some shots for school, and he still needs two more.”
