Chapter Seventeen
Seventeen
Hannah
By the time we left the ice cream stand, I was rocking a solid ice cream baby.
Maybe three scoops had been one too many, but I had no regrets.
We hit the local grocery store. It was small but carried the essentials—coffee!
—with only three brands to choose from, so it made the decision-making simple.
I refrained from grilling Simon about his art career but it was a struggle.
I reviewed what I’d learned. He’d illustrated a children’s book—maybe more?
—it had won a Caldecott Honor—which was huge!
—and something had happened because he’d said his artist days were in the past. If it was possible to die from curiosity, I was certain I’d be on life support.
When we arrived back at the cottage, a very muddy, very red Jeep Wrangler with the top off was parked in front and I wondered if our attorney had arrived to tell us this whole thing was a mistake and the cottage belonged to someone else, but I couldn’t picture Vincent Cosmo of the pristine suit and haircut driving a Jeep.
Despite my usual optimism, I tended to be cautious when positive things—like inheriting an actual house—happened and I stayed on alert for the good fortune to be snatched away. I considered it a trauma response from my short-lived marriage and journalism career.
“I wonder who’s here.” I parked in the driveway and glanced at Simon.
“I know who it is,” he said. “That’s my car.”
“Oh?” I hoped he’d elaborate but he didn’t. Instead, he exited the van and strode toward the front porch. A woman was seated on the steps and she hopped up and threw herself at him. Simon scooped her up in a crusher hug and a wave of intense disappointment swamped me.
I thought Simon had said he was single. Immediately, my brain flashed to my ex’s cheating, which of course was ridiculous because Simon and I were just housemates, so there was no cheating happening but still.
I felt as if I’d briefly been offered something unique and special—the man and I had rescued a bat together, after all, and he’d understood my grief about Pops in a way no one else had, plus, he’d kissed me—only to have it snatched away.
I climbed out of the driver’s seat and slid open the back door for Dude. “Be nice. Don’t knock the strange lady down.” I hoped I sounded like I meant it more than I felt it.
Dude bounded across the yard. Now, I’m not saying I judge people by their reactions to dogs or by the dog’s reaction to them, but when the woman tossed back her long dark hair and crouched low with open arms to embrace Dude, well, my annoyance with her dissipated.
At least Simon had the good sense to pick a dog lover.
“Aren’t you handsome?” The woman immediately found Dude’s favorite spot on the side of his neck and while she scratched, his eyes rolled back into his head and he looked like he might pass out. “What a good boy. You’re just perfect, aren’t you?”
“Please, you’re going to give him an ego as big as his paws,” I said. I was only partly kidding.
She glanced up at me and grinned. She looked familiar and a second later it punched me in the face that the arching brows, long nose, deep dimple in one cheek, and full lips were exactly like the ones on the face of the man standing next to her. This was Simon’s sister.
“Well, he is a perfect specimen so he really can’t help it,” the woman said.
“Lorelei, this is Hannah Spencer,” Simon introduced us. “Hannah, my little sis—”
“Not little,” Lorelei interrupted. She was on the tall side. “Younger. I’m your younger sister.”
“You didn’t care about being called younger before,” Simon protested.
“That was before I turned thirty,” she said. “Now we emphasize ‘younger’ at every opportunity.”
I laughed. I liked her.
“Fine. Lor is my younger sister.” Simon gestured to the house. “Do you want to come in?”
Lorelei glanced between us, much like the neighbors had, as if trying to figure us out. I realized Simon hadn’t told her about me or the shared inheritance and I figured he might want to talk about that with her in private.
“I’ll unload the groceries if you want to give your sister a tour,” I said.
“I’ll help first.” Simon grabbed both bags of groceries from the van and headed toward the house. Well, then.
“So…” Lorelei and I fell into step on the walkway while Dude “assisted” Simon. “How long have you and my brother known each other?”
“A few weeks,” I said.
“Weeks? I’m sorry, did you say weeks? And you’re both living here?” Her eyes were wide with surprise.
“Yeah.” I didn’t add any details, not wanting to step into any family stuff so I nodded and hurried up the walkway, opening the door for Simon and gesturing for Lorelei to follow him inside.
I trailed Simon to the kitchen and said, “I’ll unpack. You can show her the dock.” He frowned and I stared at him. “You should probably explain.” I gestured between the two of us and he made an O with his mouth as he finally caught on.
“Right.” He nodded. “Lor, let me show you the dock so you can be assured that I’ve taken excellent care of your boat.”
I reached for a bottle of wine and poured a glass. As Lorelei walked by the kitchen counter, I offered it to her. “It’s a Chardonnay.”
“Thanks.” She took the glass and followed Simon outside. Dude watched them go, looking as if he wanted to join them, but I said the magic word “supper” and he was properly diverted.
I fed Dude and unpacked the groceries. I thought about cooking but wasn’t sure if we were going to be setting another place or not, so I paced and sipped my wine and wondered how Lorelei was taking the news that her Gramps had been in love with my Pops.
This was assuming, of course, that Simon even told her.
I would be sure to take my cue from him when they returned.
Simon hadn’t mentioned why he was the only person his grandfather had left the cottage to.
Judging by the hug he and Lorelei had shared, there wasn’t any animosity there.
Not many families would be okay with only one grandchild inheriting a property.
But then, what did I really know about Gramps?
Simon had said he’d fought in Vietnam and opened a successful insurance company with a friend; maybe he’d left other equally valuable possessions to Simon’s siblings so there was no need for squabbling.
Feeling peckish, which was hard to rationalize as anything but nerves after the ginormous sundae I’d had, I began to put together a cheese-and-cracker spread with grapes and pickles and other nibbles.
It gave me something to do and Lorelei might be an emotional eater in need of something to nosh when she heard the news.
Simon and Lorelei returned just as it was getting dark. Dude bounded off the couch to greet them and instead of pushing him away, Lorelei hugged him close. Dude was excellent at emotional support despite being the size of a pony.
“Hungry?” I gestured to the tray. Lorelei sank onto one of the tall chairs at the counter.
“I can always eat.” Lorelei helped herself to some cheese and crackers and a pickle—solidifying my affection for her.
Simon refilled Lorelei’s glass and then mine before grabbing a beer. He raised his bottle and said, “To Pops and Gramps.”
“Pops and Gramps.” Lorelei and I tapped our glasses to his before we all sipped.
“Simon says you had no idea about this arrangement, either.” Lorelei gestured to the house.
“Not a clue,” I confirmed. I wondered if he’d told her everything. I pushed my wine away, not wanting it to loosen my tongue and spill the family secrets, and reached for some crackers.
“Given that our father can be a complete prick about the lives of others, it’s not really a surprise that Gramps kept his relationship with your Pops a secret,” Lorelei said.
Okay, then. I pulled my wineglass back. I glanced at Simon and his face was set in its usual impossible-to-read emotionless expression.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “That has to be difficult.”
“Mostly for Sim—” Lorelei began but her brother cut her off.
“It’s none of Dad’s fucking business, and I’m going to keep it that way,” Simon said.
He took a long pull of his beer as if to cool the flare of temper he’d just let loose.
It was the most emotion I’d seen from him and my face must have reflected my surprise as he met my gaze and immediately shifted back to his blank face.
There was a beat of silence before Lorelei reached over and gave her brother a half hug.
“Which is one of the many reasons why Gramps chose you to inherit his sanctuary. He knew you’d protect it, and I bet he also thought you needed a safe space from all of the responsibility you insist on carrying all by yourself.
” Her gaze bored into her brother’s. “You know I’m doing fine as a fully realized grown woman, right?
And Charlie is doing great, too. You can loosen your grip on things. ”
Simon closed his eyes. “Sorry for the outburst. Our father, per usual, brings out the best in me. I know you and Charlie are doing fine.” He didn’t sound as if he knew that at all.
“You’re the two most important people in the world to me, so you’ll just have to cope with my concern for your well-being. ”
Lorelei shook her head and I got the feeling this was a discussion they’d had many times before. “In other news and speaking of our brother,” Lorelei said, “Charlie wants to come see you.”
Simon nodded. His expression didn’t change but there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t interpret. It looked like pain. I checked the urge to put my hand on his in reassurance.
“When?” Simon asked.
Lor shrugged. “On Charlie time. Could be tomorrow or next year.”
Again, Simon showed no emotion but I could feel something was off. Still, I didn’t move. I was getting so much information about the O’Malley family; I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself and break the moment. I needn’t have bothered.