Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Robbie came through the front door with the satisfied slump of someone who’d been on his feet all day and used every muscle he owned. He’d probably used up most of his brainpower, too.
“Hey, Robbo,” Maude said, looking up from her laptop. She was working from her recliner, checking on client websites and doing a little troubleshooting. “How was your day?”
“Good. Got a lot done but I am beat.” He toed the door shut behind him. “Had a man stick his head in to see what I was up to and he bought one of my charcuterie boards on the spot. Said his wife would love it.”
“That’s awesome!”
“I thought so, too. In fact, I decided it deserved a little celebration, so I bought dinner.” He lifted a familiar plastic bag. “Don’t get excited,” he said. “It’s just Pub subs.”
Maude set her laptop aside. “Hey, Pub subs are worth a reasonable level of excitement. Please tell me you got me Italian.”
“Fully loaded.” He set the bag on the kitchen counter and started unpacking it.
She got up to get drinks. He’d ordered his usual turkey from the looks of it and he’d had the presence of mind to grab a bag of kettle chips and a container of potato salad, too. She set two cans of Diet Coke next to the bag and got plates out.
“What else did you get done at the flex space today?” she asked.
“That new table design is finally coming together. I can’t wait to get pics of it so you can put it on the website.” He glanced at his shirt, which seemed to be imbedded with sawdust. “Um, I’m going to shower before I sit down.”
“Good, because I was about to suggest that,” Maude said. “No rush. I’ll wait.”
While he was gone, she put the subs on plates, added a handful of chips and a scoop of potato salad to each one, then popped the top of her soda.
The house felt full but peaceful. It was a routine they’d settled into.
Robbie’s boots by the door. Her laptop closed.
An agreed-upon show streaming on the TV.
At the moment, they were watching a series about cyber-crime investigators. Maude kept finding errors with the plot devices but was doing her best to ignore them because she knew Robbie found the leading woman attractive.
She would have enjoyed it more if they’d hired her to consult and correct their errors.
Robbie came back out a few minutes later, hair damp, clothes changed, and already reaching for his sub.
“You want me to put the show on?” Maude asked.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Mindless entertainment is about all I have the energy for. That and this sub.” He took a bite of one half before he reached the couch.
She was just about to do the same when there was a knock at the door.
Maude paused. “No idea who that is.”
“Really?” Robbie snorted.
“You don’t know that it’s Ollie.” Although Robbie was probably right. She hoped he was.
She opened the door to find Ollie standing there with Milo, leash looped loose in his hand, the dog’s tail wagging like he knew exactly where he was. She smiled. “My two favorite men.”
“Hey,” Robbie called out from the couch. “I’m literally right there. Not to mention, I brought subs home and everything.”
She rolled her eyes before revising her statement. “Two of my favorite men.”
Ollie laughed. “Hey, Robbie.”
Robbie gave a wave, his mouth now full.
Ollie looked at Maude. “I was walking Milo and thought I’d check in, but you look busy.”
“We’re not that busy. You’re welcome to come in.”
Milo didn’t wait for permission. He padded inside like he belonged there.
Robbie snorted as he reached for a chip. “You always did have terrible timing,” he said. “Some things never change.”
Ollie smiled. “You say that like you didn’t invite me to stay anyway.”
“Grab a plate,” Robbie said. “Maude never eats her whole sub anyway.”
Ollie shook his head. “I don’t want to take your dinner.
“You wouldn’t be. He’s right, I never do finish it. If you’re good with Italian, you can have the other half of mine.”
“You’re sure?” He stepped inside, setting the leash down on the little table by the door.
“I’m sure.” She was glad to see him. “Besides, Milo has already made himself at home.” He had, too. He was laying on the couch next to Robbie.
Ollie leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She looked at her brother. “Come on, Robbie. Let’s sit at the table like adults.” She got another plate and soda out, grabbed a spoon for the potato salad, along with the bag of chips, and set it all up while the men moved to their seats.
They settled around the table with an ease that came from years of shared history. Milo stayed on the couch, letting out a big sigh that made her smile.
Maude took a bite of her sub and thought, not for the first time, that this ordinary moment was exactly what she needed tonight. She loved living alone, but that was because she’d made peace with it.
Having people around was really nice sometimes, there was no doubt about it. Especially when those people were the guys she cared about.
They ate quietly for a few minutes, mostly because everyone’s mouth was full and they were enjoying the food. Robbie leaned back in his chair between bites, clearly pleased with both the sub and the company.
He nodded at Ollie. “How do you like living in a tiny house? I’d have thought you were more of the penthouse kind of guy now that you’re a doctor.”
“Nah, I like being near the beach. And the community is good,” Ollie said. He glanced at Maude. “Having great neighbors doesn’t hurt either.”
Robbie shook his head but chuckled all the same.
“The only issue,” Ollie said, wiping his hands on a napkin. “Is that I’m realizing I need more storage at my place. Not closets, those are fine. It’s for everything else.”
“Like what?” Maude asked.
“I have a lot of books. And medical journals,” Ollie said. “Those take up space and I’m not ready to give them up for the digital versions. I like paper. I guess that makes me old-fashioned.”
Robbie nodded immediately. “You need shelves,” he said. “I can take a look and see what would work in the space you have. If you want. Might be an easy fix.”
Maude shot him a look. “You’re volunteering pretty fast for someone who has an arts and crafts fair coming up.”
“That’s different,” Robbie said.
“How?” Maude asked.
“Because Ollie can afford to pay me now.”
Ollie laughed. “He’s right. And I wasn’t trying to steal him away. But some shelves might do the trick.” He glanced at Robbie. “And obviously, it would be a paying job. Not asking for a favor.”
Maude let it slide. Making a little money could only help Robbie achieve what he needed to for the arts and crafts fair.
“I’ll come by in the morning, if you want,” Robbie said.
“I get up pretty early,” Ollie countered.
“So do I,” Robbie said. “Name a time and I’ll be there. But I at least need to see the space to know what’s possible. No promises beyond that.”
Milo chose that moment to come over, place one of his paws squarely on Ollie’s knee, and fix him with a hopeful stare, tail wagging in slow, deliberate sweeps.
“No,” Ollie said automatically. “You already had dinner. And I’m not sure salami is the best thing for you anyway.”
Milo responded by lowering his head onto Ollie’s thigh with a dramatic sigh, as if resigned to a life of disappointment.
Robbie laughed. “That dog is all right.”
“He really is,” Maude said, reaching over to scratch behind Milo’s ears. “He knows exactly how to work a room. Don’t you, boy?”
Milo accepted the attention graciously, tail thumping harder against the floor.
Maude looked around the table. At her brother, the man she cared about, and the dog sprawled happily at their feet.
There were worse ways to spend an evening.