Her Lakeside Family

She’d purposely been late this morning. Yes, she was avoiding him. It was for the best. The man was in a world of hurt and she’d pushed him too far, too soon, last night.

“Mind your own business,” her mother always told her children. They never did, of course. Nor did Ma. Ma was a caring, loving soul who could spot a hurting heart from a mile away, human or animal. She’d be over the moon with these three Alvanetti children and she’d immediately insist they needed a big dog to follow them around.

“Are you really all done?” Mrs. Brownlee asked through a sigh, her hands held together over the apron that stated Free Hugs with Each Cookie.

“I am,” Davina said. “And in record time. This job would normally take at least a month but when you have an unlimited budget, you can get things done pretty quickly. Three weeks for a general overhaul is my personal best now.”

“Yes, you did seem to hurry this into overdrive,” her new friend pointed out, sparkly red earrings warring with her auburn curls. “I take it you and Santo don’t always see eye to eye.”

“He’s tough to read,” Davina replied, glad to be able to have a confidante. “Some walls can’t be torn down because there’s no support beam.”

“He needs to find his faith again,” Mrs. Brownlee said. “And no, you can’t do that for the poor man.” She shrugged and stared out at the water. “We each have to walk our own faith path and it can be fraught with detours.”

Davina gathered her things to leave, wondering about Virginia’s detours. “I’ll arrange the walk-through after the workers have cleaned up. I’ll get together with Santo on that and then we can list the house.”

“I can keep the children occupied for you.”

“Thank you,” Davina said. “I guess they don’t need to see the final version of the house they’re leaving.”

Mrs. Brownlee glanced at the glistening bay beyond the small bluff. “They’re already excited about moving to the lake.” She pointed outside. “That water down there is out of reach for them, but the lake has always been the center of this town. It will do them good to fish in the shallows and ride their bikes along the trails. They’re isolated here in this cold tower. There, they’ll meet friends and have neighbors all around.”

“I hope so,” Davina said, turning to head for the door before Virginia picked up on how much she’d miss the children. She’d just put her hand on it when it flew open and Santo stood there, blocking the light. Stepping back before she got banged, Davina held on to the tidal wave of feelings surging around her.

“You’re home early,” Mrs. Brownlee said, pointing out the obvious.

“Am I?” he asked, his eyes on Davina. “Where are you going?”

“To the lake house to meet with Rikki,” she replied. “I’m done here.”

“So soon?” He glanced at his watch.

“I’ve been telling you for days that I would be finished by the end of the week.” She shrugged. “It’s the end of the week.”

He rubbed his head as if to get answers. “What about the final...look?”

Davina shot Virginia a glance and looked back at him. “The workers have to clean out any debris and tools and then we can do that later. Maybe Monday, after you’re done with work?”

“How about now?”

Davina waffled between telling him yes or no.

“Nate’s asleep,” Mrs. Brownlee said. “And the girls are in the game room watching an animated movie.”

Santo paced a foot or so. “So it’s not a good time?”

“It would be better if we do that on Monday,” Davina said, steeling herself for his reaction.

A curt nod. “Okay, then I’ll walk you to your car.”

Did he want to talk to her?

“All right.” She moved to leave.

“Daddy!”

Lucia rushed up to him and Santo took her into his arms. Adriana followed and soon both girls were giggling into Santo’s ears.

He looked at Davina, a smile cresting on his face. “You two are certainly in a good mood.”

Lucia bobbed her head, her dark curls whirling around her face and shoulders like inky swatches of silk. “That’s ’cause we have the best idea ever.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” Santo asked, still smiling even if his eyes had gone dark again.

“The Millbrook Lake Art Festival,” Lucia said through another giggle. “It’s tomorrow, Daddy. And we want to go. With you and Miss Davina.”

Santo’s grin went slack.

Davina’s heart went bump.

And Virginia Brownlee chuckled and watched the whole scene with a little too much mirth in her eyes.

* * *

“I’ll explain to her later,” Santo said once he’d told Lucia he’d have to consider her request.

“I’ll probably be at the festival anyway,” Davina said. “Vanessa told me about it. Lots of local art and good fresh seafood and the weather’s supposed to be nice.” She hesitated and then went on. “I could take the kids.”

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