anyway. “Hector!”
“ Lo siento ! Lo siento ! But it is love, yes? You can fix hees broken heart?” I knew Hector wasn’t that naïve. He was waggling his eyebrows again.
“Stop that. And the only thing that’s getting fixed is Mrs. Weaton’s roof. Your nephew, can he do it? He’ll need to quote me a price first, ok?”
Hector looked totally disappointed I wouldn’t play his game. “ Si , Si . I call José tomorrow, give him your number.”
“Thanks, Hector.” I smiled prettily and thumped his shoulder. “ Graçias .”
* * *
Jazz popped in around ten o’clock, along with Jasper, Cooper, and Vern and a couple of other regulars from our extended circle. There was a small crew of us left in Butler Cove either by choice or circumstance, and we’d all gotten pretty close. Liz never made it out to the grill unless her mom agreed to watch her son, and pretty much everyone else from our graduating class had moved away for college or greener pastures. Lucky them. It was another busy evening, but as it wound down and got near closing, I found myself looking up every time someone walked through the front door. At close to eleven, I looked up just as Jasper headed over to talk to me. He was looking sleek and put together in his polo shirt and chinos, croakies around his neck like he’d just had lunch at a country club or played a round.
“Hey, Keri Ann,” he greeted me. His blonde hair was brushed sideways across his forehead, just so. I thought of Jack with his dark, mussed hair and wondered how long it took Jasper in front of the mirror to make his look perfect. I felt mean for thinking that. He had been the golden boy of our class and finished college in three years. I wondered idly why I had never been interested in him romantically. He had certainly had his fair share of the high school girls. He’d never let his popularity go to his head though and always chose to stay friendly with everyone.
“Hey Jasper. What’s up?”
“Nothing.” He slung a leg over a barstool across from me, his eyes earnest. “So my dad says you need some help with the house Sunday. I was going to come over after church, about twelve thirty. I’ll bring some lunch.”
I had completely forgotten about Pastor McDaniel sending Jasper over on Sunday. So much had happened between then and now. I had no idea how I was going to get out of it without arousing some major suspicion, and I didn’t want to cancel Jack coming over. I tried not to analyze that too much.
“Oh. Um.” I had to do some quick thinking. “That’s ok. I actually don’t even need help at the moment.” Ok, maybe that was a dumb thing to say. All my friends knew I always needed help.
Jasper quirked an eyebrow at me with a puzzled look. “Yeah, okay,” he said, his tone implying anything but. “I’ll see you at twelve thirty.”
“No, really. It’s just that I was going to take a break from the house on Sunday. I’m really tired. It’s been a long week.”
“Keri Ann, it’s ok, you know. I know you don’t like to ask for help, but I don’t mind helping you. Besides, even if you want to take a break from the house, you’ve still got to eat. Like I said, I’ll bring lunch. Anyway, I wont be able to stay long, I have to head back up to Charleston.”
I nodded. There wasn’t really much else I could say. Jasper was a good friend, but I was careful not to take advantage of him. Sometimes, not accepting help was more hurtful to the person offering. I grabbed at the topic change.
“Your parents must be happy you are closer.” Jasper had been looking at going further away, but I sensed things at home, namely his father, had caused him to make the last minute decision to stay near Butler Cove.
“They are.” There was something amiss with Jasper though. He seemed more introspective and thoughtful than usual. “So, how’s Liz doing? I haven’t seen her lately.”
I smiled. “She’s good, still working at The Pig. Brady keeps her busy,
“ Lo siento ! Lo siento ! But it is love, yes? You can fix hees broken heart?” I knew Hector wasn’t that naïve. He was waggling his eyebrows again.
“Stop that. And the only thing that’s getting fixed is Mrs. Weaton’s roof. Your nephew, can he do it? He’ll need to quote me a price first, ok?”
Hector looked totally disappointed I wouldn’t play his game. “ Si , Si . I call José tomorrow, give him your number.”
“Thanks, Hector.” I smiled prettily and thumped his shoulder. “ Graçias .”
* * *
Jazz popped in around ten o’clock, along with Jasper, Cooper, and Vern and a couple of other regulars from our extended circle. There was a small crew of us left in Butler Cove either by choice or circumstance, and we’d all gotten pretty close. Liz never made it out to the grill unless her mom agreed to watch her son, and pretty much everyone else from our graduating class had moved away for college or greener pastures. Lucky them. It was another busy evening, but as it wound down and got near closing, I found myself looking up every time someone walked through the front door. At close to eleven, I looked up just as Jasper headed over to talk to me. He was looking sleek and put together in his polo shirt and chinos, croakies around his neck like he’d just had lunch at a country club or played a round.
“Hey, Keri Ann,” he greeted me. His blonde hair was brushed sideways across his forehead, just so. I thought of Jack with his dark, mussed hair and wondered how long it took Jasper in front of the mirror to make his look perfect. I felt mean for thinking that. He had been the golden boy of our class and finished college in three years. I wondered idly why I had never been interested in him romantically. He had certainly had his fair share of the high school girls. He’d never let his popularity go to his head though and always chose to stay friendly with everyone.
“Hey Jasper. What’s up?”
“Nothing.” He slung a leg over a barstool across from me, his eyes earnest. “So my dad says you need some help with the house Sunday. I was going to come over after church, about twelve thirty. I’ll bring some lunch.”
I had completely forgotten about Pastor McDaniel sending Jasper over on Sunday. So much had happened between then and now. I had no idea how I was going to get out of it without arousing some major suspicion, and I didn’t want to cancel Jack coming over. I tried not to analyze that too much.
“Oh. Um.” I had to do some quick thinking. “That’s ok. I actually don’t even need help at the moment.” Ok, maybe that was a dumb thing to say. All my friends knew I always needed help.
Jasper quirked an eyebrow at me with a puzzled look. “Yeah, okay,” he said, his tone implying anything but. “I’ll see you at twelve thirty.”
“No, really. It’s just that I was going to take a break from the house on Sunday. I’m really tired. It’s been a long week.”
“Keri Ann, it’s ok, you know. I know you don’t like to ask for help, but I don’t mind helping you. Besides, even if you want to take a break from the house, you’ve still got to eat. Like I said, I’ll bring lunch. Anyway, I wont be able to stay long, I have to head back up to Charleston.”
I nodded. There wasn’t really much else I could say. Jasper was a good friend, but I was careful not to take advantage of him. Sometimes, not accepting help was more hurtful to the person offering. I grabbed at the topic change.
“Your parents must be happy you are closer.” Jasper had been looking at going further away, but I sensed things at home, namely his father, had caused him to make the last minute decision to stay near Butler Cove.
“They are.” There was something amiss with Jasper though. He seemed more introspective and thoughtful than usual. “So, how’s Liz doing? I haven’t seen her lately.”
I smiled. “She’s good, still working at The Pig. Brady keeps her busy,
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