excuse for hurting her. She didn’t want an excuse then, and she didn’t want one now. She simply wanted an apology, an acknowledgment that Casey had hurt her. And if she ever wanted to hear that, she couldn’t put Casey in a position where she felt defensive. The only way to feel close again was to try to enjoy themselves.
“I haven’t ever let you explain, and I’m sorry. So I have an idea,” Faith said, turning the conversation in a totally different direction. It was time for her to take charge for once. She’d never done it before with Casey, but she’d learned to be strong. She knew she could. She’d always followed Casey’s lead, but right now, it seemed like, even though Faith had her own trust issues to deal with regarding Casey, they were in the past. Casey was losing a husband and the father to her daughter. “We’re on vacation. For two weeks. Let’s act like we’re on vacation. Leave all the baggage behind—the past, work, Scott. I will if you will.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Why? Look at this place. It’s amazing! It’s just like what we had as children. Let’s give that to Isabella. Let’s take it back for ourselves. We’ll deal with the rest in two weeks.” She stood still and looked at her sister.
Casey’s face showed contemplation. Then, a small smile emerged. “You’re right,” she said, nodding. Despite her agreement, she was clearly still thinking it over. But, one thing Faith knew about her sister was that when faced with the half-empty, half-full conundrum, Casey always chose half full. “Okay!” She laughed then, and unexpectedly, her laughter sent prickles of excitement up Faith’s arms. She hadn’t heard Casey’s laugh in so many years. It took until that moment to realize how much she’d missed it.
FOUR
Tap, tap, tap .
The hum of the paddle fan floated into Faith’s consciousness.
Tap, tap, tap .
Was there something wrong with the fan? The tapping came and went, but each time, it was the same—three taps and then silence. Faith rubbed her face to get enough focus to look at the clock. She blinked to try and see the numbers.
Tap, tap, tap .
Nine in the morning! She hadn’t slept that long in ages. She threw the covers off her legs, her silky shorts and camisole cool against her skin, and walked over to the window. She pulled back the sheer, gauzy fabric, the only barrier between her and the sun. Before she could focus on the view, she jumped with fright.
“Oh!” she cried, dropping the curtain and covering her mouth. She stood there for a moment, collecting herself.
Tap, tap, tap .
This time, the taps were right on the window. She swallowed, blinked her eyes again to clear them, and ran her fingers through her untamed hair. Self-conscious of her attire, or lack of, she debated on whether to change quickly, but he’d already seen her. She adjusted her top, tugging it down at the back to make the neckline dip a little less. Slowly, she pulled back the curtain again. Jake was on a ladder, right outside her window, a hammer in his hand. With his free hand, he motioned for her to open the window.
The lock slid back under her fingers and she lifted the pane of glass upward, heat coming at her like an open oven door.
“Mornin’,” he said, clearly trying to keep his eyes on her face. She could see the flicker of his gaze as it moved downward, but his manners prevented it from lingering. She squared her shoulders slightly, trying not to think about the fact that it was too hot to grab a blanket and wrap herself up. It was too late for that anyway.
“Good morning.”
“I’m so sorry if I woke you. I’m just reinforcing a few loose shingles that I’d missed. I had to get started before it got too hot, but I didn’t realize anyone was in there.” His gaze flickered again, and he looked at the wooden tiles covering the outside of the house. “When the guys put them up, they do so many so quickly, they aren’t as thorough as they should
“I haven’t ever let you explain, and I’m sorry. So I have an idea,” Faith said, turning the conversation in a totally different direction. It was time for her to take charge for once. She’d never done it before with Casey, but she’d learned to be strong. She knew she could. She’d always followed Casey’s lead, but right now, it seemed like, even though Faith had her own trust issues to deal with regarding Casey, they were in the past. Casey was losing a husband and the father to her daughter. “We’re on vacation. For two weeks. Let’s act like we’re on vacation. Leave all the baggage behind—the past, work, Scott. I will if you will.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Why? Look at this place. It’s amazing! It’s just like what we had as children. Let’s give that to Isabella. Let’s take it back for ourselves. We’ll deal with the rest in two weeks.” She stood still and looked at her sister.
Casey’s face showed contemplation. Then, a small smile emerged. “You’re right,” she said, nodding. Despite her agreement, she was clearly still thinking it over. But, one thing Faith knew about her sister was that when faced with the half-empty, half-full conundrum, Casey always chose half full. “Okay!” She laughed then, and unexpectedly, her laughter sent prickles of excitement up Faith’s arms. She hadn’t heard Casey’s laugh in so many years. It took until that moment to realize how much she’d missed it.
FOUR
Tap, tap, tap .
The hum of the paddle fan floated into Faith’s consciousness.
Tap, tap, tap .
Was there something wrong with the fan? The tapping came and went, but each time, it was the same—three taps and then silence. Faith rubbed her face to get enough focus to look at the clock. She blinked to try and see the numbers.
Tap, tap, tap .
Nine in the morning! She hadn’t slept that long in ages. She threw the covers off her legs, her silky shorts and camisole cool against her skin, and walked over to the window. She pulled back the sheer, gauzy fabric, the only barrier between her and the sun. Before she could focus on the view, she jumped with fright.
“Oh!” she cried, dropping the curtain and covering her mouth. She stood there for a moment, collecting herself.
Tap, tap, tap .
This time, the taps were right on the window. She swallowed, blinked her eyes again to clear them, and ran her fingers through her untamed hair. Self-conscious of her attire, or lack of, she debated on whether to change quickly, but he’d already seen her. She adjusted her top, tugging it down at the back to make the neckline dip a little less. Slowly, she pulled back the curtain again. Jake was on a ladder, right outside her window, a hammer in his hand. With his free hand, he motioned for her to open the window.
The lock slid back under her fingers and she lifted the pane of glass upward, heat coming at her like an open oven door.
“Mornin’,” he said, clearly trying to keep his eyes on her face. She could see the flicker of his gaze as it moved downward, but his manners prevented it from lingering. She squared her shoulders slightly, trying not to think about the fact that it was too hot to grab a blanket and wrap herself up. It was too late for that anyway.
“Good morning.”
“I’m so sorry if I woke you. I’m just reinforcing a few loose shingles that I’d missed. I had to get started before it got too hot, but I didn’t realize anyone was in there.” His gaze flickered again, and he looked at the wooden tiles covering the outside of the house. “When the guys put them up, they do so many so quickly, they aren’t as thorough as they should
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