2020-08-10 08:49:31.161863 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-26T09:39:08.551931+00:00

Lucie spent the rest of that day, as well as the next and much of both nights, putting the house in order while Gabe performed the outside chores and took long walks around the property with his father. Lucie would see the two men through the windows as she went about her chores. Gabe, a full head taller, would incline his head toward his father, obviously listening as the old man talked. Jonathan became increasingly animated and more his old self as they walked the property together, but Lucie saw with relief that there was no tension between father and son. In fact, she often heard them laughing together, the sound carried on the wind through the open windows of the house. At meals she listened, fascinated, as Jonathan and Gabe discussed business ideas, including Jonathan’s advice that Gabe should take advantage of any opportunity he might have to invest in business on Nantucket.

“This tourist business is bigger than whaling ever was. And it shows no sign of tapering off.”

“I’ll look into it,” Gabe promised.

The night before they were to leave for Boston, Adam came for supper and Jonathan greeted him as if there had been no time when Adam hadn’t been welcome. He told Adam about going to Boston for Gabe’s birthday.

“The way I see it, if Emma’s up to some fancy party, she’s well enough for us to bring her home once the party’s done. Right, Lucie?”

“I’m sure she’ll be happy to get back to Nantucket and her quilting,” Lucie assured him.

Gabe remained silent during these exchanges.

“Lucie offered to stay, but Emma would never give me a moment’s peace if I didn’t make sure Lucie was at that party. If I know my Emma, it’s some matchmaking she’s got in mind,” Jonathan added. “She’s got this idea that Lucie would be a good match for our Gabe here.”

Adam grunted and concentrated on his supper. Gabe paused in the act of buttering a slice of bread and Lucie dropped her fork.

All three men turned to look at her. “You all right, Lucie?” Jonathan asked.

Lucie swallowed around the wad of meat stuck in her throat and bent to retrieve the fork. “Fine,” she croaked as she reached for her water glass.

“Lucie?”

She blinked and realized Adam and Jonathan were standing on either side of her, worried frowns lining their aged faces. Gabe was half out of his chair, as well. “You all right?” Adam asked.

She nodded.

Reluctantly, the men went back to their places and resumed eating. “You gave us a fright there,” Adam said. “Thought you might have caught a bone in your throat the way you went all red in the face and couldn’t seem to say nothing.”

“I just swallowed wrong,” Lucie said, and mentally sent up a prayer for forgiveness of the small lie. “Did you gentlemen save room for pie?”

Jonathan grinned. “Is this girl a wonder? She’s been cleaning and cooking ever since she set foot inside the door. Is it any wonder Emma wants to adopt her?”

“Emma always did pine for a daughter,” Adam noted as Lucie busied herself with serving the pie.

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