A Shore Thing by Julie Carobini

Author:Julie Carobini
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2010-08-12T22:00:00+00:00

GAGE

HUNGER HAD DETERRED GAGE from inputting even one more piece of data into the Computer-Aided Design software on his computer. He pulled into his drive, grateful he lived close enough to dash home and eat a late lunch or really an early dinner, still able to return to the office for another long night.

A sleek, black car, far less practical than his truck, sat in his drive.

He called in through his front door. “Hello?”

“Hi, Mr. Mitchell.”

The babysitter. He had been so focused on the intensity of his work that Gage had forgotten that Suz would still be at Callie’s, and Jer’s babysitter would be here with him. He scooped up Jer as he ran down the hall. “Hey, buddy. This your new sitter?”

Jer bobbed his head. “She’s funny.”

Gage leaned against the wall while Jer bounced in his arms. “Is that right? Nice to see you again, Tori. I just stopped in to grab a bite to take back to the office with me.”

“That’s fine. We’re just playing. Wanna go get one of your toys, Jeremiah?” She plucked Jer from his arms and scampered with him down the hallway.

Since Suz and Jer moved in, the refrigerator held more surprises than it had with just a bachelor in residence. Leftovers made the world go ’round, he always thought, probably because their mother loved to cook. That and she sold Tupperware for a time, so something could always be found burped and sealed within the many-sized containers they owned. From all the dated terra-cotta hued plastic inside their fridge, Suz had acquired much of their mother’s collection.

He set an iron skillet atop the gas burner and began warming his lunch: turkey stroganoff over egg noodles. As the kitchen began to swirl with the aroma, Gage’s stomach protested the long wait. He switched on the television in the living room to pass the time.

Commercials on every channel. He increased the volume and turned to check on lunch. Jeremiah’s heavy steps clomped down the hall and followed him into the kitchen. His nephew clambered onto a chair. “Whatcha eatin’?”

“Your mother’s stroganoff. You hungry?”

Jer pumped his head forward and back. Tori wandered in and laughed. “You eat a lot!” She looked at Gage, her eyes agog. “I already gave him a big lunch and an even bigger bowl of ice cream. And he’s still hungry?”

Gage’s smile grew deeper. “He’s a growing boy!”

A voice wafted from the television. “Our visitor today is a young woman who is making quite a splash in her community and quite quickly, I might add.”

Gage glanced at Tori. “Would you mind going and shutting off the TV? I’ve changed my mind about watching it.”

“No prob.”

The stroganoff sizzled and Gage dished up two bowls of different sizes. He called to Tori? “Would you like something to eat?”

She didn’t answer so he peered through the doorway, into the living room. The young girl stared at the screen. With her hair pulled back into that ponytail, he could see the stern grit of her teeth, the furrow laced above her brow.

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