LITMIR.BIZ

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Matt was like that. It was awful knowing my big brother was so lost.”

      “Lost,” Ruthy repeated. “That’s the word for Seth right now, but I’m not leaving it that way. I asked him to come here, hoping a new place would help him work through his troubles and get back to the way he used to be.”

      Lisa smiled. “Does Santa know about you?”

      “You’re distracting me.” Waving her away, Ruthy turned the stack of money over to begin counting again. But her pleased expression revealed how she felt about the compliment. “And that food is getting cold.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” Lisa took the tray and turned toward the steps. “I won’t be long.”

      “Stay up there and see if you can get him to take a break. I don’t want him wearing himself out,” she added in a worried tone.

      “What makes you think he’ll listen to me?”

      Ruthy laughed as if she’d just heard the world’s funniest joke. “Oh, honey, there’s not a man alive who wouldn’t drop whatever he’s doing to talk to you.”

      “Not Seth,” Lisa grumbled. “He’s immune to my charm.”

      As she headed upstairs, behind her she heard Ruthy mutter, “That’s what you think.”

      * * *

      Hearing light footsteps on the stairs, Seth expected it to be his aunt coming to check on him. When he glanced up from the oak plank he was measuring for a cut, he was shocked to see Lisa instead. Flustered by her unexpected visit, he stood up so fast he knocked his head on the sharp corner of the wall.

      “Are you okay?” she asked, hurrying toward him.

      “Yeah.” Rubbing his head, he added, “Just a klutz.”

      While she looked up at him, he hoped she didn’t think he was a complete moron. To his relief, she smiled. “You’ve been working really hard up here, so I thought you might be hungry. I left the tray on that table in the hall so the food wouldn’t get sawdust in it.”

      He’d been so focused on what he was doing, he hadn’t thought about food at all. The mention of it made his stomach rumble. “Actually, I’m starving.”

      “Then I guess it’s a good thing I showed up when I did.”

      Was it good? He hadn’t known her long, but he’d really enjoyed the brief time he’d spent with her. Lighthearted and chatty, she made him forget about everything but how much fun he had listening to her talk.

      Then again, she probably had that effect on every guy within ten miles. Seth wished he could just relax and let things happen between them naturally, but he was painfully aware he couldn’t let himself get too attached to anyone in particular. He’d come a long way, but he didn’t think he was ready for a sassy handful like Lisa Sawyer. He knew for a fact she wasn’t ready for him.

      That left them at friends, he supposed. For someone who felt adrift in his own life, there were much worse places he could find himself.

      “It’s pretty dusty in here,” he said. “You don’t have a mask, so you should really stay out in the hallway.”

      “Okay.”

      After he’d closed the door behind them, she asked, “Should I get out of your hair, or would you like some company while you eat?”

      In reply, he pulled up a wooden chair and brushed off the plaster dust that had accumulated while he was putting up Sheetrock in one of the rooms. When he motioned her to it, she smiled and sat down. “That new floor you’re putting down in there looks nice.”

      “The old one was pretty beat-up,” he agreed as he pulled up another chair and started in on his stew. Humming appreciation, he said, “Aunt Ruth’s a great cook, but this has always been my favorite. Thanks for bringing it.”

      “There’s plenty more if you want it. She always makes way too much.”

      “Then she takes the leftovers to that shelter in Kenwood,” Seth added.

      “That’s our Ruthy,” Lisa said fondly. “Feeding the world one mouth at a time.”

      After swallowing some sweet tea, Seth said, “You really love her, don’t you?”

      “Since I was a baby. She’s my godmother, and she insists I picked her the first time she held me.”

      “She was a friend of your parents, then.”

      Lisa’s nostalgic smile dipped into a frown, and she nodded. Seth felt awful for upsetting her, and he did something he never did. He asked a near-stranger a very personal question.

      “Is something wrong?”

      “No,” she responded with a sigh. “My parents are both gone is all. Dad died a couple of years ago, and I miss him most at the holidays.”

      Seth had pegged Lisa at about his age, and twenty-eight was way too young to have lost both parents. His heart twisted with an emotion he hadn’t felt in a long, long time: sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

      “Me, too.” After a couple of seconds, she appeared to shake off the sadness and asked, “So, do you have any plans after you’re done here?”

      “Not really.”

      “But you’re not staying in Harland?” When he shook his head, she laughed. “Yeah, me neither. It was great growing up here, but I know every nook and cranny of this place. I want to get out and see some of the world.”

      He managed a tight smile that he hoped told her he had no desire to pursue the subject of exploring any part of the world other than where he was currently standing. Thankfully, she switched tracks.

      “Your parents must be so proud of you, coming to help out like this,” she said. “Not many people would drop what they were doing to take on this job all by themselves.”

      Scooping gravy from the bottom of his bowl, he shrugged. “No big deal.”

      “Seth, look at me.”

      He dragged his eyes up to meet hers, and she rewarded him with another of her beautiful smiles. So far, he’d noticed six different versions, each one as amazing as the others. Not that he was counting.

      “You’re a good guy, and what you’re doing to help Ruthy is really nice. Don’t sell yourself short.”

      Her words were like salve to a soul that had taken more than its share of beatings, and he couldn’t help grinning. “Thanks.”

      “Anytime. Do you want some more?” she asked, pointing to the bowl he’d scraped clean with the soft bread.

      “No, I’m good. Thanks, though.”

      Giving him a parting smile, she headed back downstairs. The scent of her perfume lingered where she’d been sitting, and he debated what fragrance it was. He wasn’t much for gardening, so he settled on something flowery. It made him think of summertime when he was younger, when the biggest decision he had to make was where the fish would be biting that day. And which fishing hole attracted the prettiest girls for swimming.

      Those were the days, he thought with a sigh, full of simple plans and even simpler pleasures. It was a shame he hadn’t appreciated them more when he had the chance. Pushing the past into the rear of his mind where it belonged, he stood up and got back to work.

      * * *

      Wednesday afternoon, Seth caught up with Lisa while she was at the lunch counter, filling a long row of sugar shakers. “Are you busy?”

      Pausing in midpour, she cocked an eyebrow at him. “Do I look busy?”

      “Kinda.”

      “Trust me, I’m not. Go ahead.”

      “This morning at breakfast, Aunt Ruth told me she wants to change out all

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