Terri gave a tiny smile. “Beach owners the world over would love me.”
“Not difficult to do,” Brody said.
“Thanks.” She put her hand on the door. “Okay, I’ll do it for the money. But you do the negotiating. I’m planning to stay away from him.”
“I have a couch,” he said.
“I may use it.” Terri left the office, closing the door behind her.
Anna didn’t look up. “Here,” she said as she held out a list of things Terri had to do.
“Oh goody. What’s in store for me to do today?”
“Same as always. Just because you were gone doesn’t mean anyone else did your jobs. The Farleys are threatening to use a rifle if you—”
“Don’t do anything about whatever their problem is,” Terri finished. “Sure. I’ll get on it.” She was looking down the list. “Anything important?”
“I found your notebook.” Anna nodded toward the little table by the wall.
Terri looked at it in puzzlement. She’d had it with her when she was in Richmond and she’d jotted down some boat prices. Since she’d gone straight home, how did the notebook get into Anna’s office? “How did—”
“Yeah, I’ll be there!” Anna yelled toward Brody’s office, then stood up and looked at Terri. “Anything else you need from me or are you going to spend the day in here looking at pictures on the wall?”
“No, I—” She didn’t say more because Anna went into Brody’s office and closed the door behind her.
“What a weird day,” Terri said.
By lunchtime, she didn’t know if she was angry or ready to laugh. Everything on her list had already been done. The heavy grill that had fallen had been set upright. Bungee cords were holding down the lids to garbage cans. Two boat motors had been fixed. A glass repairman had been called for a window. Calling servicemen was something the residents never did for themselves. Why should they since Terri and her toolbox were at their beck and call? A child’s bicycle had been found. Poison ivy vines had been pulled off a tree. Four boys were having a loud discussion about how rugby was a better sport than American football.
The answer that Terri heard to her every question was, “Nate.” He fixed it; he said it; he suggested it; he showed them how. Mostly it was, “Nate did it.” With his superhuman strength, he’d lifted the iron barbecue grill. With his extraordinary intelligence, he’d figured out how to lock the garbage can lids down. This was said as Terri stood there with bungee cords in her hand.
“He was great,” said Mrs. Williams. Her husband only visited every other weekend. “Nate used my phone and called a local repairman. He should be here—Oh! There he is now. Isn’t Nate just fabulous?” She ran toward the van pulling into her driveway.
“He can use a phone,” Terri muttered. “Truly gifted man.”
A little girl on a pink bicycle rode by and waved at Terri. “Nate found my bike,” she called.
Terri put on a smile. “I bet it was on Timmy Gresson’s porch because he wanted you to visit him,” she said under her breath.
“Timmy had it,” the girl called over her shoulder.
With an eye roll, Terri went back to her boat. There was one more thing on her li
st. The Coldmans needed their huge cabin cruiser on its long trailer put into the water. Mr. Coldman, an attorney, couldn’t back up a trailer to save his life, so someone in the office—meaning Brody or Terri—had to back it up for him.
When she pulled up at the dock, the big boat was already in the water. Mrs. Coldman waved and called out, “Thanks for sending Nate to help us. Is he your boyfriend?”
“No,” Terri shouted back. “He’s not.”
“Too bad. If I weren’t already married I’d go after him.” She laughed as though she was the only person to ever have said that cliché.
Terri managed to give a weak smile and a wave, then she turned her boat toward home. But when she got halfway across the water, a wicked little smile transformed her face. She went from anger to smirking. Turning around, she headed back to Club Circle.
Mr. Nathaniel Taggert wanted to play games, did he? Well, let the best woman win!
Chapter 3
Terri was sitting in the wooden chair in front of her house, sipping a beer and looking out over the dark water. It was nearly 9:00 p.m. when she heard the glass door behind her open. Ah, she thought, wonder if he’s tired. She repressed a snicker.