Before he could find his voice, she opened the front door and headed home.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
Xander jumped as Alethea looked over his shoulder, squinting at the ridiculous sketches he’d been scribbling for the better part of the last few days. Unfortunately—or maybe he had been lucky—Gil Hamilton had postponed their meeting, but the extra time had turned into a curse as panic and pressure blocked every ounce of creativity for the last two days.
Feeling as if he’d been caught reading his sister’s diary, Xander flicked the notebook shut and stood up to refill his coffee mug. “The mayor and committee weren’t exactly thrilled with the plans I showed them. I’m trying to come up with something new.” Something that would impress the red-headed committee of one.
“What did you show them?” Alethea riffled through the illustrations and plans on the table.
“Antony threw something together for them. You know, just...”
“Oh, I know.” Alethea unearthed the drawing he’d shown Gil and Calliope at the diner. “Gee, they didn’t like this? I wonder why. Because it looks like everything else Antony comes up with? Not that there isn’t a market for designs like that. Just not...” She glanced over her shoulder to the sunshine-rich day. “Here. And this isn’t you at all.”
“You and Calliope really should start a club.”
Alethea grinned but ducked her head quickly.
“What?”
“I was just wondering if you realized your mouth does this funny twitch whenever her name comes up. Like you’re laughing at some private joke.”
“It does not.” He covered his mouth with his hand.
“Yeah, kinda does.” She sank back in the chair and sighed.
In the time since his sister had arrived in Butterfly Harbor, she had yet to get anything more than a quick breath of fresh air on the front porch. They were nearly out of tea, not to mention coffee and just about every morsel of food in the house. He’d actually found himself looking longingly at the last bundle of kale from Calliope’s garden.
Alethea’s conversation with their mother and brother hadn’t gone too badly. Xander had made a preemptive strike, calling beforehand to let both Antony and his mother know that Alethea was taking the lead from now on. She was an adult, she knew what she needed and if what she needed was time to figure out what to do in the short term, that’s what they would give her. And while Antony could browbeat him as much as he wanted about coming home where he “belonged,” Xander didn’t want to hear anything like that being thrown at Alethea.
“You must be going stir-crazy. I know I am.” Xander finally pushed out the thought he’d been keeping at bay. “How about we take a walk around town? Check out the diner for lunch? There are some great spots to shop for Christmas presents. I bet I’m ahead of you.” He gestured to the small gift bags on the side table.
Alethea blinked. “You shopped yourself?”
“I did.” It was a bit sad how proud he was about that. “Even bought you something. But you have to wait for Christmas.”
“Yeah. Christmas.” She winced. “I’m not really feeling the whole holiday-spirit thing.”
“I get that.” Xander decided against another cup of coffee and emptied his mug in the sink. “I still think you need to get out in the fresh air and sunshine. If Main Street doesn’t appeal, how about a farm?”
“A farm? Like with goats and pigs and cows?”
“Ah, no.” Xander laughed. “More like vegetables and honey bees and a meditative herb-and-flower garden.”
Alethea’s eyes narrowed.
“It, um, might be Calliope’s place.”
“Oh. Well, that makes sense.” She heaved a sigh and stood up to stretch. “Okay, yeah, sure. I’m actually feeling a little hungry, too. Let me change and we can go.”
“Great. I’ll meet you in the main lobby. I need to verify my checkout time.”
“Your...what?” Alethea’s eyes went wide. “You’re leaving already?”
“Flying out the day after tomorrow. Which reminds me, I need to get you a ticket.” He really must be scattered not to have thought about that earlier.