Moving On Read Online Free Page B

Hmm, maybe breakfast at her door every morning for a week and sitting on a porch and listening to birds and golfers having a good time could have had benefits.
    Since it wasn’t far from one part of town to the other, she’d probably see the temporary B&B host around. No, she wouldn’t think about what caused his amputation or what he did. If questions about her life before she moved here were off limits, then she didn’t have a right to ask about his. Besides, conversations always turned back to the questioner, and Anna wasn’t going to answer for a while.
    With the morning sun dappled through the trees, the house looked welcoming. She opened her hatchback and pulled the largest piece of luggage to the ground, then extended the handle and bounced it up the steps to the back door.
    Anna dropped the key when booming, contagious laughter rumbled over the hedge. Mrs. Lamb’s giggle followed. The catching, vicarious fun rippled through the air.
    Nick’s white teeth flashed against his tanned complexion as he strolled confidently toward her. His black hair revealed indigo streaks from the morning sun. He wore blue bib overalls, a T-shirt and black work boots. The calluses on his palm flashed as he thumbed at the tears that pooled in the laugh lines of his face.
    Mrs. Lamb was on his heels. “I told Herman I’m checking with the doctor. Some of the most outrageous things have been coming out of his mouth since his surgery and the new medication.”
    Nick’s merriment gave one last shudder as he stepped forward, extended his hand, and introduced himself to her once again. “Nick Donnelly, temporary town foreman.”
    Anna reached for his hand and held the firm grip, basking in the feeling of transferred mirth. Her smile spread widely. “Anna Jenkins, permanent resident.”
    She felt a tiny affinity with this man who appeared whole, no missing limbs apparent, his challenge hidden. He loosened his grip. “I have a work order to turn on the water.”
    “Yes, please.” She released his hand. “What do I have to do?”
    “I’ll check for split lines or a cracked hot water heater first. John, the previous owner, was thorough. The water pipes should be fine.”
    “This is valuable information. Thank you.” Anna bit her lip. Murray had been thorough, too. All of her life she’d been forthright, but Murray’s death did strange things to her personality, or so the grief counselors explained. Maybe this really was her. Secretive. She’d learned to keep confidential information while she worked at the hospital. Just once when she was new to the profession, she gave out information to someone who wasn’t on the family list. She’d worried for weeks if the hospital would be sued because of her blunder.
    “Coming?” he called as he turned his back.
    She trailed behind the black T-shirt down some steps and watched it ripple and pull as Nick stretched and turned. Her mind wondered where this man’s ability to share rolling, rocking, wide, open-mouth mirth came from. His loss wasn’t any laughing matter.
    “Ms. Jenkins, we’re ready to go.”
    “Huh?”
    “Go upstairs and open all of the taps. When they stop spitting and sputtering, turn them off.”
    Anna retreated up the stairs before he turned and caught her staring at his back like someone who had been awoken in the middle of a dream. The pipes in the kitchen and bathroom pulsed when the valve was opened. She rushed from the kitchen to the bathroom and with her hand on the taps, felt the vibration stop. She pushed her wet hand over her heated cheeks and through her hair. When she looked up, his brown eyes were scrutinizing her actions.
    She found herself shouting, “Everything’s under control.” Her tongue searched her dry mouth for a drop of saliva.
    He stepped back and allowed her to pass. When she turned and looked around over his left shoulder, the stripped bed caught her attention. She stumbled against the wall. Nick reached out and touched her shoulder.