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“She did. I also stopped and picked up the paint you ordered, along with brushes and rollers and more tape.” Liam turned in a circle, taking in the place. “Wow. It’s like stepping into a time machine.”
I snorted softly. “You should have seen the wallpaper.” I motioned him to follow me into the living room. “I tarped off the fireplace last night and put all the plants and furniture in the middle of the room. You want to cut in and I’ll roll?”
Liam looked around before settling his green gaze back on me. “Actually, Mr. Boggs said he and Harley would be over to help out today too. Maybe you can just get the next few rooms ready for paint while we do this one?”
That was news to me. I’d only told Dec that Liam was coming over today to help out around the place. “Oh! Well, um, sure.”
Liam had barely gotten the supplies ready when the doorbell rang again and suddenly the house was filled with Harley’s booming voice and Dec’s deep grumble. When I came into the living room, I caught Dec’s gaze on my ass. When I raised my eyebrow at him, he shot me a wink. He had a love/hate relationship with these shorts, I knew.
“Kenna!” Harley gave me a bear hug, then kept his arm around my shoulder, mostly to piss off Dec. It was working based on the death glare his best friend gave him. I elbowed Harley in the ribs and he finally let go with a raspy chuckle.
We all worked side by side for a few hours before my back protested all the bending over and pushing of furniture. I already had two blisters on my hands and a headache from the smell of fresh paint. Stepping back into the living room, I gasped. The three males had painted the entire thing, along with a fresh coat of white on the ceiling. No more mint-green and coral walls. The light gray looked amazing against the hardwood floors and the blue of the ocean view out the expansive glass sliders.
Tears blurred my vision. This house had been a nightmare when I first walked in, but it was growing on me. A little paint, less wallpaper, an updated kitchen, and it would be stunning. I felt Dec’s hand on my lower back.
“Happy or sad tears?” he asked under his breath. I swiveled to look at him, seeing concern on his face.
“Happy.” I sucked in a deep breath and reined in my emotions. “Who’s up for pizza?”
Harley and Liam cheered. Dec pressed a kiss to the side of my head before leaving my side to help the guys clean up. I called in a pizza delivery, ordering three times what I thought we’d eat, figuring I’d save the leftovers. The doorbell rang just ten minutes later. I swung it open, thinking the pizza deliverers must be magical, but Laurie stood on my doorstep, her signature long skirt fluttering in the ocean breeze.
“Laurie!” I gave her a hug, then stepped back to let her in.
“I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I can help or simply be a runner for food.” She held up her hand, a six-pack of beer held aloft. “Figured the adult boys would appreciate this.”
Those tears that I’d held at bay threatened again. I didn’t know Laurie well and yet she’d come over to offer her assistance to a stranger. People here in Sunshine Key were different. Accepting of an outsider, even if they initially gave me some crap for being a Californian.
“Thank you! I’d love your opinion on some decorative things, actually.”
I gave her a brief tour of the house. The pizza came shortly after and we all sat on the flamingo chairs in the dining room, the boys telling stories about Maeve while we ate and drank.
“Do you remember when she bought a Jet Ski and started doing donuts? Said the waves would attract the dolphins to come in closer to shore.” Harley almost choked on his beer. “I thought she died.”
Dec started giggling and it was the best sound I’d ever heard. “She flew right off the damn Jet Ski. I’ll never get over seeing her body flying through the air. We ran into the water and pulled her out, her dark hair covering her face.”
Harley continued the story, wiping at his eyes. “I wasn’t sure if we’d have to do mouth-to-mouth, but she came out of the water laughing. The stubborn woman got right back on and did it again.”
“Thing is, she was right. Two dolphins came swimming up right outside her house after she finally cut the engine and climbed off.” Dec shook his head, still grinning. “Maeve was one of a kind.”
Laurie pulled her mass of hair on top of her hair and secured it with a hair tie. “She bought my first painting after the divorce,” she said softly. “Maeve was always the first to support another woman.”
Liam piped up. “I don’t know, Mom. I think she supported everyone. She always bought my coupon book when we sold them door-to-door to fund our football team.”
“I wish I’d been able to get to know her,” I said quietly, the ache pulling on my chest. “I feel like living here, amongst her friends and in her house, is helping.”
Dec’s head tilted. “Might be why she did what she did with her will.”
I smiled, but it was sad. My aunt had been thinking of me, even at the end. Sadly, I’d never get to tell her thank you. Never get to tell her that her gift had plucked me out of a nightmare of a life and given me another chance.
Liam clapped his hands. “We still have two bedrooms to paint.”
Laurie rolled her eyes at her son while Harley and Dec groaned. “Such a taskmaster, Lima bean.”
Liam grimaced. “Mom.” He whined like only a teenager can when their parent embarrasses them.
We all got back to work, and Laurie had a fantastic idea for the wall remaining around the glass slider leading to the back porch.
“I want to paint a mural for Maeve. A vibrant green landscape of tropical plants.”
