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“You know how phones are,” I explained for the fourth time that day, this time to Ms. Ellison, who most likely had no idea what I meant about the phone. She seemed like the type to use a landline or, if she dared, a Nokia. “Even if you can’t unlock them, you can call an emergency number, and Max’s little fingers had the right touch.”
“Oh dear,” Ms. Ellison gasped with a chuckle. “I bet you were terrified.”
“It wasn’t a shining moment for me, that’s for sure.”
Of all my neighbors who had stopped by, Ms. Ellison was the only one to invite herself in, and took a seat on my old couch. I politely served her some coffee, hoping she wouldn’t stay long, but I had to admit it was nice chatting with an adult for a change. Being a single mom hadn’t lent itself to a huge social life, and I didn’t realize until then how much I missed chatting with “adult” words.
“Where’s your son?” Ms. Ellison asked. “I’d love to meet him.”
“He naps every day before noon. So much energy and he wears himself out.”
“Oh, I remember when my kids were that little. I used to live for those small breaks when they would close their little eyes.”
“How old are they now?”
“Oh,” she laughed sheepishly. “Forty-two and forty-five. Both single. Both without kids. Both live in the city. They are happy, though, and take care of themselves and each other, so I can’t complain. But how nice is it to have a little one around the neighborhood again?”
“I used to live in the city,” I sipped my coffee and shrugged. “Just needed to get away to raise Max in a smaller area. The city was hard on him with all the noises and people. He clung to me every time we left our apartment, and I knew he needed some grass to play in, and room to spread his little wings.”
I didn’t elaborate, but with my mom and dad gone and me being an only child, there were no more ties keeping me in Atlanta. Especially after my ex proved once and forallhe had no interest in being a father. Since I worked from home, I knew I could go anywhere, and when the house fell into my lap, I took the chance and made the change.
Eventually, I wanted to buy Max and me our own house—something like the one on the hill that everyone passes when they drive into Harmony Haven. It had a white fence around theentire property, a pond, and what looked like stables off to the side. Every time I drove past it, I felt like it was the castle of Harmony Haven. Whoever lived there probably reigned over the small town and was the envy of everyone who drove by on the old two-lane highway.
“Oh dear,” Ms. Ellison stood from the couch. “I guess I better get home and make some lunch.”
In my daze, things had gotten quiet, and there really wasn’t much else to say. At least not then and there. But of all the neighbors I had met that morning, Ms. Ellison seemed to be the most warm and kind. I also appreciated that she was capable of seeing when it was time to leave.
“Thank you for stopping by,” I stood with her. “Maybe next time we chat, Max will be awake and you can meet him.”
“I’d love that! And dear? I’m just across the road if you need anything. No kids anymore, and Mr. Ellison is no longer with us. I’m free as a bird, so never hesitate.”
“Thank you,” I smiled, truly appreciative of her words as I stood to escort her out.
A loud bang sounded, right before I opened the door, making both Ms. Ellison and me jump back. The noise repeated itself, and I looked toward the stairs, worried Max would wake up.
“Is that a hammer?” Ms. Ellison asked, opening the door wide enough for us both to see out the screen door. My eyes bulged when I saw the man on my front steps, banging a hammer over and over again.
“Excuse me?” I shouted over the noise. He looked up at Ms. Ellison and then at me, a smile as bright as the sun making his unmistakable blue eyes shine. “Lieutenant Brooks?”
“Afternoon ladies,” he nodded. “Don’t mind me. Just fixing these steps, doing the job I was asked to do.”
Asked to do?
“Well,” Ms. Ellison smiled and patted my shoulders. “I’ll let you two discuss whatever needs to be discussed. But I assure you, Jesse, I’ll be back for coffee in the morning and want full details.”
With a wink, she walked out past Lieutenant Brooks, patting him on the shoulder as if she knew who he was. Which she probably did. Harmony Haven may not have been the kind ofsmallwhere everyone knew everyone, but it was safe to bet it was small enough for someone to know someone.
Lieutenant Brooks smiled and nodded as Ms. Ellison left, then looked back at me. “Don’t mind me, I’ll be done in a jippy.”
A jippy?
“No wait,” I stopped him, before he could swing the hammer again. “My son is napping, please stop.”
He withheld his next swing, and the muscles in his arms flexed under the sleeve of his white T-shirt. In the dim light of my living room, there was no mistaking how attractive he was. But that image was no match to the bright sun shining on his sweaty forearms and the way his muscles moved under the thin cotton of his shirt.
“I’m so sorry,” he winced, standing to his full height. “My brother asked me to finish a few things on the house and I didn’t have your number, so I just decided to get to work.”
“You didn’t think to knock first?” I crossed my arms, trying to keep my eyes on his, and not on the way his jeans hung on his hips. “And what’s this, your day job?”
