Lessons of a Lowcountry Summer by Rochelle Alers Page A

one in the back.”
    Jeff had explained the layout of the house to Theo. Two bedrooms with adjoining full baths, sitting and dressing rooms took up the entire second floor. Two guest bedrooms were on the first floor. The one in the rear of the house was larger than the one in a wing off the kitchen, which faced southeast and afforded a view of the ocean and unlimited daylight.
    Theo took a quick tour of the spacious house while the boys unloaded the bags from the SUV. The house and what he had seen of the island were ideal for his work. He knew Helen would be more than pleased with the large, state-of-the-art kitchen. Each bedroom had a fireplace, and the French and Colonial furnishings were in keeping with the house’s eighteenth-century design.
    The seating arrangement in the family room, with angled sofa, chairs, and a love seat, was more appealing than if the furniture had been positioned parallel to the walls. French doors and mullioned windows let in light despite the cloudy, rainy weather.
    Theo walked out to the porch and found Helen waiting for him. “How do you like it?”
    Helen stared out at the mist above a copse of oak trees shrouded with soggy Spanish moss. The rain was tapering off. “It’s not me, Theo, but those kids.”
    â€œYou don’t think they’ll like it here?”
    Shifting, she stared at her employer. Theodore did not have a clue. She might not have had any children, but she was aunt to enough nieces and nephews to know something about children. “It’s too remote. Will there be other kids their age to interact with? How long will it be before they become bored?”
    â€œI don’t know and I can’t think about that now.”
    He wanted to tell Helen that the money he would earn for writing the pilot and scripts would generate enough income so that he would not have to accept another project for the next five years. And he needed to devote the next five years to his siblings. In five years Christian and Brandon would have graduated college and Noelle would be entering college. Brandon, a student in an accelerated academic track who had advanced a grade, was now a high school senior along with Christian.
    Cradling an arm under Helen’s elbow, Theo escorted her to the Lexus. Waiting until she was seated and belted in, he rounded the vehicle and took his seat behind the wheel. Glancing at the porch before turning on the ignition, he saw his brothers and sister standing together. They were watching him.
    Suddenly it hit him! He was all they had. They were watching him leave, wondering if he would come back or vanish within seconds, like their parents. He turned the key but did not shift into gear. Seconds later, he opened the door and walked back to the porch. He was met with three quizzical stares.
    â€œCome on.”
    Uncertainty filled Christian’s gaze. He and Brandon had changed their clothes. “I thought you said we had to unpack.”
    Theo smiled. “You have the rest of the summer to unpack. We’ll eat out, then we’ll shop for food.”
    â€œHot damn,” Christian whispered, while Brandon led Noelle to the Lexus.
    Theo curved an arm around Christian’s neck, holding him in a tight embrace. “You are going to have to watch your mouth when the ladies are present, brother.”
    â€œWhat ladies?”
    â€œMiss Helen and Noelle.”
    â€œNoelle’s a girl.”
    Theo tightened his grip. “She’s a lady, Chris, and I want you to respect her. You’re her role model when it comes to selecting a boy she’d like to date. And if she’s used to hearing profanity, then she won’t be repulsed by it.”
    â€œAre you really that lame, Theo? I’ve read stories about you dating four honeys at the same time. And I used to say to myself, ‘Man, he’s got it goin’ on.’ But after living with you, I don’t know what to think.”
    â€œThey were just