ignore.
But work on the inn was mercifully far from complete. Mel knelt next to Danny in the living room and explained how to cut the laminate flooring, how to snap it in place, how to seal the edges. She occasionally repeated one of Walter’s expressions, making Danny snicker when her voice slipped into an imitation of Walter’s nasal tone.
They laughed and chatted as they worked, and Mel’s mind was at least somewhat occupied and off Pam. How different this was from her first day, when she had sat on the floor in despair, refusing to let Pam help her. She had moved from observer to participant to teacher.
With Danny’s help, and her own improving skill, she laid the laminate floor in half the time it had taken her to do the smaller bedroom she had started with the week before. The job looked neat and professional, and she and Danny celebrated by taking a picnic lunch to the beach.
Mel watched Danny throw pieces of driftwood for Piper to fetch, and she finally allowed herself to dwell on Pam’s changing moods.
She had been avoiding Pam the past few days, but she had noticed Pam seemed to be staying out of her way, as well. Mel hadn’t seen her painting at all since she had come to the house, and she had been so concerned about her own loneliness and attraction to Pam that she hadn’t really considered how difficult it might be for Pam to be away from her own home. Away from her routine and privacy. Mel had seen the starfish painting in the small laundry room. Maybe Pam painted in there, alone and quiet, without Mel and her projects and now her active teenaged son surrounding her.
An idea started to form in Mel’s imagination, a way to give Pam a studio space while also creating a useful extra room for her inn.
And a way to selfishly have a chance to stay in touch with Pam after she moved back to her own home and completed the commissioned paintings. With her vision in mind, Mel began mentally listing the supplies she’d need to buy and the steps she’d have to take to complete the project. Her first step was to share her idea with Pam as soon as she got home.
❖
Mel drove Danny into town to pick up a pizza for dinner, and she left him in the living room hunting for a movie for them to watch while she took Piper back to Pam. She had noticed a now-familiar cloud of smoke in the backyard when she’d gone into the kitchen for pop and ice. The dog raced over to Pam for a brief reunion before she set off to explore the backyard. Mel followed more slowly, enjoying the sight of Pam leaning against the weathered madrona. The old tree had watched over countless guests at the old house, and Mel hoped it would see many more when she finally opened the Sea Glass Inn for business. She felt a kinship with the tree. Aged and battle scarred, observing life quietly from a distance. She could so easily picture Pam painting in the refinished studio while she and the madrona watched from the sidelines.
“Thanks for keeping Piper today,” Pam said once Mel was near.
“She’s easy company, and Danny loves dogs,” Mel said. “I hope you don’t mind we took her in the car.”
“Not at all. She likes to go for rides.” Pam exhaled a deep puff of smoke.
“How did it go with the contractor?” Mel asked. After her efforts to avoid Pam over the past few days, Mel was surprised to feel disappointment at the thought of Pam moving back home so soon.
Pam shrugged. “He’s starting work next week. Typical though, he won’t make any promises about how long it will take. Hopefully I won’t be in your hair too much longer.”
“I like having you here,” Mel admitted. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I got a call this morning from a couple who are planning a wedding in Cannon Beach. Their venue canceled at the last minute because of some water damage from the storm, and they want to have the ceremony here in a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, and you need me out of here by then,” Pam said, pushing off
But work on the inn was mercifully far from complete. Mel knelt next to Danny in the living room and explained how to cut the laminate flooring, how to snap it in place, how to seal the edges. She occasionally repeated one of Walter’s expressions, making Danny snicker when her voice slipped into an imitation of Walter’s nasal tone.
They laughed and chatted as they worked, and Mel’s mind was at least somewhat occupied and off Pam. How different this was from her first day, when she had sat on the floor in despair, refusing to let Pam help her. She had moved from observer to participant to teacher.
With Danny’s help, and her own improving skill, she laid the laminate floor in half the time it had taken her to do the smaller bedroom she had started with the week before. The job looked neat and professional, and she and Danny celebrated by taking a picnic lunch to the beach.
Mel watched Danny throw pieces of driftwood for Piper to fetch, and she finally allowed herself to dwell on Pam’s changing moods.
She had been avoiding Pam the past few days, but she had noticed Pam seemed to be staying out of her way, as well. Mel hadn’t seen her painting at all since she had come to the house, and she had been so concerned about her own loneliness and attraction to Pam that she hadn’t really considered how difficult it might be for Pam to be away from her own home. Away from her routine and privacy. Mel had seen the starfish painting in the small laundry room. Maybe Pam painted in there, alone and quiet, without Mel and her projects and now her active teenaged son surrounding her.
An idea started to form in Mel’s imagination, a way to give Pam a studio space while also creating a useful extra room for her inn.
And a way to selfishly have a chance to stay in touch with Pam after she moved back to her own home and completed the commissioned paintings. With her vision in mind, Mel began mentally listing the supplies she’d need to buy and the steps she’d have to take to complete the project. Her first step was to share her idea with Pam as soon as she got home.
❖
Mel drove Danny into town to pick up a pizza for dinner, and she left him in the living room hunting for a movie for them to watch while she took Piper back to Pam. She had noticed a now-familiar cloud of smoke in the backyard when she’d gone into the kitchen for pop and ice. The dog raced over to Pam for a brief reunion before she set off to explore the backyard. Mel followed more slowly, enjoying the sight of Pam leaning against the weathered madrona. The old tree had watched over countless guests at the old house, and Mel hoped it would see many more when she finally opened the Sea Glass Inn for business. She felt a kinship with the tree. Aged and battle scarred, observing life quietly from a distance. She could so easily picture Pam painting in the refinished studio while she and the madrona watched from the sidelines.
“Thanks for keeping Piper today,” Pam said once Mel was near.
“She’s easy company, and Danny loves dogs,” Mel said. “I hope you don’t mind we took her in the car.”
“Not at all. She likes to go for rides.” Pam exhaled a deep puff of smoke.
“How did it go with the contractor?” Mel asked. After her efforts to avoid Pam over the past few days, Mel was surprised to feel disappointment at the thought of Pam moving back home so soon.
Pam shrugged. “He’s starting work next week. Typical though, he won’t make any promises about how long it will take. Hopefully I won’t be in your hair too much longer.”
“I like having you here,” Mel admitted. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I got a call this morning from a couple who are planning a wedding in Cannon Beach. Their venue canceled at the last minute because of some water damage from the storm, and they want to have the ceremony here in a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, and you need me out of here by then,” Pam said, pushing off
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