wished Eva May had it right this time.
****
Tappe Vanderberg leaned against the counter at Foster’s Hardware and Plumbing and waited for Jim Foster, his best friend from high school, to finish with a customer. Beside him, the store’s cat, a fat yellow tabby, cocked her head and looked at him with suspicious eyes, then proceeded to completely ignore him and wash her paws. It was exceptionally busy in the store, teeming with weekenders of the do-it-yourself variety and snowbirds down for a winter respite, but making around-the-house repairs requiring wrenches, screwdrivers, nuts, bolts, and screws. Never losing his stride, Jim cheerfully waited on customer after customer, never losing his patience either. When the last shopper left, Jim sauntered over to him. He gave Tappe a lopsided grin and extended a friendly handshake accompanied by a thumping back slap. “Well, well, look what my cat dragged in!”
“Your cat is so spoiled and useless, I don’t think it could drag in a mouse already dead.” Tappe’s mouth twisted in a warm smile.
“Don’t let my daughters hear you say anything negative about Whitney.”
“Whitney? You named the cat Whitney? Like Whitney Houston? Eli Whitney?”
“No, you dimwit, like Whitney Egan. Player for the National Women’s Soccer League.”
“Your girls are old enough to play soccer?” Tappe shook his head. “Amazing. Who would have thought you’d actually settle down and take over your father’s store? It seems like just yesterday we used to sneak in here and scrounge tools and supplies for our crazy projects.”
“Like building a raft to navigate the back waters? Who did we think we were? Tom Sawyer? Huckleberry Finn? But hey, it’s good to see you. What can I do for you?”
“We always did love the water, didn’t we?” Tappe pushed an outdoor faucet toward him. “Dad and I are redoing the water lines at the marina and putting a main line to the front of the building to make it easier to wash the docks.”
“So you’re planning to stay? You really bought Dawson’s old marina?” Jim ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair, only mussing it more. It tumbled over his ears and collar and gave him a disheveled look like a German wirehaired pointer. “I never thought you’d give up a wandering life to settle down.”
“Trust me. It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.”
Jim grunted and fiddled with the faucet. “Heard you were in the Netherlands for a few years.”
“A few.” Tappe’s tone was subdued. He didn’t want to remember those few years when his internet security business was enlarging, growing stronger and vibrant—and his two-year marriage to Helena was waning and dissolving into a nasty divorce before his very eyes.
The phone rang and Jim excused himself to answer it. From the grimace on his face, his wrinkled eyebrows and quick intake of breath, Tappe suspected the conversation might be an urgent one. Minutes later, Jim returned, shaking his head in disbelief. “Melanie Houston called. It seems Kate Clark dropped her diamond down the kitchen sink at her aunt’s house. Those two are always losing things in the drain at their shop. I told them to put a safety screen over them, but I swear, sometimes a woman’s mind is like a radio with a loose antenna. It’s running, but not picking up signals.”
Tappe chuckled. “Well, according to a recent study of the human brain, women may be the better listeners. Supposedly men only use the left side of their brains, but women use both.”
“Oh, please, don’t tell my wife and daughters I’m functioning with half a brain. I’d never have any peace at home.” Jim shook his head, grimaced, then continued in sinking tones. “Worse yet, I can’t help Kate ’cause all my plumbers are out on jobs. I told Melanie I’d get someone there as soon as I can.”
The sound of Kate’s name sent Tappe’s emotions and thoughts swirling and whirling like sand on the beach in a wind storm. Before he
****
Tappe Vanderberg leaned against the counter at Foster’s Hardware and Plumbing and waited for Jim Foster, his best friend from high school, to finish with a customer. Beside him, the store’s cat, a fat yellow tabby, cocked her head and looked at him with suspicious eyes, then proceeded to completely ignore him and wash her paws. It was exceptionally busy in the store, teeming with weekenders of the do-it-yourself variety and snowbirds down for a winter respite, but making around-the-house repairs requiring wrenches, screwdrivers, nuts, bolts, and screws. Never losing his stride, Jim cheerfully waited on customer after customer, never losing his patience either. When the last shopper left, Jim sauntered over to him. He gave Tappe a lopsided grin and extended a friendly handshake accompanied by a thumping back slap. “Well, well, look what my cat dragged in!”
“Your cat is so spoiled and useless, I don’t think it could drag in a mouse already dead.” Tappe’s mouth twisted in a warm smile.
“Don’t let my daughters hear you say anything negative about Whitney.”
“Whitney? You named the cat Whitney? Like Whitney Houston? Eli Whitney?”
“No, you dimwit, like Whitney Egan. Player for the National Women’s Soccer League.”
“Your girls are old enough to play soccer?” Tappe shook his head. “Amazing. Who would have thought you’d actually settle down and take over your father’s store? It seems like just yesterday we used to sneak in here and scrounge tools and supplies for our crazy projects.”
“Like building a raft to navigate the back waters? Who did we think we were? Tom Sawyer? Huckleberry Finn? But hey, it’s good to see you. What can I do for you?”
“We always did love the water, didn’t we?” Tappe pushed an outdoor faucet toward him. “Dad and I are redoing the water lines at the marina and putting a main line to the front of the building to make it easier to wash the docks.”
“So you’re planning to stay? You really bought Dawson’s old marina?” Jim ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair, only mussing it more. It tumbled over his ears and collar and gave him a disheveled look like a German wirehaired pointer. “I never thought you’d give up a wandering life to settle down.”
“Trust me. It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.”
Jim grunted and fiddled with the faucet. “Heard you were in the Netherlands for a few years.”
“A few.” Tappe’s tone was subdued. He didn’t want to remember those few years when his internet security business was enlarging, growing stronger and vibrant—and his two-year marriage to Helena was waning and dissolving into a nasty divorce before his very eyes.
The phone rang and Jim excused himself to answer it. From the grimace on his face, his wrinkled eyebrows and quick intake of breath, Tappe suspected the conversation might be an urgent one. Minutes later, Jim returned, shaking his head in disbelief. “Melanie Houston called. It seems Kate Clark dropped her diamond down the kitchen sink at her aunt’s house. Those two are always losing things in the drain at their shop. I told them to put a safety screen over them, but I swear, sometimes a woman’s mind is like a radio with a loose antenna. It’s running, but not picking up signals.”
Tappe chuckled. “Well, according to a recent study of the human brain, women may be the better listeners. Supposedly men only use the left side of their brains, but women use both.”
“Oh, please, don’t tell my wife and daughters I’m functioning with half a brain. I’d never have any peace at home.” Jim shook his head, grimaced, then continued in sinking tones. “Worse yet, I can’t help Kate ’cause all my plumbers are out on jobs. I told Melanie I’d get someone there as soon as I can.”
The sound of Kate’s name sent Tappe’s emotions and thoughts swirling and whirling like sand on the beach in a wind storm. Before he
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