Sailing In Style

“Wherever.”

“Not too many wherevers that only charge eight-hundred a month. I’m a little, er, low on funds at the moment.”

She wanted to shake him. “Uncle Bo,” she said fiercely. “They know our history, and they don’t want you—” She swallowed. “They don’t want us around.”

“‘A hungry dog believes in—’”

“‘—nothing but meat.’ Anton Chekhov. Hungry or not, you’ll have to find a new dog house. Period.”

He sighed and picked up the birdcage, then they started down the steps.

Cy was waiting at the bottom. His father and Bitsy were headed back into the house.

Cy’s expression was pained. He cleared his throat. “Mr. Brindle, I apologize for my rudeness. We’d like you to stay.”

Piper nearly dropped the cardboard box. “What?”

He shot her a look. “You heard me.”

“That’s very kind, Mr. Franco. I accept.”

Charity? Piper elbowed him. “No, he doesn’t. We’re leaving, remember?”

Cy held up a hand. “My aunt was right. I wasn’t being fair, especially considering some of our own family history.”

She frowned. “Your aunt said she was married to a thief?”

He grimaced at the word. “I’m not going to get into that now. Mr. Brindle is welcome to stay. Aunt Bitsy went into the house to start cooking for you two.”

Piper groaned. “No. Tell her no. Tell her we’re leaving.”

Cy heaved out a breath. “Sorry. You used the word more powerful than any other in the English language.”

“Hungry?” Piper queried.

“Starved,” Boris said, beaming at them as he trundled toward the kitchen.

“No, Uncle Bo,” she called.

He turned to say over his shoulder, “Put Peaches inside the carriage house, will you? I don’t think she should hang around a dog unchaperoned.”

If Piper was the fainting type, this might have been the time. Her pulse pounded, and there was a distinct ringing in her ears. Left alone with Cy, all she could do was pull her gaze away from his handsome, discomfited face and stare at the mole-like dog making goo-goo eyes at her uncle’s parakeet.

“What’s the matter with you, Baggy?” Cy asked.

“My uncle thinks he’s in love with Peaches.”

“Does she love him back?”

“She bit him a minute ago.”

She waited for Cy to say something hard and bitter.

Instead, he threw back his head and laughed.

It was the same rich laughter she heard in her memories, from the time when her heart was still whole. Despite her mortification, Piper found herself smiling.

CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_045b90bd-37ed-55fe-8289-c8ded39ab24b)

CY WALKED INTO TOWN at such a rapid pace, he had to carry the short-legged Baggy along.

“Listen to me, Bags. This whole bird infatuation? It’s not going to work out. Examine the facts. She’s a bird. You’re a mammal. She won’t touch meatballs, and not to shock you, but birds lay eggs, buddy boy. Also, they don’t curl up on blankets. Were you aware that they molt? You’re from two different biological universes.”

Baggy licked Cy’s chin, and Cy imagined he saw an inner conviction dawning in those vague canine eyes. “So we’re straight on this? It hurts, I know, but some things can’t be overcome.”

Truth was, he was lying to Baggy. Deep down, he still wanted to believe the human spirit was strong enough to get through any difficulty. Not conquer it, necessarily. His father’s love of an incurable alcoholic was proof of that. You just loved on through the mess. He still believed it, fool that he was. Piper’s face swam up into his mind before he shoved it firmly back down.

Nester Lodge waved at him from the doorway of his Brew Unto Others coffee shop and bakery.

Cy stopped in and declined a cup of coffee, enjoying the aroma of Nester’s freshly baked blueberry scones. Several older women in matching yellow hats chatted noisily over their breakfasts. “Any news yet?”

“Nah,” Nester said. “Sharma’s two days overdue and she’s climbing the walls.” He lowered his voice. “She’s getting testy.”

Cy nodded sympathetically.

“The pregnancy books say aromatherapy is helpful, so we’ve found some lavender essential oils, and she carries a peppermint tea bag in her pocket to sniff. Peppermint is calming, you know.” Nester fingered his long beard, twirling it into an anxious point.

“Is that working?”

He shook his head. “Hasn’t kicked in yet. That’s why I come in early to the shop every day. Say, I hear you’ve got a renter.”

Cy goggled at the speed of the Tumbledown gossip mill. “Yeah? What do you know about him?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“What should I know about him?” Nester asked.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Nester raised an eyebrow.

“Right. I’ve got to go to Julio’s and the hardware store.”

“Cuz you’re gonna renovate the River King?”

Nester heard a lot for a guy who was hiding from his pregnant wife and running a hole-in-the-wall bakery. “Something like that. See you later, Nester.”