start showing up, looking for drinks and sandwiches and deli pizza at about four.”
“Who did this?” she asked in a soft voice. “Who?”
“Well, it was Rawley, Cooper, Sarah. And I helped.”
She looked him over. “Helped?”
He was a dirty mess. He laughed. “I did everything Rawley told me to do.”
She glanced around. “My God...”
“The bedrooms aren’t done. Well, they’re swept and mopped, but Rawley’s got some paint for the walls. It’s boring. It’s just ‘renter’s white.’ But I think he’s finished patching walls. And if I could just brag a little, I hauled trash and painted the kitchen....”
“Oh, my God,” she said. “It’s immaculate. It’s shining.” And then her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t believe you guys did this for me.”
He gave a shrug. “You’re Rawley’s cousin, so I guess we’re all family. And it’s not like I had to work today....”
She looked down for a long moment, frowning. Just what she didn’t want—another extended family. She wanted friends. Spencer couldn’t know how much the idea of everyone being one big family caused her to cringe inside.
Mercy came in the door carrying her books and her blanket. She stood there, oblivious. Apparently a three-year-old couldn’t see the improvement. Then Devon lifted her eyes to Spencer’s face. There were tears on her cheeks. “Do you know how long it would have taken me to get this far?”
“Yeah.” He laughed. “I do.”
“You’re not going to understand this, but I’ve had great kindnesses given me but the price has been... Well, never mind that. ‘Thank you’ will just never be enough.” She wiped the emotion off her cheeks.
“Devon, I want you to stop right there. There’s not going to be a bill. It was just us being good neighbors, that’s all. I don’t want you to think you owe anyone anything.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“But you’ll probably want to start with that—just ‘thank you.’ The rest of the bucket brigade is at the beach. I need a shower. I have to check on Austin, make sure he hasn’t driven anyone crazy. I’m going to take off—I’m really ready for a cold beer.” He headed for the door and she stopped him.
“Thank you, Spencer.”
“I was glad to help out.”
Seven
Devon drove to Cooper’s to thank the rest of the cleanup crew and, as she thought about it, she had to acknowledge that there was a difference between people helping one another in a small town, and relying on each other in a commune. And she had so much to give in return—even managing the doctor’s office, she could be of help every day. She could extend herself the extra mile, making sure those people who called or came in received the best she had to offer.
Then she remembered something she had known long ago—that kindness wasn’t only demonstrated by giving material things or labors. There were the simple gestures that people forgot, that were so important—a little extra time, a smile, patience, conversation, gratitude. These were the things Aunt Mary had valued, she had never had much by way of material wealth but she’d been one of the most generous people Devon knew.
She reminded herself of these things as she walked into Cooper’s, holding Mercy’s hand. She went first to the kitchen to find Rawley. “You wonderful sneak,” she said. “I can’t believe what you did!”
He turned from the sink. “I just meant to put a dent in it for you,” he said. “But all them others just jumped in. Looks darn good, don’t it, though?”
“Darn good. Thank you. You are certainly my guardian angel.”
He grinned at her and if she wasn’t mistaken, flushed a little bit. “Ain’t no one ever called me that before.”
“Can I buy you a beer?” she asked.
“Girl, I don’t drink nothin’. I don’t make all that much sense without ever takin’ a drink. Those others, though—they’d prolly take your beer money.”
She just laughed at him.
He bent at the waist and peered at Mercy. “Wanna help old Rawley wash up dishes?”
Her little face lit up and Devon said, “Oh, Rawley, she’s just going to make a big mess.”
He scooped her up and planted her on the step stool in front of the sink. “I reckon. There ain’t no sharp things in there, I know what I’m doing.” He tied an apron around her neck and it fit her like a long dress. “Why don’t you take a break for once. Sit out on the deck and count seabirds.”
Devon wandered back into the bar. Cooper was alone behind the bar and he was