Is It Any Wonder (Nantucket Love Story #2) - Courtney Walsh Page 0,90
popped into his mind.
The woman not only talked in her sleep; she fought in her sleep, and twice Cody ducked out of her way only seconds before getting clobbered.
Louisa didn’t even try to quiet her laugh.
“Go ahead and laugh,” he hissed. “But if she swings at you, I’m not going to save you.”
She covered her mouth with her hand, but another giggle escaped.
Maggie stirred again, this time flopping her head over to the opposite side. She let out a giant exhale right in Louisa’s face.
Louisa drew back and grimaced. “Ew, I think she ate pickles.”
Cody couldn’t help it. He laughed. And as soon as he did, Louisa’s entire face beamed. She prided herself on making people smile, and even he knew he was a particularly difficult case.
“I can ask her tomorrow,” Louisa whispered. “About the statements.”
He stood. “Okay. Are you leaving now?”
“Yeah. I should get home.” She grabbed an afghan off the couch, unfolded it, and draped it over Maggie’s lap.
She was kind in the simplest ways. It made him want to know her—not the person he thought she was or the person she had been, but who she’d become. Who was that girl? Would that girl like him? Would that girl want to go out for dinner?
They walked in silence toward the entryway, and Louisa switched the lights off. She lingered a moment by the door. Cody followed her gaze into the living room, where Maggie snored softly by the blue light of the television.
“I’m going to miss her,” Louisa said quietly. She glanced at him and smiled, then turned toward the door.
He followed her outside into the warm June air. The sky was especially dark that night, the result of either a new moon or a thick fog, he wasn’t sure which. A dog barked in the distance, but otherwise they were completely alone. Maggie lived near the water and not much else. Her closest neighbor was a short walk away.
“She’s lucky to have you,” Cody said, aware that his voice disturbed the silence like a rock thrown into a still pond.
Louisa slowed her pace. “I’m the lucky one.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “Maggie’s always filled in the gaps created by my mom.”
Louisa and her mom were polar opposites. For starters, JoEllen seemed much more concerned with appearances than Louisa ever had been. Also, JoEllen was nice, but she wasn’t kind. Not like Louisa.
Louisa shrugged. “A little, I guess. I think what bothers me most is that when I broke up with Eric, she called him and told him to wait until I came to my senses. She said my little business would fail, and I’d see he was right.”
“Yikes,” Cody said.
“She doesn’t believe in me either.”
“So how’d you become so fearless?” he asked.
Louisa stopped when they reached Cody’s Jeep, parked next to her bike. “I don’t feel that way at all.”
“It seems like you’ve got something to prove,” he said.
She stilled. “Maybe. I think I’ve always felt like I needed to do all the good I can—you know, to make up for my mistakes.”
He studied her face. Her nose was just slightly crooked after being broken when she was in grade school. Most people probably didn’t even notice that, but he did. She told him once she hated it—it was so imperfect. He told her that’s what made her interesting to look at. And she was. He could look at her all night.
“Lesson tomorrow?” he asked.
A look of disappointment skittered across her face. He should’ve told her that her mistake was forgiven, that she could stop trying so hard. She had nothing more to prove. He just couldn’t find the words.
She quickly regrouped. “You’re going to make me get up before the sun, aren’t you?”
“Best time of day,” he said. “You don’t want to miss the sunrise.”
“It’s so early,” she groaned.
“You’re the one who bid on me,” he said. “You only have yourself to blame.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there.” After a pause, her voice became sincere. “I’m sorry I invited your mom.”
“It’s okay.” He understood now—her strong need to put everyone back together. It came from a good place, even if it was misguided. Even if it would most likely end in disaster. Should he try to prepare her for that?
His mom had mentioned closure, but once she was faced with the haunting memories of the past, there was a chance she wouldn’t react the way Louisa hoped she would. She had years