How long ago that all seemed now. Lacey tugged at the red bandana she’d tied around her neck and pulled it free, then used it to mop her brow. If Kevin could only see her now, she thought. He wouldn’t believe the streaks of dirt, the paint and sawdust that clung to her hair, the aching muscles that were proof that on this project at least she was pulling her own weight.
She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t forced the issue last night and told him where she intended to spend the day. Because he’d slipped away during her conversation with Paula, then taken refuge in his room, she had felt more defeated than she had in a long time. When he’d dismissed her at the doorway, she’d consoled herself that there would be time to explain in the morning.
But when morning came, she had been almost relieved to discover that he was still asleep. Rather than waking him, she’d left an innocuous note on the kitchen table beside a bowl of high-fiber cereal.
“Had to go into town. Back by dinner. L.”
A zillion years ago, he would have known where she was going, would have cared about a project like this, would have been among the first to volunteer. Her subconscious decision to keep it to herself now spoke volumes about how she felt his priorities had changed.
Or, more likely, how she feared his reaction would disappoint her. If he showed no interest or, worse yet, if he belittled the effort, it would be irrefutable proof of how much he had changed.
Maybe she was selling him short, though. Maybe if she gave him a chance, he would share in her excitement. There was only one way to find out. She vowed then and there to tell him every detail over dinner. And if his response was only to pull out his pen and write a check, at least the cause would benefit.
“When was the last time you actually hit a nail?” Paula inquired, her low, throaty voice filled with amusement. She sounded as if she ought to do sultry voice-overs for commercials, rather than spend her days on a construction site. “If everyone worked at this rate, the house wouldn’t be ready until next year,” she said.
Lacey glanced at her old friend and laughed. “What can I say? Volunteer help starts slacking off when the sun goes down.”
“We’re a good hour from sunset, lady.” Paula handed her a soft drink and settled on the bottom rung of a ladder. “You okay? You looked lost in thought, a little sad.”
“I was just wondering what Kevin would think if he could see me now.”
“Probably that you’d lost your marbles. That’s what Dave thinks about me, and he’s been right here every day. He still can’t believe that a woman who used to get her nails done twice a week when she was in high school now has none and isn’t hysterical over it.” She held up her hands, displaying the blunt-cut nails that were free of polish. Tiny cuts and specks of paint had turned them into a worker’s hands. “They may not be as pretty, but I figure I’ve earned every battle scar.”
She regarded Lacey closely. “Why haven’t you told Kevin about this?”
“I’m not sure,” Lacey admitted. “I was just thinking that I’d tell him tonight.”
“You might have a glass of brandy nearby in case he swoons from shock the way Dave did. Or you could just bring him by sometime,” she suggested slyly. “That’s how I sold Dave and you and just about everyone else who’s gotten involved.”
Lacey grinned. “A pretty sneaky trick, if you ask me.”
“I’ll use whatever it takes if it means getting these houses fixed up faster. I’ve fine-tuned my approach to the contractors so they start saying yes when they see me coming. You should have heard the number I pulled on the mayor. I’ve never been more eloquent, if I do say so myself.”
“Has he committed any city funds yet?”
Paula shook her head. “I’m not counting on the city for anything. This is all about private citizens helping each other. I wanted him to cough up his own bucks and a few weekends of his time. I figured he’d be the ideal role model for all the other politicians and give this program some much-needed visibility.”
“Did he agree?”
“It’s an election year. Just imagine the photo opportunities,” she said dryly. She glanced at her watch. “If you’re going back out to the Cape tonight, you’d better get started. It will be dark soon and we’ll have to shut down for the night, anyway.”
Lacey nodded. “I’ll try to get back later in the week, by next weekend for sure.”
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll have Kevin along.”
“Yes. Who knows,” she said, but she couldn’t mask her very real doubts.
* * *
If the furious expression on Kevin’s face when she drove up was any indication, Lacey figured she’d better not count on him for much of anything. As she crossed the lawn, he opened the screen door and stepped outside.
When she was close enough, he waved her note under her nose. “What is this?”
She immediately bristled at his curt tone. “The note I left for you.”
“Is this supposed to give me the first clue about where to find you? What if there’d been an emergency? What if I’d wanted to get in touch with you? Was I supposed to call all over Boston and hope I lucked out?”
She stopped in mid-step and studied him, worry washing through her. “Was there an emergency? Are you okay?”
“Dammit, this is not about my health. It’s about your lack of consideration. It’s about your running off without so much as a word to let me know where you
