Every Breaking Wave Read Online Free Page B

unwrapped the cellophane and grabbed a cookie, taking a bite and nodding.
    “I’ll forgive you because these are so good.”
    “Truly, I hope you won’t call my uncle and resign because you’re much better at yard work than I am and you’ll hate staring at my lawn if I end up mowing it.”
    He laughed a little, taking another bite.
    “No worries.  We all have our days,” he said, our eyes meeting again as he smiled at me and then I watched as his gaze dropped to Noah.
    “This is my son, Noah.”
    “Hey, little man,” Jeremy said, holding the plate with one hand and extending his other hand to Noah.  Noah took it and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Noah.  I’m Jeremy.” Noah smiled, but didn’t say anything.  He’d always been shy around strangers, but I was impressed with how sweet Jeremy was being with him. “What’s your mommy’s name?”
    I cringed, realizing that even though I had nearly tarred and feathered this man for weed whacking my yard and brought him cookies to make up for it, I hadn’t even introduced myself.
    “Mommy,” Noah replied and Jeremy laughed, looking over to me.
    “I’m Beth. Beth Sawyer.”
    I extended my hand in a formal introduction.  He took it and I immediately noticed how rough they were.  It was obvious he’d spent a lot of time outside.
    “Nice to meet you, Beth.”
    “Likewise, Jeremy,” I said and then it grew quiet and I could hear the baseball game flowing from his living room. “Well, we won’t keep you.  We just wanted to bring you some cookies.  We’ll let you get back to the ball game.  Are the Sox winning?”
    “4-0. Top of the third.  You like baseball?”
    “I do!” Noah exclaimed, his shyness vanishing.  He loved baseball.  He and Darren used to watch it all the time.
    “Are you a Red Sox fan?” Jeremy asked and Noah nodded eagerly. “Then you’re alright with me, little man.”
    Jeremy held out his hand and Noah gave it a hearty high five. 
    “C’mon, Noah.  We need to get home.” I could see the disappointment on Noah’s face, but he didn’t argue. 
    “Can I come by and finish the job tomorrow?  I didn’t come back today because I wanted to see when a good time would be.”
    “Tomorrow’s fine. Morning’s best if possible.”
    “I’ll be over in the morning then.”
    “Thanks,” I said, taking Noah’s hand and walking back to our house as I heard Jeremy’s door close. 
     

Three
     
    I could tell the moment I woke up it was going to be an uncomfortable day.  The heat had set in and the air was thick. I showered and pulled my hair off my neck. There really was no use in even trying anything else with it.  My fine hair just went stringy and flat when the air was as heavy as it was.  I thought about putting on a pair of shorts, but then I saw a black maxi skirt hanging in the closest.  Aside from yoga pants, there wasn’t anything I owned that was more comfortable than that skirt and it would keep me cool.  I paired it with a pink tank top and after sliding on my sandals, I was ready for the day. 
    Noah was awake and already dressed.  He was on a kick lately where dressing himself was important.  It was hard not to chuckle sometimes when I’d see some of the outfits he’d come up with, including the one he’d picked out this morning.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him green and blue plaid shorts didn’t exactly coordinate with his red and yellow striped shirt. 
    “I’m dressed, Mommy,” he said, a proud grin on his face and I smiled at him as my eyes drifted to his flip flops that were on the wrong feet.
    “I see that, Noah.  Nice choice,” I said, kissing him on the cheek and then sitting on the bed, pulling him on my lap and sliding off the flip flops. “Remember to check your shoes.  Your feet will hurt otherwise.”
    “I tried,” he said as I helped him put them on the correct feet.
    “And you did a great job.”
    I pulled him close, squeezing him tightly as I started planting