The Guest House Read Online Free Page B

kitchen window.
    “Mom, the pot.”
    “Oops. Shit.” Edie reached over for the knob and lowered the heat, stirring the foaming mixture back down to a manageable height. “I was just noticing Jeff Oberman’s van in the Doughertys’ driveway. I hope they don’t mean to have him take down that maple. I’ll chain myself to it if they do. Honest to God.”
    And she would too, Lexi thought with a smile, pulling a standing grater down from the cabinet. It was no wonder their mother had burned so many of their meals growing up; a kitchen window with a perfect view of the street? What self-respecting busybody could resist such a temptation?
    “Traffic’s already getting bad.”
    “I’ve noticed,” Lexi said, sliding an orange up and down the bladed grooves, the oily sweetness of the zest quickly filling the air.
    “I swear the Fourth never used to come this fast when you were kids.”
    “It didn’t.” Lexi set down the orange to take a sip of the white wine she’d been nursing while she worked. “Winter was endless and summer was a blur.”
    Edie glanced at Lexi and grinned. “Maybe it could be again.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    Edie shrugged. “I’m just saying maybe you won’t rush into a new job right away. Maybe take some time for yourself first, find someone to spend time with . . . someone
special
.”
    Lexi groaned. “You’re worse than Kim.”
    “God, I would hope so. I’m your mother; I’m supposed to be.”
    “I just got back. Let me at least move out of my mother’s house first, okay?”
    Edie sighed, shaking her head. “You always do that.”
    “Do what?”
    “Make excuses for why you can’t get serious about someone.”
    “And just who am I going to get serious about around here? I know everyone in this town, remember?”
    “It’s summer,” Edie argued. “Half the people walking by this window are new faces.”
    Summer
faces, Lexi wanted to clarify.
Summer people
. She’d been down that bumpy, dead-end road before; her mother knew that better than anyone.
    “Speaking of familiar faces . . .” Edie sighed. “I don’t know if you heard—”
    “About the Moss cottage?” Lexi asked. “Yeah, I know.”
    “You do?”
    “Cooper called me.”
    “Cooper?” Edie blinked at her, startled. “Why in the world would he call
you
?”
    “Because they’re finally listing the house on the National Register and he wants to hire me to photograph it for the nomination form,” Lexi said matter-of-factly, hoping she could avoid her mother’s concern if she kept her answers short. No such luck; she glanced up from her grating and found her mother staring at her.
    Lexi frowned. “Don’t look at me like that. I thought you’d be thrilled they’re finally listing it.”
    “I am.” Edie shrugged. “I’m just surprised you’d want to go back there, that’s all.”
    “It’s a great opportunity to expand my portfolio,” said Lexi, scooping up the fragrant pile of zest and dropping it into a small bowl. “Not to mention it’s good money.”
    “When did all this happen?” Edie demanded.
    “This afternoon—you’re not stirring the sauce.”
    Edie frowned as she picked up her spoon and swept it impatiently around the pan. “Were you going to tell me?”
    “You’re acting like I took a job with the FBI.”
    “I think I’d prefer that.”
    Lexi gave her mother a level look. “I know that house like the back of my hand. Who better to photograph it?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe someone who didn’t have her heart broken inside it?”
    “Eleven years ago.”
    “Your brother will have a fit,” Edie warned.
    “It’s none of Owen’s business what job I take.”
    “He’ll make it his business.”
    Lexi stared at her simmering garlic, knowing her mother was right. As much as she had appreciated Owen’s loyalty, Lexi had grown tired of her brother’s inability to let go of his grudge. She’d moved on—why couldn’t he?
    “You should really tell