As the rising sun glinted off the incoming water, for the first time she noticed it swirling into depressions along the rocky cliffs. “Are those caves down there?”
“Yeah, but most of ’em flood at high tide, so it’s best to steer clear unless you’re with someone who knows which ones are safe.”
He added a knowing look, and she had to laugh. “So you’re a mind reader, too?”
“Something like that. I’m headed inside to chat with Mavis about her sitting-room ceiling. Wanna meet her?”
Lauren nearly declined, then changed her mind. It was still early, and she had plenty of time before Toyland opened at ten. What harm could it do? “The woman who makes the killer gingerbread? Absolutely.”
Ben held out one of those very capable hands for her, and Lauren’s heart beat as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. She recognized he was only being considerate, offering to steady her on the uneven ground, but being within arm’s reach of him went completely against the polite-but-distant policy she’d adopted for men in general. Reaching for a nice way to refuse the gentlemanly gesture, she wiped her hands on her jeans. “I’m all sticky, but thanks.”
Confusion flashed in his eyes but quickly evaporated as he shrugged and trudged up the hill beside her. When they reached the tower’s gravelly yard, the bright red front door opened. An older woman dressed in baggy slacks and a moth-eaten sweater stepped out holding a leash in her hand. The animal at the other end of it made Lauren stop dead in her tracks. “What in the world is that?”
“That’s Reggie,” Ben explained as they continued up the pathway. “He’s a pot-bellied pig.”
The woman lived alone in a lighthouse on the edge of the sea, made gingerbread and kept a pig for a pet. Lauren had seen some odd things since arriving in Holiday Harbor, but this one definitely took the cake.
“Mavis Freeman,” Ben began, “this is Lauren Foster. She’s gonna be helping Julia out at Toyland.”
Squinting at Lauren, Mavis studied her intently while Reggie snuffled around her sneakers. It was a strange way to greet someone, but Lauren did her best to look and sound friendly. “Good morning, Ms. Freeman. You have a beautiful home.”
That got her a furious glare. “It’s Mrs. Freeman. I don’t truck with all that modern feminist nonsense.”
“Mavis is the keeper’s widow,” Ben said almost reverently. Lauren would have found that description slightly insulting, but Mavis beamed at him as if he’d proclaimed her queen.
“That’s right. I don’t know where you’re from, missy, but there’s still folks around who do things the old-fashioned way.”
“Actually, I’m from Philadelphia,” Lauren replied as pleasantly as she could manage. Instinct warned her that her stint in New York was best left out of this conversation. “With all that history around us, we like doing things the old-fashioned way, too.”
Some of the disapproval left their hostess’s expression, and she gave a short nod. “All right, then.”
Uncertain if she’d passed muster with the brusque keeper or not, Lauren opted to shift her attention to Reggie. After circling her a few times, he politely sat in front of her. Looking up at Lauren with what could only be described as a smile, he wagged his bristly tail for all he was worth. Grateful for the distraction, she knelt down and scratched behind his floppy ears. “You’re a real cutie. How’d you end up here?”
Apparently, to get on Mavis’s good side, all you had to do was be kind to her unusual pet. Her lined face cracking into a smile, she explained, “We’re a pair, me and Reggie. A little tough on the eyes, but for the right kinda folks, we got good hearts. Don’t we, boy?”
He grunted his agreement, and Lauren couldn’t help laughing as she stood. “That’s awesome. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
Mavis took the hand she offered, and Lauren felt as if she’d made a huge leap toward fitting into her temporary home. Glancing over at Ben, she registered the concern on his face and frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Nope, but my dad’ll be here soon, so I’d best get to work inside.”
He turned to go, but Mavis called him back. “Where’s your manners gone to? The girl needs a ride back to town.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Lauren assured her. “I walked out here, and it’s not any farther going back.”
Crossing her arms in obvious disapproval, the woman didn’t say anything but pinned Ben with a stern, unyielding look. Shaking his head, he grinned at Lauren. “Okay, then. Guess I’m driving you back to Toyland.”
“It’s really not—”
“Just be quiet and go along,” he murmured, motioning her toward his truck. “It’s not a big deal.”
Figuring he knew best, she said goodbye to Mavis and Reggie and climbed into the passenger seat. As they started back, she said, “What was that all about?”
“Nothing. It’s just easier to go along when she gets stubborn like that.”
A few seconds later, she caught on and started laughing. “Let me guess. When you were a kid, she scared you half to death.”
The sideways glance he slid her told her she’d hit that one dead-on. “Fine, she did. But to be fair, she scared everyone under the age of ten. Then when her husband died a few years ago—” he shrugged “—I think she got lonely, so she started being a little nicer. She and Dad are old friends, so we help out with the lighthouse and the residence when she needs something repaired. Or someone to have coffee with.”
“You’re good to her, so she’s good to you.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Touched by the sweet, simple story, Lauren sighed. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. If everyone did that, the world would be a much better place.”
As they pulled onto Main Street, Ben added, “That’s why they call it the Golden Rule.”
“I guess.”
To Lauren, it sounded too good to be true, but she recognized that was her ingrained skepticism talking. She didn’t used to be that way, she lamented. What had happened to the girl who’d believed there was good in everyone? Sadly, she knew the answer, but she didn’t want to spoil such a beautiful, sunny morning with dark thoughts.
Outside Toyland, Ben pulled to a stop and got out to open her door. Climbing down, she stood inside the open door, much closer to him than she’d intended. Oddly enough, the anxiety she’d felt on the beach earlier was much less intense, and the smile she gave him was only slightly forced. Maybe she was finally getting a little of her old confidence back. She wasn’t rock solid yet, but being within Ben’s reach was a good first step.
Squinting against the rising sun, she said, “Thanks for the ride. Be sure to tell Mavis you delivered me in one piece.”
“Will do. Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
That got her another, even brighter grin than she’d yet seen from him. He seemed to have an endless collection of them, each one more endearing than the last. As he got back in and drove away, he waved through the back window, and like a sentimental damsel in an old movie, she caught herself waving back. All she was missing was the lacy handkerchief, she groused as she unlocked the door to Toyland.
But as she made her way upstairs, she allowed herself a little smile. For the first time in ages, she’d had a couple of uninterrupted hours to herself, and they were wonderful. What was so special about them? she wondered while she started the coffeemaker in the kitchen. On her way into the bathroom, she came to the conclusion that nothing extraordinary had happened except that she’d enjoyed doing absolutely nothing but breathe.