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“Moun!”

“I did not say that”

“Ja at the top of the hill, sweaty and beautiful, a red bandanna around her blond hair, “he can’t use the nail gun”

“I know, and I didn’t tell him he could”

Nicky scowled at Ja a little dirt down the stairs

“Come on, Nick, leave Mr Cahill alone Why don’t you fill up Beauty’s water dish, huh? Make sure it’s nice and cold”

The kid trotted off obediently

“You better have a talk with hi his attention back to the ancient, splintering staircase “He tells reat swimmer”

“He is, and he already knows”

“Maybe you should get one of those leashes they have Make sure he doesn’t decide to jump off the dock, like his mother”

“I’ to leashwithout rew up at Grayhurst He knows the rules”

“So did my sister”

Parker looked away “I’ain But please don’t tell ood boy”

James nodded, tore up another chunk of wood “So how are Mr and Mrs Paragon?”

“Are you jealous? Is that what this is?”

“Hey I’m just the help”

“You’re not the— You knohat? I think I’ll strangle you With a leash Hoould that be?”

“I’d die happy, so long as I was in your golden presence” He smiled at her, perversely happy to see her irritation

She rolled her eyes and turned to go

“Parker”

She stopped

“I’ me chest pains “Your kid doesn’t like me”

Her face softened “Sure he does He likes everyone Nicky! Come here, honey!”

“Shit,” James muttered The kid cantered over

“Do I get to use the nail gun?” he asked, chewing on the ear of a stuffed animal

That stuffed animal…

“No, you don’t get to use the nail gun Mr Cahill ht stay for lunch We can have a picnic on the dock andafter that Hoould that be?”

“Could I use the nail gun then?” Nicky asked

Ja The stuffed animal was familiar “I like your rabbit,” he said

Nicky spit out the ear “His na ears”

“I see”

James looked at Parker, who suddenly felt the need to look out to sea “I think I gave you that rabbit When you were born,” he said

“No, you didn’t”

“I’m pretty sure I did”

“No Soave it to me”

“Mr Cahill’s right, Nicky,” Parker said “He brought you that in the hospital”

So she remembered

“You brought me Elephant?” Nicky repeated

“Yep”

“Can I use your nail gun, then?”

Parker laughed, but Nicky was serious “Sorry, pal,” James said

“Come on, Nicky Let’s finish the flowers” Parker turned and walked back toward the house

“I don’t like you,” Nicky said

“Sorry to hear that,” James answered It was , I’m not sure I like you, either

“HOW’S THAT, MRS K?” Jaie Beaumont’s ancient tenant was a tyrant; this was the fourth ti room furniture in three days

“It’s wonderful, honey!” she chirped “I’ shui!”

Or James was, as theelse for you?”

“No, you’ve been an angel! It’s true! Besides, I’ie and that nice husband of hers tonight Do you know him? Mahoney?”

“Malone I was at their wedding, remember?”

“Of course I do, dear You’re quite a good dancer Malone, you’re right, that’s his name For some reason, I can never remember!”

James smiled Mrs K was a sweetheart, even if she was a despot And a spy Still, it was kind of nice to have so when he came and went

He went upstairs to the tiny aparte and sat on the floor The only furniture left was a bed, a little kitchen table and two chairs But he’d be leaving soon, so it didn’t really matter

The kid had been here for five days Parker’s stairs were nearly finished And that was a probles to do

He’d gone to see Mary Elizabeth yesterday and sat through The Holy Rollers in 3-D! for the second tiistered him for sainthood Had a near limpse of his father’s battered truck frooodbyes before dear old Dad had appeared