Read Online Moonlight on Monterey Bay by Sally Goldenbaum - Free Book Online Page B

the off-white color that was spread through the downstairs. Sam found he liked it, liked the open drama without any frill. And he liked, too, the warm earth tones stroked on the walls of the guest bedrooms. They moved on to the room at the end of the hallway with the window seat and skylights. Sam walked in and stopped short. The swatches of color on the walls were bright coral and green, and a sample of carpet thrown onto the floor was multicolored, feminine, soothing.
    He frowned. “What’s this?”
    “I thought we could do some stencils in here, something gay and bright. Then paint everything else—the bookcases, woodwork, window seat—white, and spread bright cushions everywhere. And I’ve found some wonderful children’s furniture—”
    “Children’s furniture?” His brows pulled together. He turned slowly and stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
    “For your daughter,” she said. “It seemed the perfect room for her, with that wonderful window seat and all the bookshelves. It’s a little girl’s dream room.”
    “My daughter doesn’t live with me,” he said.
    “I understand. But when she visits you—”
    He shook his head. “I visit her.”
    His tone was controlled, calm, and cool.
    “I’m sorry, Sam,” Maddie said.
    “No need to be sorry. Just make it into a guest room, like the others.” He was out of the room and down the steps. “What else is there? Eleanor mentioned papers—”
    “Yes,” Maddie said, finally catching up with him. “There are some papers we would like you to sign, but they’re at my house.”
    Sam was heading out the door. He could almost see Sara in that room, her small agile form racing toward the window to look out at the sea. Was that what five-year-old girls did? And the fact that he didn’t know pressed heavily on his heart as he drove in silence to the other side of town and the tree-lined Santa Cruz street on which Maddie lived.
    “Well, this is it,” Maddie said.
    Sam pulled the car up to the curb and got out. He looked up at the freshly painted house. A friendly, broad porch holding rockers and a swing and a jungle of plants ran across the front of the house and along one side. Flower boxes overflowing with geraniums hung at each window.
    “Home sweet home,” Maddie said.
    “Yours?”
    “I rent it from Joseph.” She held open the screen door and Sam walked in.
    In an instant Eeyore was off the couch and at Maddie’s side. He sniffed at Sam’s pant legs for afew seconds, then batted the visitor’s legs with his thick tail.
    Maddie laughed. “You’ve passed inspection.”
    “I like you too,” Sam said to the dog. He scratched Eeyore behind his ears as he took in what he could see of Maddie’s house. The front hall was small but light and clean, and smelled of wildflowers. The moldings around the doors and ceiling and floor were dark and rubbed to a lustrous shine, the walls white with paintings of the sea and forest, of wild birds and brilliant flowers and vivid sunsets over the ocean.
    “Do you like it?” Maddie asked, leading him into the living room. Her eyes were bright, her voice touched with pride. This house was light-years away from Sam’s land of place, but when she had moved in five years ago, she had worked tirelessly, sometimes staying up all night, making it hers, a place where she could mend.
    “It’s wonderful,” Sam said honestly. He looked around again, admiring the simplicity. “It’s peaceful and soothing, not cluttered with stuff. I like it.”
    Maddie was surprised at his insightfulness. He had seen through the plainness right to the heart of what she had sought in her home. “Thank you,” she said, her smile warm.
    Sam could see Maddie’s talent everywhere. In the choice of fabrics, the picture groupings, the ability to take an old couch and transform it into a bright, flowery piece of furniture. A strange, almost uninvitedfeeling swept through him as he began to sense her spirit in the house. He