Read Online The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nancy Thayer
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globe called
summer.
Back at the house, they all rinsed off the sand in the outdoor shower, then raced inside for a real shower. They dressed and wandered away, sunburnt and content, to read or nap or tap on computers or, in Leo’s case, to work on the Great Wall of China. Sophie cooked dinner—salmon, quinoa, salad complete with arugula, sliced carrots, and cucumbers, and one cheese-and-mustard sandwich for Leo. To the boy’s credit, he tasted the strange food and said he really liked the salmon. Sophie tried not to look too pleased.
After dinner, the sun was still high in the sky. The fresh air was inviting. They found a badminton set in the large hall off the kitchen. Jonah and Trevor staked the net in the backyard, which was flat and large enough for a good game. They decided to play, Jonah and Lacey against Trevor and Leo. Sophie carried a tall plastic glass of iced herbal tea out to the patio to watch.
A person could write a psychological study of people solely from watching them play badminton, Sophie decided. She was delighted to see her son racing to slam the birdie, fully engaged in the game, and shouting encouragement to his sister. Jonah was almost as tall as Trevor and almost as muscular. He was a good-looking boy, a smart student, and he’d always had plenty of friends. She couldn’t understand why he’d become so withdrawn around her. During the past two months when she had tried to ask him how he was doing, he’d always shrugged and answered that he was fine, acting as if she were loopy even to ask the question. Zack, of course, never wanted to engage in a discussion about their son.
At least now, this evening beneath the soft blue sky, her children were safe and happy. She didn’t want to think about her marriage. Not tonight. And she tried hard not to look at Trevor as he sprinted around hitting the birdie with his long, well-toned arm.
Suddenly, the peace of the evening was broken.
Lacey screamed. “A man! A man in the window!”
The game slammed to a halt. Jonah dropped to his knees, put his arms around his sister and talked to her. Sophie assumed he was reminding her about Susie’s grandfather staying in the apartment.
Then the blue door of the apartment opened and Connor Swenson stepped out. In his seventies, he didn’t fit the image Sophie had conjured up of a retired farmer. She had expected striped overalls and a baseball cap with the words
Carl’s Cattle Feed
across the top. Instead, the man wore chinos, a clean white collared T-shirt, and a clean if rather beat-up pair of leather loafers. His hair was thick and snow white and his eyes were Icelandic blue.
Sophie walked down the lawn to greet him. “Hello, I’m Sophie Anderson. I’m renting the house for two months from Susan.”
The man held out his hand. “Connor Swenson. Pleased to meet you. Didn’t mean to give your girl a fright.”
The rest of the group ambled over to introduce themselves.
“I hope all our noise wasn’t bothering you,” Trevor said.
“Not at all. I enjoy having people around.” Connor smiled down at Leo, who stared back, wide-eyed.
“Would you like to play with us?” asked Jonah.
Connor shook his head with a rueful smile. “I’m afraid my badminton years have passed.”
“Would you like to join me on the patio to watch?” asked Sophie. “I’ll fix you a glass of iced tea.”
“Thank you for the invitation, but not tonight. I’ve got a slight problem walking—nothing to worry about—oh, yes, and there is a TV show about to come on for me.” With a wave of his large weathered hand, Connor turned back into his apartment.
Sophie noticed that with the few steps he had taken out of his home, he had limped a bit and grimaced with each step. Arthritis, she assumed—her mother was beginning to get it in her knees.
The game began again and Sophie resumed watching, thinking about Connor Swenson alone in his apartment. He seemed like a perfectly nice man. She wondered if he was lonely
summer.
Back at the house, they all rinsed off the sand in the outdoor shower, then raced inside for a real shower. They dressed and wandered away, sunburnt and content, to read or nap or tap on computers or, in Leo’s case, to work on the Great Wall of China. Sophie cooked dinner—salmon, quinoa, salad complete with arugula, sliced carrots, and cucumbers, and one cheese-and-mustard sandwich for Leo. To the boy’s credit, he tasted the strange food and said he really liked the salmon. Sophie tried not to look too pleased.
After dinner, the sun was still high in the sky. The fresh air was inviting. They found a badminton set in the large hall off the kitchen. Jonah and Trevor staked the net in the backyard, which was flat and large enough for a good game. They decided to play, Jonah and Lacey against Trevor and Leo. Sophie carried a tall plastic glass of iced herbal tea out to the patio to watch.
A person could write a psychological study of people solely from watching them play badminton, Sophie decided. She was delighted to see her son racing to slam the birdie, fully engaged in the game, and shouting encouragement to his sister. Jonah was almost as tall as Trevor and almost as muscular. He was a good-looking boy, a smart student, and he’d always had plenty of friends. She couldn’t understand why he’d become so withdrawn around her. During the past two months when she had tried to ask him how he was doing, he’d always shrugged and answered that he was fine, acting as if she were loopy even to ask the question. Zack, of course, never wanted to engage in a discussion about their son.
At least now, this evening beneath the soft blue sky, her children were safe and happy. She didn’t want to think about her marriage. Not tonight. And she tried hard not to look at Trevor as he sprinted around hitting the birdie with his long, well-toned arm.
Suddenly, the peace of the evening was broken.
Lacey screamed. “A man! A man in the window!”
The game slammed to a halt. Jonah dropped to his knees, put his arms around his sister and talked to her. Sophie assumed he was reminding her about Susie’s grandfather staying in the apartment.
Then the blue door of the apartment opened and Connor Swenson stepped out. In his seventies, he didn’t fit the image Sophie had conjured up of a retired farmer. She had expected striped overalls and a baseball cap with the words
Carl’s Cattle Feed
across the top. Instead, the man wore chinos, a clean white collared T-shirt, and a clean if rather beat-up pair of leather loafers. His hair was thick and snow white and his eyes were Icelandic blue.
Sophie walked down the lawn to greet him. “Hello, I’m Sophie Anderson. I’m renting the house for two months from Susan.”
The man held out his hand. “Connor Swenson. Pleased to meet you. Didn’t mean to give your girl a fright.”
The rest of the group ambled over to introduce themselves.
“I hope all our noise wasn’t bothering you,” Trevor said.
“Not at all. I enjoy having people around.” Connor smiled down at Leo, who stared back, wide-eyed.
“Would you like to play with us?” asked Jonah.
Connor shook his head with a rueful smile. “I’m afraid my badminton years have passed.”
“Would you like to join me on the patio to watch?” asked Sophie. “I’ll fix you a glass of iced tea.”
“Thank you for the invitation, but not tonight. I’ve got a slight problem walking—nothing to worry about—oh, yes, and there is a TV show about to come on for me.” With a wave of his large weathered hand, Connor turned back into his apartment.
Sophie noticed that with the few steps he had taken out of his home, he had limped a bit and grimaced with each step. Arthritis, she assumed—her mother was beginning to get it in her knees.
The game began again and Sophie resumed watching, thinking about Connor Swenson alone in his apartment. He seemed like a perfectly nice man. She wondered if he was lonely
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