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the porch, squinting in the brightness of the morning sun. Jo was
on her front porch, the hammer poised for another whack, when
she spotted Katie.
Jo put the hammer down. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“Yeah, but that’s okay. I had to get up anyway. What are you
doing?”
“I’m trying to keep the shutter from falling off. When I got home
last night, it was hanging cockeyed, and I was sure it was going to
give way in the middle of the night. Of course, thinking that the
crash might wake me up any minute kept me from falling asleep
for hours.”
“Do you need some help?”
“No, I’ve just about got it.”
“How about coffee?”
“Sounds great. I’ll be over in a few minutes.”
Katie went to her bedroom, slipped out of her pajamas, and threw
on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. She brushed her teeth and hair,
just enough to get the tangles out. Through the window, she saw
Jo walking toward the house. She opened the front door.
Katie poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Jo as soon as
she entered the kitchen.
“Your house is really coming together! I love the rugs and the
pictures.”
Katie gave a modest shrug. “Yeah, well… Southport is starting to
feel like home, I guess. I figured I should start making this house
into something more permanent.”
“It’s really amazing. It’s like you’re finally beginning to nest.”