“Go pop a chocolate, Rae.”
Quinn went a little green. “Mr. Nixon at the high school got a hip replacement. He teaches history classes. He walks with a cane now.” He hesitated. “Connor, you should listen to her. She’s only looking out for you.”
“Go on, hotshot. Take her side.”
“I’m not taking sides.”
“You should,” Rae insisted, glad he’d spoken up. “In our family, we vote on serious matters. It’s the rule.”
The word “family” latched Quinn’s gaze to hers. Searching, probing, his eyes brimmed with questions and uncertainty. They also held doubt and fear—or panic. It was hard to tell, and the intensity of his gaze made Rae aware that her father was right. Quinn rarely looked at them directly. Rarely for longer than a moment.
He threw his attention on his feet.
“We’ve got odd numbers here,” she announced, moved by the questions she’d glimpsed in his eyes, the hope. But the fleeting panic she’d sensed roused her mothering instincts. Did Quinn have secrets? Was he in some sort of trouble? Pushing aside the thought, she added, “I’m looking for two-to-one. Quinn, are you with me?”
The challenge stirred his latent maturity. Shoulders straight, he managed to look at her again.
“Here’s what we’ll do,” he decided. “I won’t let your dad near a ladder. Not until the temps stay above freezing.”
“You won’t let him near one at all. No exceptions.” When her father began to protest, she lifted a warning hand. “I mean it, Dad. If you don’t agree, I’m putting the lights into storage. Or donating them to the charity of your choice. Either way, you won’t have them anymore.”
A fissure of irritation shook through Connor. “Fine. I’ll stay on terra firma.”
“Thank you. Quinn, please keep an eye on him.”
“Will do.” A childlike eagerness slipped into his voice. “When can we get started?”
By the following Saturday, her father and Quinn were making progress. Balancing on tree limbs with no apparent fear of heights, Quinn wielded wire cutters to remove the damaged lights. On the ground, Connor salvaged the few oval-and star-shaped bulbs that had survived years of neglect. The weather lent a hand, warming enough to melt the last traces of snow.
Leaving them to their work, Rae drove into Chardon Square. Her boss, Evelyn Witt, was preparing for a much-needed vacation in the Bahamas. Until her return, Rae was in charge. Although Rae rarely came in on Saturdays, Evelyn requested she stop by to discuss her additional duties.
Near lunchtime, Rae’s phone chimed as she left Evelyn’s office. “What’s up?” It was Yuna.
“Are you in town?”
“Heading back to my office now.” Earlier in the week, she’d mentioned Evelyn’s vacation.
“I was hoping to catch you.” Relief colored Yuna’s voice. “What do you have planned today?”
“Not much. A quick stop at Dixon’s for a snack, and grocery shopping. Then I’m spending a relaxing Saturday night digging through laundry. With a teenager in the house, I need a snow shovel. Quinn would help fold, but he has a trig exam next week. He’ll be holed up in my guest bedroom tonight, studying.”
“A trig exam . . . that explains why he didn’t come into work today.”
Reaching into her file cabinet, Rae paused. “Was he supposed to?”
“Yes, but it’s fine. There wasn’t much for him to do. I didn’t have any merchandise deliveries this week.”
“If Quinn was scheduled, shouldn’t he have come in regardless?” The words were barely out when she realized why he hadn’t gone in.
“It was surprising that he didn’t call to explain.”
“Yuna, my father must’ve outbid you.” Rae explained about the project to complete Hester’s lighting. Summing up, she added, “I’ll tell my dad not to ask Quinn for help on days he’s scheduled to work for you. No matter what he’s willing to pay.”
“More than I can afford, I’m sure. But don’t badger your dad. It’s sweet that he’s hanging around with Quinn. It’s good for both of them.” After a long pause, Yuna said, “Rae, did you get a chance to come up with more ideas for Night on the Square? We’re getting together at the library at one o’clock.” The library was located directly across the square from the Witt Agency, not far from Dixon’s wine and dessert café. “I’d like to present a list of themes at today’s meeting.”