Page 77 of The Beach Shack Summer
“Maybe. Found some in the hall closet when we were looking for the Polaroid. Very educational.”
“You kept those?”
“Why wouldn’t I? They’re good books.” She shrugged. “Plus it’s the only quiet spot in the house besides the roof.”
“The roof?”
“Oh. Yeah. I found a way up through your bedroom window. Don’t worry, I’m careful.”
“STELLA.”
“What? It’s peaceful up there. Good for thinking.”
“It’s dangerous!”
“It’s a Ranch-style house. I could jump off and probably just sprain an ankle.”
“That’s not reassuring!”
“Wasn’t meant to be.” She opened the truck door. “Come on, let’s go pretend you’re teaching me about photography while you actually just take pictures and I watch.”
Tyler followed her out, grabbing his camera bag. “We’re discussing the roof situation later.”
“No we’re not.”
“Yes we are.”
“Agree to disagree.”
“That’s not how parenting works!”
“Pretty sure it is.” She headed toward the overlook. “Oh look, dolphins!”
Tyler knew she was distracting him. It worked anyway. He pulled out his camera, tracking the pod moving south past the break. Stella stood beside him, quiet now, watching the ocean wake up.
“Thanks,” she said after a while.
“For what?”
“Getting me out this morning. The driving. Coffee.” She paused. “Telling me I’m not disrupting everything.”
“You’re not.”
“Meg’s living in a bathroom office because of me.”
“Meg’s living in a bathroom office because my house is too small for three adults running two businesses.” Tyler lowered his camera. “That’s not your fault. That’s just... life.”
“Still.”
“Still nothing. We’ll figure it out. After her presentation. One crisis at a time, right?”
“Right.” Stella pulled out her phone, checking the time. “Think she’s there yet?”
“Probably. She left a pretty detailed schedule on the fridge. Color-coded.”
“Of course it was.” She smiled. “Our note was good, right? Not too cheesy?”
“Perfect amount of cheese.”
