Page 11 of The Spotted Cottage By the Sea
“Patty. That dog adores you.” Sheila pointed down at him. He was splayed out on the cool kitchen floor, peering up at Patty. “You can’t abandon him in his old age.”
“Old age!I’mthe old one.” She shook her head. “I’ve had a lot of adventures. It’s time for this one to end.”
“Is that what you want? To leave San Juan Island? To leave your tea shop?”
Patty carried the teapot over and set it on the table. “Neighbors are calling my son to tell him that my home looks abandoned. It’s not going to get any better from here. Getting to the store is harder. Getting the laundry down the steps is harder…” She shook her head. “I don’t –”
The sound of the front door opening cut her off. A man’s voice called out. “Honey?”
Patty’s eyes grew as wide as saucers.
“Honey?”Sheila repeated in a whisper.
He was getting closer. “Are you home?”
A smile spread across Sheila’s face. “Patty, do you have aboyfriend?”
Patty sucked in a breath, her cheeks flushing pink. “Of course not. That’s the handyman.” She raised her voice and yelled out, “I have a guest. You’re not needed.”
A moment later, the man appeared in the doorway. He was dressed in light blue denim overalls, a green shirt, and a flat cap. He smiled when he saw them sitting there, the wrinkles of his face lighting up when he saw Patty.
“I’m sorry, I’ll come back later.” He paused. “Wait a minute…you’re not Sheila, are you?”
Sheila stood, grinning, and offered a handshake. “I am, sir, and who are you?”
“I’m Reggie.”
“Thehandyman,” Patty interjected. “There is no need to talk to him.”
Sheila turned back to Reggie and raised her eyebrows. “No offense, Reggie, but how handy are you? I heard the house needs a lot of help.”
He let out a guffaw and put his hands up. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”
“Please, have a seat,” Sheila said, motioning to the empty chair next to her. “The tea should be about ready, then you can tell me more about what you’ve been doing around the cottage.”
Despite Patty glaring daggers at him, he sat down and took off his hat. “I’ve been trying my best, but I can’t seem to convince this lady here that we can make it work.”
“There’s nothing to make work,” Patty snapped. “I am moving away.”
“No, you’re not,” Sheila said. “You can’t leave. You have a wonderful life here, with your loving dog, and your lovingboyfriend.”
Patty stood. “Oh, stop it! I’ve outlived two husbands and I’m too old to have a boyfriend!”
Sheila and Reggie laughed.
Patty poured them each a cup of tea, her lips pursed. “I told you, he’s the handyman. He’s just not very good, which is why the place is falling apart.”
“He must have other things on his mind,” Sheila said, picking up her teacup and sitting back.
“Sheila!” She sat down in a huff. “If you came here to embarrass me –”
Sheila cut her off. “I’m not here to embarrass you! I came here to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
Sheila set her cup down and crossed her arms. “Of course you don’t. But you aren’t acting like yourself at all. You haven’t even asked me about getting fired.”
Patty took a sip of tea, eyeing her. “I thought you were joking.”
