Chapter 10
And polite, too. Despite her lingering sleepiness, she invited Edie inside, and once Ava had closed the door, Ms. McConnell asked, “Can I get you some coffee? Or something to drink?”
“No, I’m good.” Edie trailed behind her into the dining room, setting her portfolio on the table while Ms. McConnell continued to the kitchen. As Edie spread out the documents she wanted to review, she heard the tell-tale sounds of a coffeemaker starting up, and within minutes, the rich aroma of hot java filled the home.
The children stayed in the living room, and now that the woman was up, they turned on the television in search of morning cartoons. When Ms. McConnell came back into the dining room, a steaming mug of coffee in one hand, she hollered over the loud television, “Don’t get too comfortable! I’m taking you to school in an hour.”
“Aww!” Ava groaned from out of sight.
Her brother quipped, “Do you haveto?”
“What do you think this is, a holiday?” Ms. McConnell gave Edie a pretty smile and, lowering her voice, explained, “Kids. Give ‘em an inch and they take a mile.”
Edie nodded sympathetically. “Your husband said you were expecting another?” she asked, with a pointed look at the woman’s slim frame.
Confusion clouded Ms. McConnell’s face. “My what?”
Quickly Edie checked her paperwork. “Michael McConnell. We spoke last week about the renovations. I’m sorry, I assumed—”
“Wait, no.” The woman laughed, a deep, rich sound that set Edie at ease. “There’s been some sort of misunderstanding. I’m not married, and I’m sure as hell not expecting.”
“Aren’t you Ms. McConnell?” Edie asked, also confused.
Suddenly the woman’s brow cleared. “Ah, I get it. Yes and no. Yes, I’m a McConnell, but I’m Joanne, not Shelly. Michael’s my brother.”
* * * *
Edie shuffled her papers and tried to think of what to do next. Her whole morning had been set aside to review the McConnell project, but now it looked as if she would have those hours free. She could drive out to the landscape project, check up on her workers earlier than she had intended, but she really wanted to get this job underway as soon as possible.
“Shelly went into labor late last night,” Joanne explained as she sipped her coffee. “Well, early this morning, I guess. Michael must’ve forgotten you were coming by. Is this about the work he’s having done to spruce up the place?”
“I’m with Davis Contractors,” Edie said again. She’d mentioned it when she came in, but she didn’t think Joanne remembered, despite the woman’s distracted nod. “We’re supposed to repair the porch and replace the gutters and roof.”
With a laugh, Joanne snorted into her coffee. “Yeah, it sure needs it. I bet he forgot. Let me give him a call.”
Edie started, “No, don’t bother…”
But Joanne smiled as she brushed by on her way into the living room. From where she stood, Edie could hear Joanne tell the kids, “Turn off the TV and get dressed already, will you? I’m taking you to school shortly—”
“Aww, Jo!” Ava cried. “Can’t we stay home until the babies get here?”
Mikey piped up. “We want to see the babies!”
“You’ll see them when you get home,” Joanne snapped. “I have to get to work and you two have to get to school. Stop whining.”
When she returned to the dining room, she had a frazzled grin on her face and an iPhone in her hands. “Thank goodness they aren’t mine,” she murmured. “Let me send Michael a quick note.”
“It’s okay, really,” Edie assured her. “I can come back another time—”
Joanne’s thumbs flew over the face of her phone. “Too late, already sent.” Her smile widened, and she gave Edie a quick wink. “Sure I can’t interest you in a cup of coffee while we wait?”
“I’m fine.” Edie gave her an appraising look. At first, she’d thought Joanne was being friendly, but that wink…thatstopped her short. Was that supposed to be flirty? Because it came off as such. Suddenly Edie raised a hand to the sloppy ponytail at the nape of her neck, and she straightened the scrunchy before smoothing down a few stray strands over her ear.
Watching Edie openly, Joanne slipped into one of the dining room chairs and nursed her coffee. “Have a seat,” she suggested. When her phone went dark, she tapped a button to light up the screen again, but her brother hadn’t yet replied.