him his bath.” Courtney smiled. “He likes it. Splashes water all over the place.”
Devanna just gave a dismissing wave of her hand. “I’ve got business this morning.”
Clearly, her aunt had other things on her mind as she walked over to the counter and picked up a notepad. “Here’s the grocery order. The delivery boy will pick it up when he makes today’s delivery. Make a list of what you want, and he’ll bring it next time.”
“We don’t have a phone?”
“Not unless you’re to fork up the deposit and pay the monthly charges. Not worth the money to me.” She added, “Paying the city for electricity and water hookups isn’t cheap, either.”
“I’ll pay my share of everything.”
“Then I think we’ll get along.”
After she left, Courtney realized that her aunt hadn’t left any money on the counter for the grocery order. When the boy came, she paid for the delivery and gave him both grocery lists.
“Thanks,” he said when she gave him a tip, and looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected one.
Her aunt was gone for most of the day. A poignant loneliness mocked Courtney’s high hopes for the summer. How she had looked forward to enjoying a sense of “family,” instead of facing the world on her own! When Aunt Devanna had reached out to her, she felt that she wasn’t totally alone anymore, but nothing could have been further from the feelings that plagued her now.
Ever since she’d arrived, her aunt’s welcome would have been totally without any interest or warmth except for the baby. Why? What had happened? Was Devanna regretting the invitation she’d extended in her letter?
As the hours crept by, Courtney struggled to understand her aunt’s behavior. Living as a recluse for years had made her aunt a loner. No doubt about it.
I’ll just have to be patient, she told herself, entertaining a pang of sympathy for her aunt. I’ll win her over. Instead of judging her, I’ll find ways to make her life a little happier, and, hopefully, change some of her eccentric behavior.
DESPITE COURTNEY’S valiant efforts, several days passed without much change in her aunt’s behavior. Her disinterest in Courtney continued, at the same time her growing devotion to the baby intensified. Devanna quickly learned Jamie’s schedule, and was eager to feed him, change his diaper and lull him to sleep.
Courtney couldn’t have found a better nursemaid. With time on her hands, getting the houseboat in shape fell to Courtney. She organized her aunt’s belongings as best she could, and was puzzled at Devanna’s disinterest in the books she’d brought, and the unfinished embroidery in her sewing basket.
When Devanna wasn’t caring for the baby, she spent a lot of time in her room with the door shut. Other times, she left the houseboat in her gray van without offering any explanations as to where she was going, or where she’d gone. She had a habit of bringing back fast food for herself, but never any for Courtney.
“I didn’t know what you’d like.”
Why didn’t you ask? Her aunt’s lack of interest in any open communication between them baffled Courtney. Devanna never reminisced about the past, nor shared any childhood memories of growing up with Courtney’s mother. Any attempt to engage her in casual conversation fell flat.
Even though they were docked, Courtney felt isolated from everything and everyone by water, so she spent uninterrupted hours on the narrow deck encircling the houseboat. The weather had turned clear and warm, and the view of the surrounding mountains and the ever-changing water of the lake was a balm to her growing discomfort.
She loved watching the activity on the lake. Private boats, large and small, dotted the dark blue waters. Water-skiers created white wakes like rooster tails as they skimmed by, and two commercial tourist vessels made many runs a day. Sandy beaches were filled with swimmers of all ages, but Courtney never had the urge to get into the water herself.
She spent time reading some of her aunt’s books, but when she spied a small ladder leading to the flat roof of the houseboat, she welcomed a new way to spend her idle time. A perfect place for sunbathing!
Her spirits rose as she quickly changed into her swimsuit and grabbed her suntan lotion. Since her aunt had disappeared on one of her mysterious drives, and Jamie was taking a morning nap, she was free to have a pleasant time in the sun.
She climbed up the ladder, and was getting ready to stretch out on the roof when the noise of an approaching boat caught her attention. A sleek cruiser skimmed the water with a foamy wake, and she watched as it docked at another houseboat a short distance away.
Her sigh was filled with envy. The old rowboat that her aunt had said came with the rental of their houseboat didn’t appeal to her, and she doubted that she would ever try to take it out on the lake.
Keeping a motherly ear for any sound of Jamie, Courtney let herself relax for the first time since her arrival. The warm sun felt lovely. After a few minutes, she sat up, preparing to turn over on her back, but as she glanced across the water, she was startled to see the sleek cruiser heading in her direction.
As it came closer, she could see a man wearing a nautical cap and white sports clothes at the wheel. She couldn’t believe it when he eased the boat into their dock, next to the rowboat.
Who in the world?
Hurriedly, she descended the ladder and made her way around the deck to the dock side. She was absolutely stunned when she came face-to-face with the man she’d encountered at the restaurant the night of her arrival. She couldn’t find her voice to even say hello.
Neil pretended to be as totally surprised to see her. “Well, I’ll be! Can you believe it? Remember me? The rescuer of baby bottles and maps?”
More than once the helpful stranger had been in Courtney’s thoughts as she’d wondered what would have happened if she’d only seized the opportunity to get to know him.
He laughed deeply at her astonishment and held out his hand. “Neil Ellsworth. It’s nice to see you again. I guess it’s a small world, after all.”
“Yes it is,” she echoed. “Courtney Collins.”
Her hand felt soft, yet firm in his. “Nice to meet you, Courtney.”
“Why—?” she stammered. “I mean I don’t understand. What brought you here?”
“Business,” he answered with a solemnity that contrasted with the twinkle in his eye and the curve of his lips.
She smiled back. “What kind of business?”
“I’m your landlord.”
“What?” she gasped in total surprise. “You own this houseboat?”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “No, but my company handles the rental on most of the houseboats in Hidden Cove.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“It’s true.” He launched into the explanation he’d mentally prepared. “Since all the arrangements for Nevermore were made by mail,
