“Count your blessings,” he said, more seriously than he’d intended.
Beth studied him for a moment, making him want to twitch. He wasn’t used to anyone trying to see deep into him the way he felt sure she was. It was unnerving.
But finally she said, “Matt can be difficult to get along with. He’s been angry at Dad for as long as I can remember. Mom was our real parent. Having her walk out—that was hard for him.”
Tony couldn’t summon any sympathy. Matt had been almost ready to graduate from high school. He hadn’t needed a mother anymore, not the way his sisters did. He should have dedicated himself to being their support, not thought only of himself.
“I saw he graduated from Wakefield, so he did stick around.”
“No, he went to the University of Washington his first two years. He could hardly wait to get away. He found summer jobs elsewhere, too. I was surprised when he transferred to Wakefield his junior year, but he’d decided it was more prestigious than a state school. And…well, I thought he wanted to be here for us.”
Thought. Past tense. She must have quickly learned better.
“What about you?” Although he felt sure he knew.
“I went to the community college for two years. So I could live at home. Emily needed me.” She averted her gaze. “I finished at Western, in Bellingham, because Emily was a senior by then and not home much. Plus, Matt was back in town, if she needed one of us.”
Dad being conspicuously absent from her decisions, Tony wasn’t surprised to note.
She gave him a shy look. “What about you?”
Her reciprocal curiosity pleased him. “Portland State. Just far enough away. And, yes, I grew up here, too.”
A smile played with the corners of her mouth. “You and Matt, huh?”
He groaned. “And yet, here I am.”
She didn’t ask further but eyed him with that same open curiosity.
“My father died,” he said. “He was a foreman for one of the vineyards. Tractor rolled on him. Several of my sisters and my brother were still at home. My mother needed me.”
Something wistful flitted over her face. “It seems we have something in common.”
“Yeah.” He had to clear his throat. “I guess we do.” He couldn’t make himself look away from her, and it seemed she had the same problem.
It had to be a minute before she shook herself. “Shouldn’t we keep working?”
“We should.” He stood to drag another box from beneath the workbench.
* * *
AFTER THE LINGERIE and another box of clothing that must have been taken from her mother’s dresser—jeans, T-shirts, long underwear, sweat shirts and the like—Tony suggested they call it quits until the next day. Not letting him see how relieved she was, Beth agreed.
“Are you planning to stay?” he asked.
“Stay? Oh, talk to my father, you mean.” Make dinner for him? “I’ll go in and check on him, but… I think I need a break.”
“Understandable.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Did you get lunch?”
“Sort of. I fed Dad.”
“And pretended to nibble?”
She made a face at him.
“Are you hungry enough for an early dinner? I’m starved. I worked through lunch.”
However casual he made it sound, the suggestion startled Beth. Maybe he’d have offered the same to anyone he was working with. Or was only being polite, or was concerned about her or—
Apparently she’d been too slow to answer. Lifting the tape for her, Tony said brusquely, “If you’d rather just get home, that’s fine.”
“No, I—” Oh, what was wrong with her? But she knew. “It’s just…aren’t we, well, not enemies, but adversaries? You were mad at me this morning.”
“I was, but not for any defensible reason.”
What did that mean? What reason for his annoyance was indefensible?
“I was being an idiot, okay?” He locked the door and handed her the keys. “Let’s make it nine tomorrow morning, if that’s okay?”
“Sure. I suppose I should warn Dad…”
“He doesn’t teach summer quarter?”
“Actually, he does have a couple of classes. An evening one, I think, and… I can’t remember.” She stopped when she reached the concrete walkway leading from the driveway to the front porch.