Free Casting About by Terri Dulong

outfit.
    But it wasn’t her style of dress that forced me to keep staring out the window—it was the genuine smile on the woman’s face and her obvious interest in Clarissa Jo.
    I was pulled away from the window by the sound of Grace’s voice at the back door.
    â€œHey,” she said, depositing some covered Pyrex bowls on the counter. “Here’s my contribution for dinner tonight.”
    I walked over to see a container of macaroni and cheese and a sweet potato casserole.
    â€œThanks, Gracie,” I said and resumed slicing potatoes. “Want some sweet tea? It’s in the fridge. Help yourself.”
    â€œI see Clarissa met your neighbor.”
    I watched her pour herself a glass of the tea I’d made the day before and nodded.
    â€œAny more word from this new beau of yours?” I asked.
    â€œYeah, he called again and we’re having dinner together Tuesday evening.”
    â€œDoes this George Clooney look-alike have a name?”
    Gracie laughed. “Tony. Tony Rizotti.”
    â€œHmm, an Italian lover.”
    â€œHe’s not my lover. Just a dinner date. But he’s taken an apartment on the island, just down the street from your shop.”
    After I rinsed the potatoes, I turned them on to boil. “Oh, the vacant one above Noah’s gallery?”
    â€œYeah, and I guess I’ll find out how Italian he is—because he’s cooking me dinner.”
    â€œSounds like fun.”
    â€œWhat sounds like fun?” I heard Adam ask as he walked into the kitchen with a propane tank.
    â€œGrace’s new friend is cooking her dinner next week,” I told him, leaning in for his kiss.
    â€œAh, I detect some romance floating in the air,” he kidded her as he walked out to the deck.
    Grace glanced at her watch. “Well, I’m outta here. Have to get over to the coffee shop. I’ll see you about five.”
    â€œI saw Clarissa next door talking to Miss Tilly,” Adam said, coming back inside. “They’re sitting on the porch having a cold drink.”
    â€œReally?”
    He laughed. “You sound surprised.”
    â€œWell, I am, a bit. Tilly doesn’t normally bother with anybody, much less a child. And Clarissa…well, she’s barely said ten words to us since she arrived.”
    I felt Adam’s arms go around me, pulling me into an embrace.
    â€œMaybe this little friendship will be good for both of them.”
    He buried his face in my neck and began nibbling on my ear.
    â€œHmm, wonder how long she’ll be over there?” he whispered.
    Feeling the stirrings of desire, I was now sorry I’d turned him away the other night.
    Kissing his mouth, I pulled back. “Not long enough for what you’re thinking. Oh, that reminds me…we just don’t seem to have any private time to talk anymore, and I keep forgetting to tell you. For three nights since Clarissa arrived, I’ve woken during the night to hear her crying in her room.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s unusual. Have you mentioned it to her?”
    â€œGod, no. That would be like intruding.”
    â€œYou’re her stepmom now, Monica. You have a right to intrude in stuff like that. But maybe we won’t mention it and see what happens. I knew it would take her a while to adjust, and I’m sure that’s part of it.”
    â€œShe hasn’t mentioned Carrie Sue at all. Do you think that’s normal?”
    Adam shrugged. “Under the circumstances, probably. I think we just need to give her some time. Let her tell us what she’s feeling, rather than drag it out of her.”
    My own feeling was that even if we tried, dragging anything out of Clarissa wasn’t going to be an easy feat.
    Â 
    When Clarissa returned from Miss Tilly’s, she didn’t seem quite as subdued. Tilly had let her borrow a book about a little girl and her dog, and it occupied Clarissa for the entire afternoon.
    I