Free A House by the Side of the Road by Jan Gleiter Page B

plasterboard, the work is so precise. And he makes intricate little boxes with all kinds of rare wood.”
    â€œHe helped me choose a hammer at the lumberyard.”
    Christine lifted her chin and shook her head to position her hair behind her shoulders. “Just don’t get him to help you choose anything that could cost real money. The man has incredible, perfect taste.”
    â€œDoes he have an incredible, perfect girlfriend?” asked Meg.
    â€œGood idea!” said Christine. Her mouth curved into a grin. “You have moved on! No, not anymore. He did, but it ended. Other than the lovely Stephanie—who was a major snob from what I could tell—the only woman I ever saw him with consistently was Hannah Ehrlich, and though she might have given you a run for your money, she’s not in a position to compete.”
    She saw the look on Meg’s face. “I’m kidding, idiot,” she laughed. “He was just a big help to her, that’s all. Carried a lot of the burden of making sure she had groceries and doing the heavy garden work and looking out for her. Stephanie probably objected to sharing him. I don’t think generosity was her dominant characteristic.”
    Meg leaned back against the side of the house. She remembered the hint of hostility in Jack’s voice the previous day. “Does he get along with Mike Mulcahy?”
    â€œNot well,” said Christine. “Jack thought Mike should have done more for his aunt, and he took it hard when she died. I think he blames Mike a little.”
    â€œDo you?”
    Christine shook her head. “No. Mike’s busy. He’s hardly ever home. Back before Hannah died, he lived about twenty miles away, and I think it was hard for him to drive way over here every time she needed a peony moved to a sunnier spot.”
    She fell silent, with a troubled look.
    â€œWhat?” asked Meg.
    â€œJanie blames him,” said Christine. “She needs someone to blame.” She pulled her knees up and clasped them, looking out over the yard. “It was the first real tragedy in her life, and she was furious. She wanted there to be a reason besides just, you know, mortality. So, if Mike had been more devoted, had paid more attention, it wouldn’t have happened. She decided that he neglected his aunt because he knew he’d inherit her house.”
    â€œI’m having dinner with him tonight,” said Meg. “I guess I’d better not tell Jane.”
    Christine gave her an appraising look. “I thought we were going to figure out clever ways to throw you and Jack into the same social circles, and here you are with your dance card filling up.”
    â€œOh, yeah,” said Meg. “Just call me Belle.”
    When Christine had ridden away, the dog moved closer to the porch. Meg looked up from reading through the team notes and saw her watching. The dog’s chin dripped water and her paws were wet.
    â€œBeen down to the creek, I see, which probably accounts for your peaceful demeanor,” said Meg. “It has that effect. Why have you decided to hang out here? Somebody was nice to you, back when you were a puppy, right? A smallish woman with short dark hair, I bet. You got socialized and you learned about people, and now you’re reluctant to give up on the entire human race.”
    The dog lay down, stretching her head out on her paws, and sighed.
    â€œYou’re too proud to ask, but you’re hungry, aren’t you?” asked Meg. “I really stepped in it, didn’t I?”
    She went into the kitchen, scrambled some eggs and made toast, which she crumbled on top. She carried the plate outside, put it down on the grass, and sat cross-legged a few feet away.
    â€œNo, I didn’t lace it with arsenic,” she said as the dog sniffed from a distance. “Anyone with sense would have, but I didn’t. If you want it, come get it. Come on, girl.”
    The dog got up