Linnea set her coffee mug on the counter and vigorously scratched her head, groaning with frustration. “I’m going to break out in hives before this is over.”
“Look,” Anna said, turning to face her. “I’m not a professional on love, God knows. But if your body is sending you signals telling you that you don’t want him to move in with you, you have to pay attention to that.”
“I’m just nervous.”
Anna went to the fridge, pulled out the oat milk, then poured some over her cereal. “What I hear you saying is, maybe you’re just not that into him.”
Linnea looked at her, startled by the casually offered, shocking comment. “But I am. He’s wonderful. Kind. Intelligent. Handsome.”
“Okay, keep telling yourself that.” She smiled. “And who knows? Maybe it’s just the timing that has you spooked. The pandemic and everything.” She carried the bowl to the table and slid into a chair. “Or, you’re just not that into him.”
Linnea frowned and grabbed her mug, taking a long swallow of coffee. It was already cold.
Cooper reentered the room, dressed now in a navy sweatshirt over khaki shorts that revealed his tanned, hairy legs and a worn pair of docksiders. His hair was still wet from his shower.
“Uh-oh. This has the feeling of a chick talk. How about I take the dog for a walk?”
“Great,” Linnea said. She turned to Luna, whose large brown eyes stared at her adoringly. “Want to go for a walkie?” Immediately the puppy began shaking her rear in excitement. “Go on,” she said to the dog, wiggling her fingers toward Cooper. “Her leash is hanging by the door.”
They watched Cooper struggle with the wiggly puppy, saying over and over, “Sit. Sit. Sit.” At last he secured the leash and, with a wave, left the house.
“A boy and his dog,” Anna quipped.
“Yes. Exactly. A boy,” Linnea said with exaggerated meaning.
“Oh, come on. He’s not that young.”
“No?” Linnea brought her mug to the table and sat beside Anna. “You don’t think a college boy is a little young for you?”
“What’s a few years?”
“Five,” Linnea said.
“Four,” said Anna.
“Whatever.”
“It is weird,” Anna conceded. “Not because he’s a few years younger than me. That’s no biggie. Trust me, he’s a man.”
Linnea made a face and put up her hand. “Please, spare me the details.”
Anna nodded, silently agreeing there were some lines that could not be crossed. “Right. It’s weird because he’s your little brother. Neither of us meant for it to happen. It just did.” Her long, unpolished nails tapped the table. “We’re not taking it seriously. We’re chalking it up to being stuck in these weird times. He might not be Mr. Right, but he’s Mr. Right Now.” She picked up her spoon and wagged it toward Linnea. “Your brother is pretty cool. I like him.” She leaned over to nudge Linnea. “And I love his family.”
Linnea looked at Anna as she lustily put a spoonful of cereal into her mouth. Anna had lost the dull pallor and the cloud of gloom that had hovered over her when she first moved in. She was still a slob in her room, but she was making efforts to join in cleaning the house and never delayed chipping in her fair share of expenses. So this was going to be the new normal at the beach house, she thought.
“Sometimes it’s easier not to struggle upstream and simply go with the flow.”
Anna reached out with her mug. “I’ll drink to that.”
They clinked mugs.
Linnea said, “Look, I get it. You and Cooper are both adults. It’s awesome if you like each other. As his big sister, I think you should know something, though. Cooper used to party a lot. And he’s been quite the ladies’ man.”
“Okay.” Anna had put down her mug and was listening intently.
“But that part of his life is over,” Linnea said, stressing her words. “Cooper had a life-changing event at eighteen.”
Anna breathed out. “I know. The drug overdose. He told me.”
“Oh. Good.” Linnea was glad he had. But she had more to say. “He’s grown so much since then. Mature beyond his years, you could say.” She looked up again and caught Anna’s attention. “But he has a soft underbelly. When he cares, he cares a lot. And here’s the thing. Take it from one who knows. When you move in with someone, things get serious fast.”
She pointed her finger at Anna in a nonthreatening way. “Remember this. If you break his heart, you’re not just ruining one relationship.” She moved her hand and added a finger to indicate two. “You’re ruining two.”
chapter ten
During these days of isolation, it was all the more important to spend time outdoors, especially when the glowing sun broke through the darkness and filled the sky with pink and golden rays.
LINNEA’S FAVORITE TIME of the day was the very early morning when the dawn song of nearby birds pierced the night’s silence. She’d lie in bed and listen to the first clarion call, a blend of joy and bravery—I’m alive, this is a new day, and this is my territory. She could get behind that. After a few strident calls, the song would be returned by another bird, over and over, a simple duet until other neighboring birds joined the chorus. One of the benefits of staying at home was not having to rush out of bed, to dress and dash to work. She could lie there and appreciate the concert of a new day’s birth.
At length she rose, yawned, then went to her bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She slipped into her yoga attire and heard Luna pawing at her crate.
“I see you, baby. Come on,” she crooned as she undid the bolt. “Let’s go out.”
The master bedroom was connected to the deck. It was convenient for her to stroll out with Luna at her heel. She’d created a small fenced area off the deck that Luna could run to, which she happily did.
“Good morning,” called out Anna. She came through her bedroom door, also dressed in yoga clothes and carrying her mat.
They had started the routine of meeting on the deck at dawn for sun salutations as a way to bond. Anna was skilled at yoga and had begun teaching Linnea the twelve poses that made up the sun salutation. Linnea felt that during these days of isolation, it was all the more important to spend time outdoors, especially when the glowing sun broke through the darkness and filled the sky with pink and golden rays. She believed the sun’s energy could keep her inner darkness at bay.
After yoga, Anna helped Linnea in the kitchen to prepare breakfast. While Linnea made the coffee, Anna poured out her homemade granola into bowls, topped them with fresh berries, and set a carton of oat milk on the table. Linnea still couldn’t believe that Anna had convinced her cow’s milk–chugging brother to switch to oat milk. While the coffee brewed, she poured Luna’s dog kibble into a bowl. The puppy’s tail never failed to wag as she trotted after Linnea to the dog dish. Dogs were such dependable critters, she thought.
As usual, the scent of coffee was a lure for Cooper. He padded into the kitchen in a sleepy stupor, murmuring a good morning. There wasn’t much talk until all of them had finished their first cup of coffee.