“I never try to put knowledge into that hard head of yours. You only believe what you can see and touch. Turn on the light and look inside that far cabinet.”
Jared hesitated, almost afraid of what he’d see. Reluctantly, he got up, switched on the light, and opened the cabinet. What he saw wasn’t what he’d expected. Inside was a model of what looked to be a little chapel, complete with bell tower.
Right away he could see the influence of his own work on the design, but he also saw that of Ken Madsen. But most important, it was a new and fresh design, Alix’s own voice, unique to her.
“Lost your tongue?” Caleb asked.
“Pretty much.”
“She made it to show you. But you—”
“You don’t have to rub it in. What made her choose this to work on?”
“I made sure she saw an old photo.”
Jared nodded. “The one of Aunt Addy and Grandma Bethina laughing together?”
“Yes, that one.”
He picked up the little model and held it on the flat of his hand, turning it around to study it. “This is better than I would have done.” He put it back in the cabinet, then took out her freehand sketches and went through the pages. “She’s good. Three of these are buildable.”
“She and her friend broke into your house.”
“They what?” Jared was still looking at the drawings.
“What is that heretical thing you say about heroes and Our Father?”
Jared had to think for a moment to understand that one. His grandfather often mixed up old and new slang. “Hero worship.”
“That’s it. Alix used to feel that way about you, but after tonight I don’t think she does.”
“That’s exactly what I didn’t want to happen,” Jared said. “Some kid looking at me with big puppy-dog eyes, thinking I hung the moon. That’s impossible to live up to.”
“And there you were, lusting after Ken’s daughter.”
“I did no such thing!” Jared said angrily, but then he grinned. “Well, maybe I did. She’s a beauty—and built. I’m only human.”
“You like that her father taught her what you showed him about fish.”
“Which my dad taught me.”
“And I taught all of you,” Caleb said, and the two men smiled at each other.
“So now what do I do?” Jared asked.
“Apologize to her.”
“And she’s going to forgive me? I just say I’m sorry and that’s it?” Jared hesitated. “I know. I could give her a job at my office in New York. She could—”
“You could help her with the wedding.”
“Oh, no! I don’t know anything about that. If she wants to stay here I’ll get the office to send her some work and I’ll … I’ll buy her a drafting table. Or a CAD system. Maybe she could use the guesthouse as an office. I’ll go back to New York and …” He broke off at the look on his grandfather’s face and sighed. “What are you plotting against me?”
“She’s here alone. She knows no one on this island.”
“I said I’d get Dilys to—”
“Young Alix is planning on leaving for good,” Caleb said.