"I can come back later if…"
He cut her off. "No, no. It's my fault. Mrs. Addy needed her yard done and I meant to do it earlier, but inspiration hit this morning and I couldn't get out there until I finished."
He opened the door and held it for her. Alexis stepped inside and casually surveyed the interior.
"Do you have a lawn business, too?" she asked.
"No," he said, closing the door behind them. "Her sons are grown and her husband died a few years ago. She can't manage it on her own."
Alexis took a good look at him. His yellow t-shirt was like a highlighter for his muscles. She pretended not to notice. "That's really kind, Tyler."
He shrugged. "She's my neighbor."
Alexis tried to imagine random acts of kindness between neighbors in London. She nearly laughed out loud. She didn't even know her neighbors' names. When she went from visibly pregnant back to her trim figure without a baby to show for it, no one around them seemed to notice. Even when Mark died, no neighbors paid their respects. They either didn't realize her life had changed forever or they simply didn't care. The thought churned up a bitter taste in her mouth.
"How was Christmas with your parents?" she asked.
"Great. They asked after you."
"That's sweet. Mine was more tolerable than expected." She shook her head, realizing that it wasn't true. "Actually, it was better than that."
"Glad to hear it." Tyler pulled his top over his head. "I just need to change really fast. I reek of lawn care."
He sprinted down the hall and Alexis heard a drawer open and shut. She admired the artwork on the walls and her gaze lingered over a photo of Tyler and his parents on one of the end tables. They appeared to be on a boat with Tyler and his dad holding up a large tarpon while his mom wrapped a proud arm around her son. Their wide smiles told the story of happy fishermen. Alexis sighed with contentment. Simple pleasures appealed to her more and more each day.
"Is that a silver king?" she called, observing the fish's excessive size and silver scales on the side. It had to be at least six feet long.
"Sure is. One of my dad's proudest moments."
"I can tell."
"That fish had the fighting spirit, no doubt, but I managed to reel her in." He emerged in a clean charcoal-colored top and dark jeans.
Alexis swallowed hard when she saw him. "You caught it?"
He ducked his head modestly. "I'm nowhere near the fisherman my dad is, but I got lucky that day. He was ecstatic."