Chapter 56

• He looked like a giant statue standing there, his arms folded over his chest, his face hardened by whatever it was he was thinking. “I just think,” she watched his chest rise and fall, “there’s no rush to get this house finished.” The words came out in a hurried way.
• That surprised her, that he would say that. “You don’t want Cooper to have his own place? Somewhere quiet he can escape all the kids and commotion in the house?” She hoped she had enough paint in the tray to finish. Not waiting for his reply, she went over and carefully moved the ladder over so she could finish the top. Then all she had to do was fill it in with the roller.
• “Cooper?” he snorted, “you think Coop wants this for himself?”