Caleb dropped out of sight as she fell back on her pillow. “Huh, what?” Did she sound sleepy? Sheneededto sound sleepy.
Dad peeked in. “I thought I heard voices. I know it’s hot, but don’t leave your window open. Delilah called her A/C guy, he should be here tomorrow. And close your blind. You never know who’s walking along the beach.”
Yep, you never know who might walk down the beach, tap on your window, and set your bones on fire. No, siree.
When Dad had gone, Caleb popped up again. “Shew, I escaped the Boyfriendinator. What time should I pick you up tomorrow?”
“Talk to me after you’ve Friended me.”
He grinned, pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a half dozen times, then turned it toward her. “Done.”
“See you tomorrow, Caleb.” She cranked the window closed and fell back down on her pillow, smiling.
In the morning, before Mom had even started breakfast, Caleb knocked on the cottage door. “Mr. Quinn, I’d like to escort your daughter to the carnival this afternoon.”
He’s asking Dad? The Boyfriendinator?Gutsy.
“Escort my daughter?” Dad tried not to laugh, and Emery swatted his arm. “I don’t know, Caleb, what are your intentions?”
“Intentions?”
“Oh, good grief,” Mom said. “His intention is to have fun. Honestly Doug, this is not the 1920s. Of course she can go, Caleb.” Lately Mom answered a lot for Dad, and it always felt like she was trying to show or teach him something.
Caleb thanked Mom and said he’d be back in the afternoon. Dad, after giving him the evil eye, said, “That’ll be fine. But I may be calling your father. Just in case.”
“Yes, sir, he’d be glad to hear from you.”
After breakfast, Emery cleaned the kitchen while Mom showered, and Dad stepped outside to take a call. When he came back in, he went straight to their bedroom. They’d had a lot of closed-door conversations since arriving at the Sands. They whispered a lot too. While sitting in the courtyard Adirondacks, while cooking or washing dishes.
Cottage 7 could fit in their Cleveland home’s living and dining room, so maybe they wanted privacy, but still ... it was weird.
“Emery.” Dad returned to the kitchen. “Your mom and I are going to see a friend of mine in Jacksonville. You have fun at the carnival. Check in with Delilah when you get back.”
“You have a friend in Jacksonville? How long will you be gone?”
“Just the day. We’ll be home late. It’s a five-hour drive over and back.”
Emery made a face. “You’re driving ten hours to see an old friend? For a day? Why aren’t you staying over?”
“We want to get back, enjoy our time in Sea Blue Beach. And we don’t want to leave you overnight. As for Todd, we’ve only recently been in touch. Don’t feel the need to spend the night.”
“But you want to drive ten hours to see him?”
“Yeah, your Mom and I thought it’d be fun. Besides, this summer is really about making family memories.”
“Then why don’t I go with? Meet your old friend.”
“Well, sure, you can come if you want. Rosie, Em thinks she might like to ride along.”
Mom came out of the bedroom dressed in jeans that bagged around her hips, no makeup, and her hair in a loose ponytail. She looked nothing like the bank exec heading out the door, ready to kick butt and take names. “Of course we’d love to have you come.” She looked at her watch. “You’d better get ready. We need to get on the road.”
Mom and Dad started gathering their things, but Emery didn’t move.
“Em?” Mom said. “Better grab a book. Maybe a pillow. Once Dad starts talking shop with Todd, who knows when we’ll get out of there.”
Okay, fine. They called her bluff. She didn’t want to sit in the car for ten hours, then at dinner while Dad reminisced with Todd.
Besides, Caleb braved the Boyfriendinator for her. “Well, I told Caleb I’d go to the carnival with him.”
