Pearl tore her gaze away from the visitor and headed straight into Room with a Tomb. As she stepped into the lobby, the enchanted vacuum, Vlad the Inhaler Jr., whirred by, doing its daily task of hoovering the front foyer carpet.
She sidestepped Vlad and made her way to the reception desk, where Sven was leaning against the counter and working on his computer. His expression was slightly pained. Before hiscurse was broken, he spent hours hovering. Now, he couldn’t hover, and she wondered if his feet hurt.
“Morning, Sven,” Pearl called out.
Sven glanced up and beamed brightly, his blue eyes twinkling. “Hi, Pearl.”
“I haven’t seen you with blue eyes,” she teased. “Though they are not as unnerving as your red eyes.” At least the red eyes were familiar.
Sven chuckled. “That’s because you’ve been away at school and you’ve only ever seen me cursed.”
Pearl set down the basket of products her mother had sent. “True, though it’s great you and Magnus can come visit me in the city now. That’s a hint by the way for you to come and see me.”
“I want to. Magnus and I both want to visit you. I like traveling, but I also like staying put. Flo isn’t quite up to traveling far from home yet.”
“And you’re not used to being completely solid. You look a bit pained standing there.”
Sven sighed. “It’s murder on my feet.”
“I’ve brought stuff from my mom for you to sell to the guests. I have no idea what she sent.”
“The same stuff she has over at Ogram’s farm market.” Sven took the basket and set it behind the counter. “Mercedes isn’t here right now. She’s out running some errands with Magnus and she’s taken Flo along.”
Pearl was disappointed. “I see. Well, let her know I stopped by. I’m on my way to the hospital anyways to talk about my placement this summer.”
Sven smiled at her. “I’m super proud of you.”
“Thanks.” She leaned against the counter.
Sven cocked an eyebrow. “Was there something else?”
“You have a gill man staying with you.”
“Yes, he’s from Louisiana.”
Pearl blinked a couple of times. “So that’s why he had a French accent. Wonder why he’s here.”
“He says he’s on the search for family and was headed to the library.”
“You didn’t tell him about Phineas?”
“No, because that’s not my business. However, I do find it odd because most gill people are from the south, like Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida…you know, where the swamps are. I know a few migrated north for safety, but it’s strange to look for family here.”
Pearl frowned. “I don’t know much about it either. Well, I hope he finds what he’s looking for.”
“Me too. I hope he has an enjoyable stay in Harmony Glen.”
As much as Pearl wanted to ask Sven the mystery gill man’s name, she didn’t. One, because Sven wouldn’t tell her due to confidentiality, and two, she didn’t want to be completely nosey.
Okay, she sort of wanted to be nosey, but that wasn’t her.
“Let Mercedes know I’ll talk to her later.”
“Will do,” Sven said. “Good luck at the hospital.”
Pearl nodded and left the dead-and-breakfast. She tried not to think about the visiting gill man but wondered if he had any relation to Phineas, though that seemed a bit far-fetched. Phineas had no family left after his parents were murdered, making him an orphan.
Part of her really hoped this new gill man could be distantly related to Phineas, because she knew how he longed for family and connection. Also, it seemed too coincidental that there was another gill man in Harmony Glen.
