“Your heart is in the right place,” Harlow said. “At least you’re traveling with someone who is familiar with Cuba but please, keep us in the loop so we don’t worry.”
“As much as I can. It’ll be the trip of a lifetime.”
After Aunt Birdie left to finish her laundry, David and Harlow cleaned the kitchen, both agreeing they were concerned about Aunt Birdie’s trip.
“I hope she has an epic adventure.” Harlow finished wiping the counter and draped the dishrag over the sink divider. A tiny inkling of foreboding crept into her mind. It was one thing to jet around the world, but traveling to a country in crisis? A major cause for concern, at least in Harlow’s mind.
Chapter 6
Harlow finished rehearsing her lines, leaving enough time to freshen up before the Eastons arrived. At ten-thirty on the dot the doorbell rang.
David, a step ahead of his daughter, welcomed their guests in. Morgan, holding her pup Chester, stood alongside Brett and a boy who looked like a miniature version of his father.
“C’mon in.”
Mort, curious about the visitors, trotted toward them.
Chester shrank back, his ears straight up as he warily eyed the husky pup.
Harlow crossed the living room and joined her father. “Welcome to Mackinac Island.”
“Thank you.” Morgan smiled brightly. “It was so much fun taking a horse and buggy taxi here. We also noticed a lot of pedal bikes on the main road.”
“Bikes and buggies,” David quipped. “Our main modes of transportation.”
Brett patted the boy’s shoulder. “This is my son, Tristan.”
Harlow stepped forward and held out her hand. “Hello, Tristan. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hello, Ms. Wynn.” He hesitated for a second and then shook her hand. “You’re as pretty as your pictures.”
“Thank you.” Harlow grinned. “My dad told me you recently moved to Easton Island.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You can call me Harlow.”
He nervously licked his lips. “Yes, ma’am. I mean, Harlow.”
“Do you like living up here?”
“It’s awesome. I drove a snowmobile. Brett took me ice-fishing. We’re going to go kayaking and hiking. Some friends from school taught me how to ice skate.”
“That’s great,” Harlow said. “How is school?”
His smile vanished. “It’s okay.”
Brett squeezed his shoulder. “It’s been an adjustment.”
Harlow reached into her pocket and pulled out an arrowhead, one she’d found years ago in the backyard vegetable garden. She’d only recently stumbled upon it while rummaging through some of the childhood belongings her dad had boxed up.
The day she dug it out of the ground, David had promptly attached it to a keychain, promising her it would bring her good luck as he hooked it to her backpack. Whenever she felt sad or anxious, she rubbed the stone and it made her feel better.
“I know how you feel,” she said.
“You do?” Tristan asked.
“Yep.” Harlow held out the arrowhead. “I found this in the backyard. Dad made a keyring out of it. This lucky arrowhead was on my school backpack for a very long time. Whenever I was feeling sad or having a bad day, I rubbed it and it made things better.”
