“I live here,” Ellie said.
“Then you know where.”
Rosa returned to the café.
Hank held up the remains of the lobster.
“Captain Pancake says thank you.”
The dog had already removed one claw.
“He communicates efficiently.”
Ellie reached into the truck bed for my suitcase.
“I can carry it.”
“I’m checking whether the wheel is a safety issue.”
“It requires intervention.”
“You sound like management.”
“Management would replace it.”
“They lack sentiment.”
Hank stepped between us and took the handle.
“I’ll bring it inside.”
Ellie and I both looked at him.
He stopped.
“Inside the shop?”
“No,” Ellie said.
“Your house?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
Hank looked between us, realized he had wandered into a subject not covered by his responsibilities, and placed the suitcase back in the truck.
“I’ll let you manage that.”
He disappeared into Reef Rascal.
I leaned toward Ellie.
“That was subtle.”
“For Hank, it was an extraordinary display of restraint.”
We drove the short distance to her house.
