Page 92 of Key West Homecoming

After she hung up with Priya, Emma called the front desk and asked Marisol whether the long-stay bungalow she’d mentioned was still available.

“It is.”

“I’ll take it for a month. Maybe longer.”

“I knew you would.”

“You did not.”

“I did, but I’m gracious enough not to make a thing of it. I’ll have Ramon help move your bags at three.”

“Thank you.”

Emma put down the phone and stayed on the patio.

For the next hour, she didn’t make a list. She didn’t answer email or open her laptop, and she didn’t try to figure out what she was supposed to accomplish before lunch.

She sat with her bare feet on the warm tile and listened to the palms move above her.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had done nothing without feeling guilty about it.

By six o’clock, Margarita Max’s was busy without being crowded. Lloyd was in his usual place, two tables near the window were occupied and Joey sat in the corner tuning his guitar.

Tess glanced at the screen door for the third time in five minutes.

“She’s late.”

Leah looked at her. “She isn’t scheduled.”

“She’s a regular now. Regulars have schedules whether they know it or not.”

“That is not a rule.”

“It is here. She’s usually in by six-fifteen.”

“It’s six-oh-five.”

“I’m giving her ten minutes.”

Leah went back to wiping the bar.

Tess watched her. “You know something.”

“Do I?”

“You’ve got your Boston face on.”

“I don’t have a Boston face.”

“You absolutely do. It’s the face you make when you know something and don’t want me to know you know it.”

“I’m working.”

“You’re wiping a counter that was already clean.”

Leah set the rag down. “What do you want, Tess?”

“Did you hear the way Emma said his name the other night?”