“Couldn’t find any free spaces, and the trail to the cove is blocked.” Cal doesn’t quite look me in the eye.
“Daddy, let’s go!” Junie says in the background.
“Hold on, Bug. Someone wants to talk to you.” Cal sets down the phone again, capturing a view of the concrete ceiling and dim lights.
When he appears again, it’s only for a second. “Here she is.”
And then Junie’s there, sitting on the tailgate of Cal’s truck, bright blue bucket hat pulled down to her ears and dark pigtails peeking out from under the brim.
“Frankie!” she shouts when she sees me.
There’s some fumbling with the phone, and then her face again, very, very close up. Close enough that most of what’s visible is her toothy grin.
I’ll take it. My own cheeks pull back just as tight, I’m so happy to see her. “Happy birthday, Junie!”
“Are you coming to my birthday party?” she asks.
Her question both opens and breaks my heart. I shake my head. “I wish I could, I’ve gotta stay here for now and help my dad. But I’d like to see you as soon as I can.”
I can’t see Cal’s face, but I hope he hears me and knows Junie’s not the only one I want to see.
“We can come visit you, right Daddy?”
I let out a sad laugh, picturing Junie running through this silent, cold house. Not even Junie’s sunshine could chase away the shadows that lurk in its many hallways and rooms.
But I don’t have the heart to tell her no. “We’ll see, love. Maybe I’ll come visit you first. We can go to the beach together. I could show you how to surf. You’d like that, yeah?”
She shakes her head. “No. I too little.”
“I started when I was your age, Bug. But we can wait till you’re bigger,” I say, but she’s already pointing the camera in different directions to show me her beach chair and sand toys and whatever else catches her fancy.
The one thing she doesn’t show me is the someone I’d like to see most.
“Tell Frankie thank you for calling and say goodbye.” Cal’s deep voice rumbles off screen.
For the first time since I met her, Junie actually does what Cal asks and tells me goodbye. Disappointment sparks in mychest, then spreads like wildfire. I haven’t had enough time with her. I haven’t had any time with Cal.
Just as I’m about to end the call, his face appears on screen. “Sorry to cut things short.”
He doesn’t make any excuses or give any explanation. He doesn’t need to. He’s got a good reason—Junie’s birthday—but he’s giving off weird vibes.
“Is everything okay, Cal?” I open my bedroom door and step onto a balcony overlooking the backyard and pool. It’s too hot to sit out there today, but the flowers blooming cheer me up. “I’m sorry if I made things harder by ringing you. I just… dunno. I wanted to see her face…see if she looks older.”
The corner of his mouth tugs. “Does she?”
I nod. “Sounds older too.”
“Daddy, let me talk to Frankie again.”
The screen blurs with what I reckon is Junie’s fingers, and there’s more fumbling while Cal tells Junie to give his mobile back to him. I get dizzy from the motion on the screen. Then Junie starts crying, and I feel even worse about calling.
“I better go,” Cal says from somewhere off screen.
“Yeah. ‘Course. No worries.”
But, instead of pushing end, he’s back. He looks me in the eye—or at least tries through the screen—then bites his bottom lip.
“Frankie…do you know what Sanctuary is doing?”
