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“Thank you, folks! Enjoy your time on the island. And make sure to visit us again soon!”
I would swear that last comment was for my sister’s benefit.
“So, what’s the deal with the Comfort curse?” Ashley asked as we stepped off the trolley. “Do you think it’s real?”
I hope not, I thought as my phone rang.
“Is it Daddy?” Luna asked again. I’d had two calls today. One from Milly and the other from Mrs. Birch. Both times Luna had asked if it was her dad. Both times I’d had to tell her no and although she was happy to talk to the callers, I could see that she was a little disappointed that her father hadn’t called her on her birthday.
I looked down and saw that it was the man who I was equal parts worried would see, and would never see, my stretch marks.
“Um, no, it’s Hank.”
This time there was not even a hint of disappointment.
Her face lit up and she started clapping. “It’s Mr. Hank!”
I stared down at the number lighting up my screen and nerves danced in my belly. He’d never called me before. He’d always just shown up at the house. Or was already there when we got home.
“Hellooo!” Ashley waved her hand in front of my face. “Are you going to answer it?”
“Oh sorry, yeah.” I was breathless as I said, “Hi.”
“Sorry to interrupt Luna’s birthday,” Hank’s tone was one that I hadn’t heard before. He sounded serious. “But I have some bad news.”
My heart shot up and lodged in my throat. He wasn’t someone who I’d consider an alarmist. If he said that he had bad news, it was bad news. “What’s wrong?”
“I was finishing up some work on the plumbing and a pipe burst. I got everything out but you might want—”
“We’ll be right there.” I hung up.
“What’s wrong?” Ashley and Luna chorused when I hung up the phone.
“A pipe burst. We have to go. I’m so sorry, Luna.”
“Can we see Mr. Hank?”
“Yes, he’s at the house.”
“Yay!” she cheered, not at all disappointed that we weren’t going to the beach as planned.
We headed back to the lot where we were parked, and on the way Luna explained all the work that Mr. Hank had been doing on our house. I could feel Ashley’s stare boring into the side of my face. I would definitely be answering questions later. And with a glass of wine in me, I might just tell her everything.
The entire ride back to the house, Luna talked nonstop. It was moments like these that her chatterbox ways were a blessing. If she’d taken even one breath, I was sure that Ashley would be trying to speak in code about what was actually going on with Mr. Hank.
“And he put a fan in my room, ’cause we don’t have any air in our house.”
“Air conditioning,” I corrected.
“Air conditioning,” Luna repeated.
“Is that right?” Ashely commented. “Well that Mr. Hank sure is Mr. Handy isn’t he?”
Luna giggle. “Mr. Handy.”
“What else has Mr. Handsy been working on, Sis?”
The question was directed at me but Luna answered.
