Chapter 23: Down The Shore

“Yes.”

“So act natural.”

Trey smiled at the kids. They were playing with a beach ball. A cooler sat by the steps to the upstairs apartment. “You guys waiting to go to the beach?”

One of the older kids tossed Trey the ball “Yep, Mom’s taking a long time.”

He put down his bags and caught it, winging it back to them.

The littlest one laughed and clapped his hands.

Mallory just stared at the little one as if he were a ghost. She shook herself, gathered all of the bags and left Trey outside.

He played with the kids until their mother came out. He found Mallory unpacking clothes and cutting off tags.

“What was that all about?” Trey asked.

“What?”

She looked at him as if he had two heads.

“You didn’t even talk to them. They’ll remember you.”

Mallory shrugged. “I’m not good with kids.”

“You just have to treat them like you would adults.”

He folded the clothes as she handed them to him.