Chapter 42

“Aww,” Evie says again. “And the h-word!”

Brody grins. “Eat your lunch, honey, okay? Let your daddy and me talk.”

“And you think I’m bad,” she mutters. “At least I don’t curse!”

They share a look again and can’t keep from laughing. Confused, Evie shrugs and turns back to her hot dog, attacking it with a vengeance. 32

With Gavin and Evie helping out, the afternoon slips away quickly. At first Evie wants to go back to the water. “It’s right behind us,” she tells her father, pointing in case he might somehow not notice the waves crashing on the shore. The beach is a good quarter mile stretch between the boardwalk and the water. “I can go and play, and you can watch me from here.”

“No,” Gavin says.

Evie pouts. “But you’ll be able to see me! I won’t go far.”

She starts to edge off the boardwalk, as if sure he’ll say yes.

But he doesn’t. “I said no. Now sit down.”