Chapter 18

I shrugged. “We talked. Nothing was decided. She said she’d talk to me today.”

“That’s hopeful. Isn’t it?” Melissa looked up at me.

I took a long, slow, deep breath. “We’ll see. I tried calling again this morning but Anne said she wasn’t there. Maybe she wasn’t or maybe she didn’t want to talk to me.”

Gran said softly, “You have to think positively, dear.”

I chuckled. “Okay. I’m positive she didn’t want to talk to me.” I stopped. “Is there coffee made?”

“Of course.”

“How can you drink coffee in this heat?” Sally asked. She looked astonished.

I shrugged. “Hot coffee makes everything else seem cooler.”

I went back into the house.

“Hey, Nic! Want to go fishing?” I heard Melissa call. “We need to try the boat.”

Sally added her two cents. “You promised.”

I went back outside with my mug of coffee. “Sure, why not. Maybe I’ll fall in and drown this time.” I sat down on the top step and sipped some coffee.

“That’s a hopeful attitude,” Melissa commented.