chapiter fifteen

As well as the donuts! she thought mischievously, picturing Jack's annoyed expression.

"Don't worry, my little Chise," Petula went on, "I brought two portions—for you and me."

"Mama!" exclaimed the little girl. "You haven't forgotten I'm sleeping over at Alison's tonight, have you?"

"Not at all, sweetheart," Claire replied.

At that, Aunt Petula stood up and declared:

"Well, since Chise is going out, I'll spend the evening at Finn's. Have fun, girls!"

"I'll just tidy up my office and then I'm ready, Chise," said Claire. "We'll go home to grab your things, and then I'll take you to Alison's."

Suddenly, she froze.

Hadn't Jack said he was eating in town tonight? Or more precisely, that he'd have to wait to find a spot to eat because of the flood of tourists?

"Maybe I'll head into town for dinner... later," she murmured.

"On a Friday night?" Petula cried. "You've lost your mind, my dear."

At those words, Claire glanced at her aunt.

It was entirely possible she had lost her mind, because, truth be told, she didn't even understand what was driving her sudden desire.

---

After parking in front of Finn and Helen's cottage, Petula took a moment to admire the view. The old Sweeney house, built of cedar and Florida pine, had undeniable charm. It also boasted a spectacular view of the lighthouse to the northeast of the island, less than two kilometers away. At this hour, it was outlined by the last golden rays of the sun as it prepared to dip behind the horizon.

Closing the car door, Petula studied the house more closely: light filtered through the drawn curtains of the living room. She knocked and turned the handle, knowing the door was never locked.

A familiar tapping sound echoed on the wooden floor—the sound of Andy's paws. Finn's old Labrador was rushing to greet her, despite his limp, a result of bad arthritis.

Petula bent down and scratched behind his left ear, asking:

"Well, you old stubborn thing, how are you? Where's your partner?"

To Petula's mind, the man and the dog shared more than just a roof. They had, in some ways, the same personality.

"Back here," came a voice from the veranda at the back of the house. "And don't go badmouthing me to Andy behind my back. You know I've got sharp ears."

A smile lit up Petula's face. Taking advantage of her distraction, Andy poked his nose toward the food container in her hand.

"Oh no, you little glutton!" she scolded, pulling the tray away. "At least wait until Finn's had a taste of the shrimp. Then you can try and bargain a few off him."

Raising her voice, she called out:

"Has Andy had his dinner yet?"

"Of course! Helen fed him before going out. But you know Andy—always on the lookout for crumbs."

Still smiling, Petula stepped into the kitchen. She opened a cupboard to grab a pan, poured in the shrimp, and warmed them gently over low heat before joining Finn on the veranda.

From there, the view of the lighthouse was magnificent. A scent of Dutch tobacco lingered in the air.

"Still clinging to that pipe, huh?" she teased Finn, who was seated in his wheelchair.

Blowing out a thin stream of smoke, Finn replied:

"Let me smoke in peace, would you? Helen's already taken away my whiskey. If you go after my pipe too, what joy will I have left?"

Petula didn't argue. Leaning down, she brushed aside some grey strands and kissed him on the forehead.

"How are you feeling today, my dear Finn?"

"Pretty good. And even better now that I can smell that heavenly scent from the kitchen…"

"It'll be hot in a few minutes."

Petula stepped to the railing and looked down at the beach, where the Sweeneys' fishing boat was moored.

"Got a shipment tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yes, Helen has two scheduled. I hope she won't get home too late."

Petula leaned against the railing and tilted her head to admire the moonbeams dancing on the water and glinting off the boat's shiny surface. The Grand Finn was nearly twenty years old but still gleamed like new. That was thanks to the love and care both father and daughter poured into its upkeep.

"Your boat looks as good as it did on its first day," she said.

"It's holding up well against time," Finn agreed. "Though it's not the only one…"

Catching the reference, Petula glanced over her shoulder and replied:

"Thanks for the compliment... even if you're lying. Sadly, time's passage shows more on me than on your boat."

"I'm a better judge of that than you are," Finn retorted. "Now come sit by me or I'll get a crick in my neck trying to look at you."

Obediently, Petula sat beside him in a wicker chair cushioned with soft pillows. It was a cozy seat she loved to curl up in. She draped the plaid blanket—always left there for her—across her knees.

"Is your ankle hurting tonight?" Finn asked.

"I'll survive," she answered with a touch of fatalism.

Finn then asked about the Friday night tourists, quizzing her on all kinds of things. Petula happily obliged these "interrogations," knowing that for Finn—who couldn't get around easily—she was a window to the outside world.

"Have you heard the news about the Dolphin Enclosure?" she asked in turn.

"Yes, from Helen. She says the hotel's reopening soon and could bring us plenty of new clients."

"That's great news."

"Not to me," Finn said gloomily. "My daughter's thirty. She spends all her time working or taking care of her old man. And she's not going to find a husband by ferrying around rich retired Northerners."

"She's an adult, Finn. She lives her life the way she wants."

"When her mother died, I should've signed her up for dance classes and never let her take over the freight business."

Petula sighed. Deep down, she shared similar concerns about Claire. She wished her niece would think about getting remarried…

"My niece is wasting the best years of her life too, if you ask me," she admitted.

At the memory of Jack Hogan, a mysterious smile lit up Petula's face as she added:

"But one must never lose hope. Things might change…"

"What do you mean?"

"The young New Yorker handling the Dolphin Enclosure deal is handsome enough to make a woman swoon—and he doesn't wear a wedding ring. I've got a feeling… there's a spark between them. She acts all annoyed with him, which means she definitely notices him."