Page 50 of Grace on the Rocks

“Tell me.”

“And lose any progressI’vemade?Nota chance.”

“Progress?” she asked, teasing him by pronouncing it with a long-Osound as he did.

“Making you hate me less,” he said, striding off down the beach, hands still in his pockets, but relaxed and devil-may-care.

“You couldn’t possibly make me hate you less, so you might as well spill,” she called, running across the sand to catch up.

That earned her a sideways quarter smile.

“First,Iwrestled it to the ground likeIwas theCrocodileHunterand it was the most massive croc to ever live.”

“Of course you did.Andthen?”

“ThenIleft it inCaitriona’sbed.”

“You didn’t!”

He nodded sheepishly. “ ’CourseIdid.”

She shoved him a little. “Youmonstrous little brat,” she said, shaking her head.

“To be fair, she more than deserved it.”

AllGracecould do was shake her head some more.

“I made it up to her,” he protested.

“A croc in her bed?Howcould you possibly?”

“I collected enough shells out here to make a necklace.Anda wind chime.Andto absolutely cover a mermaid castle.”

“A mermaid castle?”Graceasked, delighted by the whimsy.

He nodded emphatically. “Iferreted out the finest cardboard on the island.Notflimsy cereal cartons, mind, the good ones for mailing all sorts.”

“Of course.”

“I taped them all together and covered the outside in sand and shells. ’Twasa right proper castle.HerArieldoll lived there for years until the day weeElspethburied her at sea.”

“She threw her in the ocean?”

“Toilet.”

Grace burst out laughing. “OkaymaybeI’mgladIonly had an older brother.”

* * *

Strollingalong the beach withBryandid wonders to clearGrace’shead.Shemanaged to hammer out two thousand words that afternoon beforeWescame looking for her.

“I know,Iknow, you’re behind schedule.Butyou do have to eat sometime,”Weswhined. “Andif you say, ‘I’lleat whenI’mdead,’I’ll…”

“What?”Graceteased.

“I don’t know.Killyou, probably.”

“Well then spare the government an extradition order, becauseI’mactually… not behind for once.Let’seat.”

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