Page 81 of The Vacation Mix-Up
“You miss her, don’t you?” I ask.
“I do. She makes me want to pull my hair out every damn day, but she’s also the sweetest little thing. Roni’s done a great job raising her on her own.”
“Where’s Poppy’s father?”
“Killed in action.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m so sorry.”
His nod is solemn, but then he points to where the ship’s photographers are goading passengers to take a picture in front of a novelty Qaqortok sign. “Want a photo?”
I shrug. “Sure.”
We position ourselves on either side of the sign, and just as the photographer takes the shot, Riley swats at his face.
“What was that?” I ask.
“Bug.”
“Oh.”
The photographer snaps more shots and then hangs his camera around his neck and gestures that we reduce the space between us. “Closer, yes?”
We inch nearer.
“Closer.”
Wondering whether I should say,“We’re not a couple,”I don’t get the chance when Riley drapes his arm over my shoulders and hugs me to his side. Shocked, I beam at him as the photographer takes the shot.
“Perfetto!” He gives us a chef’s kiss gesture, then ushers the next lot of passengers to take our place.
“So, what do you want to see first?” Riley asks.
“I don’t know! I was just planning to wander around until my helicopter flight.”
A bug flies past my face, almost settling on the tip of my nose, so I swat at it.
“Looks like there’s a market over there.” Riley points ahead of us, then swats at his face too. “Want to check it out?”
“Sure.”
Following him to a line of umbrella-covered tables with local foods and handmade trinkets, we both continue to repel bugs with our swishing hands when a friendly local says something that sounds like “Hi.”
I respond with “Hello,” hoping she understands my greeting.
“Did. You. Make. These?” Riley asks as if talking to a toddler.
She grins from ear to ear and nods.
He picks up a pink-beaded bracelet. “You’re. Very. Clever.”
I bite my lip, suppressing my pending giggle.
“How. Much. For. Three?” he asks, holding up three fingers as he reaches into hispocket.
She points to a sign that readsDKK 70.
“How much is that?” Riley murmurs to me.
