Page 14 of Holmes, Margaret and Poe

“Tomorrow,” I said, pouring the coffee into a go mug and snapping the lid in place. “Love you. Willow’s coming over.”

“I figured as much,” she said as I went back to the front room. “Dad?” Ali said.

Outside, Sampson honked. “Come help, Jannie,” I said.

Irritated, she put down her laptop. “I don’t even have time to study anymore. It’s like I’m a full-time babysitter.”

“Willow has to do homework too,” I said.

“Lot of chatter when she does it,” Jannie said, getting up and following me to the front door. Sampson was coming up the porch stairs with his young daughter, who was wearing a puffy coat against the cold and had a knapsack strapped tight to her back.

“Hi, Jannie!” Willow said, throwing her arms up as if seeing my daughter was the greatest thing in life. “I’m back again!”

Jannie couldn’t help but smile. “C’mon, we’ll get you set up in the dining room.”

“You can call me if you need me, Jannie,” Sampson said.

Jannie sighed and nodded. “She’ll be fine, Uncle John. Go on. You too, Dad.”

CHAPTER 14

ALI LOOKED UP FROMhis math homework when Jannie came back in with Willow.

“Hi, Ali,” Willow said, grinning.

“Hey, Willow,” Ali said and went back to his laptop.

Nana Mama came in. “Want some juice and peanut butter toast, young lady?”

“Yes, please,” Willow said, and she followed Jannie into the dining room.

“Nana?” Jannie said. “Why would Uncle John text me an address in Marlow Heights?”

“I have no idea,” Nana said.

Ali got up and went over to her. “Can I see?”

“Why?” Jannie said.

“Because he may have texted a group of people accidentally, including you.”

She looked at the screen. “Yup, that’s it. Dad got it too.”

“I need help, Jannie,” Willow said, struggling to get her school bag off.

Jannie set her phone down on the table and turned to help Sampson’s daughter. Ali looked at the screen of his sister’s phone before it went blank.

“Boy, that is tight,” Jannie said.

“Unzip her coat,” Ali said, walking toward the kitchen. “That will help.”

He heard a zipper unzipping and then Willow laughing. “That worked!”

“Always does,” Ali said. “You should know that. Basic second-grade skill.”

Willow giggled.

“Nana,” Ali said when he reached the kitchen. “I’m going to go out for a bike ride.”

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