“You’ve already said that,” she pointed out.
That seemed to stop him for a second. “Where’s he going?”
“Home. He’s got to work tomorrow.”
“Are you going to watch the turtle nest tonight? Because you don’t have to. Dad said that we could watch it tonight.”
“You convinced Dad to sleep outside?”
“He wants to. He thinks it’ll be fun.”
I doubt it, she thought. “It’s fine with me.”
“I’ve already got my stuff ready. Sleeping bag, lantern, juices, sandwiches, a box of Ritz crackers, marshmallows, potato chips, cookies, and a tennis racket.”
“You’re going to play tennis?”
“In case the raccoon comes. You know. If it tries to attack us.”
“It’s not going to attack you.”
“Really?” He sounded almost disappointed.
“Well, maybe it is a good idea,” Ronnie agreed. “Just in case. You never know.”
He scratched his head. “That’s what I thought, too.”
She pointed toward the workshop. “The window looks beautiful, by the way.”
“Thanks,” Jonah said. “Dad wants to make sure every single piece is perfect. He makes me do some pieces two or three times. But I’m getting pretty good.”
“It looks like it.”
“But it gets hot. Especially when he runs the kiln. It’s like an oven.”
It is an oven, she thought. But she didn’t correct him. “That’s too bad. How’s the whole cookie war going?”
“It’s fine. I just have to eat them when he’s napping.”
“Dad doesn’t nap.”
“He does now. Every afternoon, for a couple of hours. Sometimes I have to shake him pretty hard to wake him up.”
She stared at her brother before peering through the window into the house. “Where is Dad, by the way?”
“He’s at the church. Pastor Harris came by earlier. He’s been coming by a lot lately. Him and Dad like to talk.”
“They’re friends.”
“I know. But I think he just used that as an excuse. I think Dad went to play the piano.”
“What piano?” Ronnie asked, puzzled.
“It got delivered to the church last week. Dad’s been going over there to play.”
“He has, huh?”
“Hold on,” he said. “I’m not sure I was supposed to tell you that. Maybe you should forget I said it.”
“Why shouldn’t you tell me?”
“Because you might yell at him again.”
“I’m not going to yell at him,” Ronnie protested. “When was the last time I yelled at him?”
“When he was playing the piano. Remember?”
Oh, yeah, she thought. The kid had an amazing memory. “Well, I’m not going to yell at him.”
“Good. Because I don’t want you to yell at him. We’re supposed to go to Fort Fisher tomorrow, and I want him to be in a good mood.”
“How long has he been at the church?”
“I don’t know. It feels like hours. That’s why I was out here. I was waiting for him. And then you showed up with Will and started making out.”
“We were just kissing!”
“No, I don’t think so. You were definitely making out,” Jonah said with conviction.
“Have you had any dinner yet?” she asked, eager to change the subject.
“I was waiting for Dad.”
“Do you want me to make you a couple of hot dogs?”
“With ketchup only?” he pressed.
She sighed. “Sure.”
“I thought you didn’t even like to touch them.”
“You know, it’s funny, but I’ve been handling a lot of dead fish lately, so a hot dog doesn’t strike me as all that disgusting anymore.”
He smiled. “Will you bring me to the aquarium one time so I can watch you feed the otters?”
“If you want, I might even be able to let you feed them.”
“Really?” Jonah’s voice rose with excitement.
“I think so. I’ll have to ask, of course, but they let some of the student groups do it, so I don’t think it would be a problem.”
His little face lit up. “Wow. Thanks.” Then, getting up from the rocking chair, he added, “Oh, by the way, you owe me ten bucks.”
“For what?”
“Hello? For not telling Dad about what Will and you were doing. Duh.”
“Are you serious? Even though I’m going to make you dinner?”
“Come on. You work and I’m poor.”
“You obviously think I earn far more than I do. I don’t have ten dollars. Everything I’ve earned has gone to help pay for my lawyer.”