Arlo raised his eyebrows. “There’s a thought.” He flashed a grin at Harrison. “We’d better get started on that house.”
“And selling mine. Good thing I have a buyer already lined up.” Jacqueline narrowed her eyes. “But you have to promise me you’ll squeeze him for everything he’s worth, Lainie.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.” Lainie pulled her phone out. “Now, about this house. What are you thinking? Open plan? How many bedrooms? The section closest to the water is still available. I’ll need to talk to the architect but I had some ideas about over-water rooms…”
“What do you reckon?” Arlo asked the kids. “You’ll be living there.”
Their faces glowed and they all leaned forward, ideas spilling from their lips.
“Bunk beds—”
“A trapdoor to jump in the water—”
“A REALLY big den—”
“Their plan seems to have all worked out.”
Jacqueline looked up to see Tess standing behind her. She smiled at her and Tess smiled back, crookedly.
“What about your plan?” Jacqueline asked, remembering what Tess had said before she ran away from the restaurant during her and Arlo’s date.
Tess frowned. “It’s… ongoing.” Her face cleared. “But I have a good idea of what to do next.” She nodded decisively.
“Okay, okay! That’s enough ideas for now,” Lainie laughed, putting away her phone. “Has everyone had enough to eat?”
There were nods all around. Arlo stood up and offered his arm to Jacqueline.
“I think we need to celebrate,” he announced. “Who wants to go for a swim?”
Jacqueline took his arm. “Sounds great,” she said.
The morning sun was high in the sky as they all picked their way down the concrete steps from the promenade onto the beach. Sunlight glittered in the waves. Jacqueline hesitated and then, seeing the kids tear their clothes off and run screaming into the water, she stripped down to her t-shirt and undies and tiptoed to the water’s edge.
“Ooh, that’s cold,” she whispered as the waves lapped over her feet.
“As cold as it was on Friday night?” Arlo came up beside her and wrapped one arm around her waist.
“I had other things on my mind then…” Jacqueline shivered and checked on the kids. That bigger seal had to be Kenna, with the tiny seal pup Tally bobbing at her side. Dylan was still in human form, up to his ribcage in the water. As Jacqueline watched, a big gray bird landed on his head, honked, and flapped its wings until Dylan toppled over, laughing.
The goose honked again and dove under the waves as Dylan chased it.
“Is that Eric?” Jacqueline twisted to look back at where she’d last seen the teenaged boy on the beach. “I didn’t realize he was a bird—hey!”
Arlo’s arm tightened around her waist. “I think he has the right idea,” he muttered into her hair, pulling her a step deeper into the water. Icy waves slapped against her shins.
Jacqueline squealed. “Not fair! Ooh, shoot, that’s cold…”
She feigned trying to back up, then darted forwards, dragging Arlo with her. When he was balanced on one leg, she struck.
“Argh!” Arlo yelled as she tickled his ribs. He stumbled forward, splashing, and Jacqueline ran into the waves.
She winced as the water passed her thighs, then took a deep breath and dove. The sea enveloped her like an old memory, cold and achy but instantly invigorating. She kicked, remembering how good it felt to swim underwater when she wasn’t afraid for her life. Sunlight sparkled through the water, reflecting off a million particles of sand suspended in the waves.
Jacqueline surfaced, gasping with the cold. She trod water, looking around. Kenna and Tally were ganging up on Eric, swimming up underneath him and bumping him out of the water with their heads. Dylan was racing in circles around them.
There was a splash and a rush of breath behind her, and then warm arms wrapped around Jacqueline’s waist. Arlo nuzzled her cheek.
/> “They’ll be happy here,” he said.