Page 76 of Plotting Summer

I make a disgusted face, and Tala shoots him a look. “Unless you’re planning to fix that plank on the dock like you said you were, maybe you should stay here,” she says. “Because I’m taking a nap.”

“Sure, you are.” Heath sends Tala a wink that makes her cheeks pink.

“Okay.” I shoo the two of them away. “You two have fun whatever it is you’re going to be doing. We’ll be home in a couple of hours, and I’ll knock before we come in.”

Heath laughs. “You’re the best, Capri.”

“Thanks again,” Tala says, and the three of them head toward the boardwalk.

I locate Jack and Serenity each hauling a bucket of water and wait for them by the large pile of sand they’ve created near our towels. “Can I help with your castle?”

Jack dumps out his water, causing blobs of wet sand to fly in all directions. “We’re actually making an alligator. But you can help.”

Serenity dumps out her haul as well. “That’s enough water.”

I drop to my knees, and the three of us begin pushing and moving sand until it resembles a long, flat log. Then, beginning with the head, we start to shape it. We’re nearly done with the alligator’s midsection when a shadow falls across the part we’re working on. I set my sandy hand over my brow to block the sun and look up to find Tristan watching us.

“Hey.” I sit back onto my heels.

“You’re not an easy one to locate.”

I stand and wipe my hands on my shorts. “Invisibility is one of my talents.”

His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Have you not been getting my text messages?”

“No, sorry. I forgot my phone this morning.”

He gives a slow nod. “I thought you were avoiding me.”

“Well, that is kind of the plan.”

This time, he doesn’t so much as crack a smile. “Can we talk?”

My heart plummets at his serious tone, and my imagination is unhinged with potential scenarios as to why that might be. “Right now?” I glance back toward Serenity and Jack. “I’m watching the kids for Tala.”

He hesitates, his gaze flicking to them. “Would it be breaking today’s protocol if I joined you?”

“Hey, Tristan,” Jack says before I can answer. “Want to help us with our alligator?”

Tristan’s gaze shifts back to me as if seeking permission, and I give a nod. It’s not that we can’t be seen together at all. We just need to be careful.

“How can I be most useful?” he asks, kicking off his flip-flops and dropping down next to us.

“You and Jack can work on the tail while Auntie Capri finishes the middle,” Serenity says. “I’ll start gathering seashells to decorate it.”

“Don’t go too far,” I say as she picks up the bucket.

“I won’t.”

The three of us start on our assigned tasks, Jack rattling on to Tristan about the parade and how he was the sixth boy to cross the finish line, despite that I’m certain there actually was no finish line. Serenity comes up to show Tristan and me a shell she found, then goes back to her shell hunt. I love how comfortable Jack and Serenity are around Tristan, but I also feel I might burst from all the unspoken questions filling my mind. With Jack’s next pause in his story, I can’t stop myself. “So, Bridget is in town?”

Tristan’s gaze flicks to Jack and back to me like he isn’t sure if he wants to have this conversation in front of my nephew. The thought makes my stomach drop, but I can’t put it off any longer.

“Hey Jack, want to help your sister look for shells? I’m thinking we need a whole bunch of little white ones for the teeth. Maybe broken pieces?”

“That’s a great idea.” He jumps to his feet and looks toward the water. “Where’s Serenity?”

I point to the shoreline where the tide is moving out and Serenity is gathering shells along the wet sand. “Right there.”