Page 70 of The Magic We Made

I have no way of knowing if this boat has anything to do with Emma Bridle. But it, like Meg Boucher, has found me. And that has to mean something.

“You want us to guard it for you while you go do girlfriend stuff with Dr. G?” Robby asks, his nose wrinkling at the wordgirlfriend. “We’ll do it, but it’s gonna cost you.”

“Oh, yeah? How much?”

“Twenty bucks,” Eddie responds swiftly.

“And more of that gum,” Sammy adds.

I nod and look out at the water at the tangle of trees on Center Island like I’m seriously considering their offer. Curiously, the leaves there are starting to turn. They’re a vibrant rainbow of autumnal reds and yellows and golds that shifts and shimmers in the cool breeze. From the shore, it sure is pretty.

“You got yourselves a deal,” I say, reaching into my pocket for my wallet. “But I’m only giving you ten bucks now, and another ten at the end of the day when you make your report. And remember what I said about your grandma: tell her I didnotspend the night at Dr. Giovanni’s.”

Robby and Sammy agree, but Eddie takes a little more convincing.

“Most people think that it’s wrong to lie,” he informs me.

“Yeah? Well, it’s also wrong to kiss and tell—not to mention cock block a friend.”

This sends Eddie into chortles of laughter, which only gets worse when his little brothers start asking, “What’s cock block? Eddie, what’s cock block?”

I tell the boys I don’t have any more gum on me at the moment but I’ll get some and stop by with it at the end of the day when I come for their report.

“That’s okay,” says Eddie, the wise older brother, when he’s recovered from his giggle fit and can speak again. “We’ll spot you.”

“Thanks.”

By the time I get back to Francesca’s, she’s already made the eggs herself.

“Hey,” I say, disappointed—although truthfully, her eggs look and smell delicious. “Thanks. Sorry about that. I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

Is it my imagination, or does Frankie look even hotter than when I’d left? She seems to already have showered—disappointing; I’d have liked to jump in there with her—and changed into a fresh T-shirt and one of those long cardigan things that women love but men hate because it hides women’s shapes.

At least she’s got on yoga pants beneath it. They leave nothing to the imagination.

The morning sun is streaming in from the sliding glass doors, casting Frankie in the same golden light that’s shining across Center Island and the rest of the lake. She looks like an angel.

“Why are you just standing there staring at me?” she demands. “Sit down and eat before it gets cold.”

I do, the advice I’d given to the DeLong boys about respecting women still ringing in my ears. I’m careful not to mention the eggs could use a lot more cheese. I’ve got no complaints, really, since the coffee is good and the view is even better. If only my search for Emma was going as well as my romantic life.

Frankie must have read my thoughts, since she asks, “So how are the boys? Helpful?”

“Maybe.” She’s made whole wheat toast to go with the eggs, along with a bowl of berries and Greek yogurt. There’s also a square of French butter and a pot of locally sourced strawberry rhubarb jam. I’m beginning to think I may have died and gone to that other dimension she was talking about last night. “They found an old runabout that they’re pretty sure used to belong to the Blancos. They say they saw it tied to my dock yesterday morning. It could be how Meg got to my place.”

Frankie raises her eyebrows. “The Kraken? That boat disappeared ages ago.”

“It looks it. But it’s pretty weird for it to show up out of nowhere now... twice.”

“Your superpower at work?” Frankie gazes at me over the rim of her coffee mug. Her eyes are huge and dark and shrewd.

“I think it has to be. I just don’t know how... yet.”

She smiles and sets down her cup. “Are you still planning on going to the farmers market this afternoon?”

“Yes. Will you come with me? I know it will be packed, but that’s what I want. The more people, the more potential for information. And I wasn’t kidding about picking up some steaks for dinner. Since you made breakfast today and dinner last night, that’s two meals I owe you.”