of the clunky regulation footwear so she must be having a good real-estate day I’m about to say Sure when something catches my eye A car has emerged from the woods at the far end of the access road It’s heading straight toward us leaving a cloud of dust along the quarter mile between the woods and the beach Ella gets on her feet leaning to the left and then the right trying to make out the passengers I better get the keys for the Buttermans place Mom says heading back into her office I call to her How do you know it’s the science people She calls back It’s exactly 1 00 p m and they are science people I’m figuring they’re the ones who will be on time She’s right A silver SUV pulls up to the front of our house and two science parents get out And a boy Not bad Black T-shirt with a small pi symbol on the chest Not-too-baggy jeans Vans Of course there is the issue of the hat He’s wearing a flat-like a-pancake gray-and-brown plaid golf hat It’s the kind my grandpa has on in a photograph hanging in the upstairs hallway except it doesn’t have the pom pom thank goodness 5
Huh Ella whispers Part geek part vintage Mom walks up to the parents with her hand extended I think she’s forgotten she has her uniform on They look at her like Uh-oh How do you do I’m Margaret Boyd Welcome to Maiden Rock How do you do the dad searches for a title uh Officer Mom looks down at her badge and laughs Ah Yes I’m also the sheriff It’s a small town They check out her holster as they take the keys from her You’re right next door to us Mom says point ing to Zoe’s house Best location on the beach and we always get plowed out first in the winter Dominic takes a step to the side which happens to put him a few inches from me I don’t move away He smells good Like clean sheets She doesn’t carry her gun all the time I reassure him She’s got some police thing in Rook River this afternoon That’s cool he says I feel very safe now Girls Mom’s voice snaps me back into the moment Could you help our new neighbors with their luggage Ella looks at her nails then tests one hand for 6
dryness with the back of the other Dominic holds up his palm as if to say Save your nails I got it Thanks Margaret Sheriff says the dad We can handle it I am busy imagining what’s in Dominic’s bags and hoping there are none of those Funko things when I feel a breeze from Ella’s direction I look sideways and she’s rushing into the middle of the road waving her arms like she’s marshaling in a jumbo jet A black sedan with dark windows emerges from a cloud of gravel dust and halts in front of her The wheel wells are splattered with spring mud but the rest of the car is rounded sleek and shiny The passenger window powers down and Ella leans in for a hug 7
2 I wait for Ceil and Edgar to park the car and get out to meet Mom and me but they don’t Instead Ella waves at me to get in the back seat with her I look for Mom but she’s talking to Biologist mom Dominic has hoisted a suitcase up on his hip and he’s hauling it up the steps I run to the black sedan and jump in Ella is so excited she’s squeezing my hand and full-on smiling which is rare for her She usually keeps a cool thing going She points down the road and the car heads toward her house I’m staring at the backs of two heads one bald one with the straight est blackest hair I’ve ever seen This is my aunt Ceil Ella says touching Ceil’s shoulder And this is my uncle Edgar She pats his arm From where I’m sitting I can’t see Edgar’s full face Dark sunglasses sit on the bridge of a strong 8
