Page 82 of Spindrift

Thetalk turned to Seal Cove Veterinary. Anna Maria asked thoughtful questions, andStevie regaled her with several embarrassing stories about Morgan, which shetolerated when she saw the amused curve of Emilia’s lips.

“Morganknew my dad.” Emilia’s words steered the talk away from a deterioratingconversation about calving, which involved a detailed account of the timeMorgan had her shoulder dislocated by a cow she’d been elbow deep inside.

“Whatwas he like?” Anna Maria’s attention sharpened.

“Youprobably know better than I do,” Morgan said. Emilia’s hand now rested on herinner thigh, which made concentration increasingly difficult.

“Inever got to know him.” At their blank stares, she continued. “I’m Emmy’sstepsister. My mom died when my brother and I were really little, so Emilia’smom basically raised me. Emilia went to see her dad without us.”

Attheir puzzled looks, Emilia swirled the last few sips of beer in her glass and,without making eye contact, said, “My mom didn’t trust my dad. He . . . sometimesmade irresponsible choices.”

“Whatdid you think of him?” Anna Maria asked Morgan.

“Raywas a good guy.” She removed her hand from her beer to reach for Emilia butstopped herself. It didn’t feel right, in front of Anna Maria, to advertisetheir contact. “We share a dock, and he helped me with my boat.”

“Isthat how you met Emilia?”

“Ifell in the ocean. Morgan pulled me out,” Emilia admitted.

AnnaMaria leaned forward to look at Morgan more closely. “You mean the perfectEmilia fell into the ocean?”

“PerfectEmilia?” Morgan said.

“Thisone,” Anna Maria explained, “was a nightmare to grow up with. Perfect grades,perfect behavior, perfect daughter. I think you got into trouble what, maybethree times?”

Emiliaflushed. “I wasn’t perfect.”

“True.Mom never found you playing Barbies.” She winked at the group. “I knew Emmy wasa lesbian the first time I caught her doing unspeakable things with our dolls.”

“AnnaMaria!”

“What?”

“Idid the same thing.” Lillian came to Emilia’s rescue.

“Tellus more embarrassing things about Emilia,” said Stevie.

“Pleasedon’t,” said Emilia.

“Herfirst crush was Sporty Spice.”

“Rememberhow I didn’t actually invite you to visit?”

“Whichmeans you can’t uninvite me.”

“Watchme.” Emilia glowered as she drained her beer.

“CanI get you another?” Morgan asked her.

“Yes,”Anna Maria answered for Emilia. “I’m driving, and she’s had a long day.”

Morganstood, already missing the pressure of Emilia’s hand, and headed to the bar.

“How’sit going over there?” asked Stormy.

“Besidesbeing interrogated, good.”

“Youcan handle it. What do you need?”

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