Page 36 of A Line in the Sand

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Her mom spotted her in an instant.

“Molly!” She clutched onto Dad’s arm. “Look, hon, Molly’s here.”

“Um, I think maybe it’s time to—” Max pointed at the blender, still whirring away.

“Shhh.” Molly grabbed his pointer finger, jerked his hand down and held it in place. Honestly, what aboutstop talkingdid he not understand?

Ursula made a beeline for Mom and Dad, doing her trademark full-body wiggle that the aquarium visitors had always adored. Her father, not so much. His footsteps slowed and his body stiffened as he prepared for the puppy’s exuberant greeting.

“It’s okay, Dad. Ursula is a total angel,” Molly said.

“Total?” Max snorted. “Not quite.”

Molly squeezed his hand until his eyes began to bulge.

“She does seem sweet,” Mom said, crouching down to pet Ursula with hesitant strokes.

Dad held up his hands. “I’m allergic.”

“Actually, you’re not, Dad. Dr. Larson said the only things you’re allergic to are grass and kiwis, remember?” Molly gritted her teeth. The last thing she wanted to do was antagonize her father before they even got to the job discussion, but her feelings were already hurt on Ursula’s behalf. “If you’d just give her a chance, you’d see that she’s a very nice dog.”

Her father shoved his hands in his pockets and ignored Ursula’s overtures. “I’ll take your word for it. I’m starting to feel sniffly.”

Well, this was going great so far, wasn’t it?

Her mother stood, and like a heat-seeking missile, her gaze went straight to Molly’s fingertips, intertwined with Max’s.

Weird. Why was that still happening?She ordered her hand to let go, but it stubbornly refused.

Mom’s hand fluttered to her throat. “My goodness, Molly. Who’s your friend?”

“He’s not my—”

“Max Miller.” Max tugged his hand free and offered it to Molly’s parents for a shake. “You must be Molly’s folks.”

Folks?

She gaped at him. Since when did Mr. Scientist use cute words like that? And why did he seem so eager to meet her parents after she’d made it clear multiple times that he was her mortal enemy?

“Dotty Prince.” Her mother grinned as she shook Max’s hand. “Your name sounds awfully familiar, and I think I’ve seen your face somewhere before too.”

Molly’s dad sidestepped Ursula to greet Max. “Hello, there. Dr. Stan Prince.”

“Oh! Now I know why I recognize you!” Mom clapped her hands. “Your photo was in the paper last week, Max. You’re the new director of the aquarium.”

The bottom dropped out of Molly’s stomach. This entire encounter was getting worse by the second. She really needed to somehow cancel her parents’ subscription to theTurtle Daily. Either that or stop living a life of subterfuge.

Dad cocked his head. “So you two are an item…and you work together.”

“Ahh…” Max glanced at Molly.

She stared daggers at him.Don’t you dare tell them I’m an unemployed mermaid.

Ursula’s back end started wiggling again, signaling the arrival of yet another person on the scene—Caroline, who came bustling toward the shop entrance from the back storage area, juggling a stack of children’s picture books in her hands.

“What in the world is going on up here? Why is the blender still going?” Caroline straightened the books and finally looked up. “Oh, hi, Dr. and Mrs. Prince.”

“My parents are here early.” Molly forced a smile. “Isn’t that great?”