Janice took Christina’s hands in hers. “Sweetheart, Mr. Bittlesman almost has a heart attack every day. Also, he’s getting older, and he often uses the wrong word. I’m positive he meant for Wink to get out of the room, not his house. Wink is a smart girl. She’ll understand that when she cools down.”

“Well,” Christina said, nodding toward the fleecy pink jacket that Wink always wore. “I’m sure she’s cooling down now. Thank you, Janice. I feel calmer now. I’m going to go find Wink.”

“Call me when you find her and I’ll call you if she comes home.”

“Thanks.” Christina pulled on her gloves and hurried out the door.

—

Because most of the houses on the cliff were summer houses, few lights illuminated the dark. Christina had a flashlight on her phone. Using it, she slowly walked around the Bittlesmans’ house, in case Wink was hiding behind a bush. But she found no one.

It was exceptionally cold. By all logic, it should be snowing now, but the sky was clear. Christina slid into her old Jeep and turned on the ignition and the heat. She sat a moment, letting the car warm up and gathering her thoughts.

Her phone buzzed. Without checking the caller ID, Christina answered.

“I am going to sue you until you don’t have a pair of shoes to wear!”

“Delia?”

“Yes, of course it’s me. My father just told me that you made my daughter run away from home and Wink has never done that before! I can’t believe—”

“Delia, I know you’re upset, and I’d like to talk with you about this but right now I’ve got to concentrate on Wink. I’ll find her, I promise.”

“Call me the moment you do.”

“I will.”

“Oh, Wink,” Christina moaned as she tucked the phone in her coat pocket, “where are you? You must be freezing.”

“I am!”

Christina shrieked.

Wink giggled and unfolded her small self from the floor of the backseat.

“Wink, you almost gave me a heart attack,” Christina scolded.

Immediately Wink looked contrite. “I’m sorry, Christina. But I am cold.”

“Come up here and cuddle with me for a moment and then I’ll take you in to your grandfather.”

Like a little pink eel, Wink easily slithered up and over the back of the passenger seat. She couldn’t properly cuddle with the gear shift in the way, so she climbed onto Christina’s lap and snuggled up there like a kitten. Christina pulled her own coat around her.

“Grandfather’s mad at me,” Wink said, squirming to get comfortable and inadvertently elbowing Christina in the ribs.

“Your grandfather is mad at me,” Christina said. “We were having a business meeting and those can often become confrontational. We shouldn’t have let you remain in the room.”

“Grandfather gets mad a lot.”