“No.” He slips his phone into his back pocket. “Grew up in Ohio. We had some lakes nearby, but nothing special.” He nods toward the windows facing the yard, the harbor, the sea. “This is exotic to me.”

I’m struck with a sudden urge to assess this Nick Carpenter, to size him up. He’s been Jonah’s sidekick for a couple of years—long enough for me to have formed a clear opinion, and yet I have none, which must be why he bugs me. I’m a data guy. I should get acquainted with this person who shares early morning coffees, privileges, and conveniences with my family, who brags about the size of his pike to my wife as she leans in close with no bra and no clue what she’s doing to the boy. So I say, “Maybe you’d like to hitch a ride to a different beach one of these mornings? Change things up. I can drop you off on my way to work.”

“Sure,” Nick says. “That’d be great.”

“Maybe you’d like to go fishing.” Two heads snap up to gauge my sincerity.

“Yeah,” Nick finally says. “That would be cool.”

“We should go today.” I smile at Elizabeth, who seems puzzled even though she was the one who practically suggested it. “How about it?”

Nick pats his pockets and glances left to right, as though needing to check a calendar or consult an assistant before making plans. Of course, he doesn’t have an assistant or plans, because he’s our houseguest, and his only friend here is asleep upstairs.

“Sure,” he finally says. “If Jonah’s up for it, I’m in.”

“Great. Know anything about boats?”

“A little.” He scratches his head and rubs the back of his neck, glancing upstairs toward Jonah’s closed door. “Are you sure this is convenient?”

“Hey,” I say, looking at Elizabeth, “why not? We’re having a beautiful summer.”

Elizabeth shakes off her bewilderment and tells Nick, “You’ve seen how it’s been around here. That party last night was exhausting. Take the boat out. Relax.” To me, she says, “A day off will be good for you. It’ll be good for everyone. God knows you’ve earned it, Robert.”

“You’re telling me,” I say.

“Besides, I have a million papers to grade and could use the peace and quiet.”

“Fair enough. We’ll roll out when Jonah gets up.”

Nick stuffs his hands in his pockets, lifts his shoulders and gives me this cowboy nod, saying, “I’m going to go clean up and I’ll be back to help out. Thanks so much, Dr. Hart.”

“Not at all.” When he steps outside, I turn to Elizabeth and say, “Take a shower.”

•  •  •