“Well,” Gusty begins, “considering that’s a song about a ship and crew that met their end, I hope not.”

The boy, Ronan, eyes me the way you would an alien stepping out of its spaceship and asking for pie.

Gusty stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I’ve never lost a crew member, thank God, but I have lost a fishing boat to a storm. The Inafundável. Was a shame, it was. Haven’t forgiven myself. Never will, I imagine.”

His son gives him a puzzled look. I guess he didn’t know that.

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. My papa used to say that anything made by man can be replaced, but not so much with things made by God.”

He nods slowly. “Yup. That’s true for sure.”

Then he takes a deep breath, lifts his head, and taps the side of his son’s arm. He points with his chin toward the room, and Gusty and Ronan begin to flip the furniture back over for us. Grammy reaches for the tip the customers left and holds out a five-dollar bill to them.

Ronan reaches out, but Gusty steps forward. “Naw. That’s okay. You keep that.” He nods once at his son, and they both give a wave and turn to go. Ronan glances back quick. Not at me but at Grammy.

• • •

I find Brandy before reaching the beach. She is sitting at a picnic table, playing cards with a girl I don’t know.

“Hey,” I say. “Sorry I’m late. I was helping Grammy clean.” I look at the girl and hope she isn’t staying in that room.

The girl only looks at me for a second.

“Hey, Dels. This is Tressa. Her mom works with my mom. They are renting a house a few blocks from here for the summer.”

“That’s cool,” I say.

“It’s your turn.” The girl stares at Brandy.

“What are you playing?” I ask.

“Gin rummy.” Brandy picks up a fan of cards and glances at me. I know that look. She’s got lots of points.

“Can I play?” I ask.

“Sure,” Brandy says.

“Wait,” Tressa says. “We’re playing to five hundred. How can she jump in in the middle?”

“It’ll be okay,” Brandy says. “I’ll give her half my points.”

“Thanks,” I say, falling onto the bench next to Brandy.

Tressa tosses her cards down. “Never mind. I was getting tired of this game anyway.” She swings her legs around and stands. “So this is the famous Cape Cod, right? What do you all do around here, anyway?”

“Well, we whale watch for one thing,” Brandy says, bumping my shoulder with hers. “Delsie! My mom is taking us on a whale watch for my birthday on Friday. You can come, right?”

“Are you kidding? Yes! Aaaand . . . I’ve already got your present—something no one else will get you, for sure.”

“Should I worry?” she asks, smiling.

“Maybe a little,” I say, locking eyes with her. Although I know she’ll be happy with her gift, I’m the one who thinks it’s kind of creepy.