“Olive. Tinselly!” Henry says. He moves closer to his daughter and gives her a hug. “Ruby is a good girl. Don’t say otherwise.”

“Why is she so mean?” Ronan tries to whisper, but it comes out loud enough for everyone to hear.

Olive stands there like she’s trying to answer the question for herself. Her face looks like something hurts deep inside, and I swear that I hear her mumble that she’s sorry. I can scarcely believe it.

The sound of a car coming up the road makes us all turn. It’s bright yellow. A taxi.

I can’t remember a single taxi coming to visit us ever in my life.

I run to it. Something deep inside tells me this is something good, and as I get closer, the car stops and a purple suede high-heeled shoe hits the ground, and I know I’m right about it being good news.

“Esme!” I yell. “You’re home!”

“Sugar pop!” she calls.

Henry and Ruby are there in a flash.

Henry picks Esme up and swings her around while Ruby jumps up and down nearby. It’s only a second before Esme reaches out and draws her in like she’s pulling her into a life raft. And it must feel that way to Ruby. The way she goes from moving to standing to going all gooey and pressing herself against the two of them.

Esme turns and reaches for me. “Delsie! What are you waiting for? Come on over here!” She reaches for me, and I join the group of them. I feel complete. The neighborhood is whole again.

Chapter 15

THAT NOURISHING TEA

The next day, Esme invites me over. “Shall I put on some tea?” she asks as we walk into her kitchen. I stare up at the MAY THE FISH BE WITH YOU sign over the sink that I made for Henry after we watched Star Wars.

It’s a hot day, so Esme prepares iced tea. Reaching into the cupboard, she pulls out the Strong Shoulder mason jars. She smiles at me as she works and I feel all warm inside because I just love Esme so much.

Ruby trips on a stool as she crashes into the room. She tries to sit in a chair but misses it the first time she tries. Sometimes that girl is like a walking wrecking ball.

The front door opens and Henry comes in. Ruby charges him. “Daddy! Did you catch me a fish today?”

“Ruby! I caught you a whole box of fish sticks. How’s that?”

“Oh, Daaaddy . . .”

“There they were. A box of ’em just floating there in the water.” He laughs and kisses her on the head before reaching into the cabinet for a glass.

Esme comes over and kisses him on the cheek. “Bad jokes mean bad fishing?”

“Yeah . . . Other crews were reporting over the radio that the fish were biting at everything from bran muffins to belt buckles. But not us.”