“No, Delsie, no. That’s not it. Oh, how she loved you. She just . . . she was sick. And you can’t blame anyone for being sick.”

I swing my head toward Grammy. Confused.

“When you came into the world, she never put you down for a solid week. When she starting drinking and drugging again, it ripped me up. She said you deserved better. She cried like she was dying. Like she didn’t want to go but someone was making her. I don’t know what was banging around that head of hers, but I do know that she left because she loved you—not because she didn’t want to be your mother.”

“Don’t you wonder where she’s gone to?” I ask.

“With every breath, baby. With every breath.”

Chapter 31

EELS FOR THE REEL

The next morning, I’m surprised to see Ronan walking through our neighborhood. But he isn’t coming to see me. He is heading to Henry’s house. And he’s carrying a plastic box.

I spring out the door. “Ronan!”

“Hey,” he says. “You know if Henry’s around?”

I shrug and then turn my head toward his house. “Henry!” I yell.

“Geez,” he says. “I could have just knocked.”

“What’s in the box?” I ask.

“Something for Henry,” he answers.

Henry steps onto the porch like it’s the deck of the Reel of Fortune on a still-as-glass day. Hooking his thumbs in his suspenders. Taking a breath and looking up at the sky. “I love these stormy, windy days. Home with my girls and now a surprise visit from the two of you.” He swings open the door. “C’mon in. I think Esme has some tuna sandwiches with your names on them.”

Ruby stomps. “Hey! I want my name on a sandwich, too!”

Henry laughs. “My spitfire. Your name is on everything.” And he winks, making her giggle.

We step inside and it’s warm. Nice, since this day feels more like October than early August.

“Take a load off,” Henry says to us as he motions toward the couch. Ruby plops herself on the floor and then spreads out on her back like a starfish. “So what brings you by?”

“I brought you something,” Ronan says, holding the box out to Henry. “But you probably shouldn’t open it inside.”

Ruby sits up fast. “Will it bite?” she asks.

Ronan laughs. “Yeah. Probably.”

“Coooool,” she says, drawing out the word.

We step outside, and Henry opens the plastic box. It’s filled with the fattest eels I have ever seen. I crack up laughing. Eels always have this expression like they just told a joke and they’re waiting for the others to laugh.

“Hey!” Henry practically yells. “Nice! Where did you buy these?”

“I didn’t buy them. I was up early and went out and caught them for you because I know you like eels to catch stripers, and I feel awful about losing your pole. I really do. There’s no way I can raise that kind of money anytime soon. But I thought these might help you pull in some extra fish.”