The thought drifts through his mind that he has become his mother in this aspect: cleaning up after others, being the help. He will not let it make him bitter and angry, though, the way it had her. There is an importance to making things right.

Most of Asher’s afternoons are taken up by the laundry but he makes a habit of going back to the cottage for a quick lunch. Most of the mornings Justin trails behind him at his insistence, helping Asher here and there, but as the days pass he begs to stay at the house alone. Asher spends a long time each morning emphasizing how Justin can’t go past the porch, he isn’t to talk to any guests, and that he can’t use the pool while unattended because this might draw too much attention to him, a child swimming alone.

Already Mrs. Lewis is being nosey.

“Is that your child?” she asks as Asher is leaving her room one day.

He says yes but offers no more information. She doesn’t ask any more questions, but nods firmly, as if this had been a very important question and now she has an important answer.

Lunch becomes a time for Asher to check in on Justin while the sheets and towels are in the washing machines.

After they have been in Key West a week, Evona has still not really made herself known, simply nodding when they pass each other in the yard. She takes her meals with Bell in the evenings and then plays records far into the night. But Bell is becoming more and more familiar. Asher goes home for lunch one day to find Justin visiting with her. When the cottage comes into sight Asher sees them on the porch together, sitting across from each other on the wicker furniture. They are talking quietly while each of them leans over to pet on Shady.

Asher quickens his step. Oh God Oh God Oh God, he thinks, please don’t let him have given us away.

“Justin!” Asher hollers while he is still out by the pool, and even he can hear how sharp his own tone is, how his loudness causes both to whip around like something is wrong.

Shady jumps up and barks deeply three times.

“It’s alright, little buddy,” Justin says, rubbing Shady’s head, and the dog settles again, thumps his tail against the porch floorboards. “It’s just Asher.”

Asher smarts at hearing the boy call him by his first name. “Justin, go on into the house.”

“Why?”

“Go on, Justin,” Asher says, firm. “Mind me, now.”

Justin shakes his head, looking up at his father with those big green eyes. He throws a glance to Bell as if they have a secret between them, then leaves.

Bell stands, put her hands together in front of her.

“Is something wrong?” she asks.

“I need to get Justin’s lunch.”

“I was just visiting with him.”