“No. You?”

Whiskey barked, wriggled her small furry body against Ruth.

Ruth glared at the dog and rolled her eyes, and she and Talley climbed the stairs. “We were just getting to the good part.”

“Probably best not to eavesdrop,” Talley said.

“That’s all anyone does who works in a hotel.”

Whiskey yawned.

Ruth, Talley, and Whiskey found the two women moving from the porch to the living room.

“That was quick,” Carlotta said. “Whiskey usually takes her time.”

“She’s mighty particular about where she does her business,” Ruth said. “Took longer than I expected.”

A silver charm bracelet jangled on Carlotta’s wrist as she accepted the dog. “She’s not used to dry land. She’s grown up on the boat.”

“The Maisy Adams?” Ruth asked.

“That’s right.”

“You must have been to a lot of places.” Ruth had been as far west as Elizabeth City and as far north as Norfolk. All the trips had been with Daddy, who was picking up either lumber or a part for his boat. He didn’t like traveling far because he liked to sleep in his own bed at night. But Ruth loved crossing the bridge, seeing what was beyond, and stopping at a five-and-dime for a fountain drink.

“The Maisy Adams travels the inland waterways and up and down the East Coast,” Mama said.

“Have you ever come across the sound to the Outer Banks?” Ruth asked.

“We try to stop in cities that have larger populations,” Carlotta said. “There’s just not enough people here.”

“Maybe not in the spring and the fall, but in summer we’re packed to the gills,” Ruth said. “Isn’t that right, Mama?”

“That’s right, Ruth.” Mama sounded formal, serious, not her first-day-of-the-season happy-to-see-you self.

Carlotta smiled. “I shall keep that in mind when we get back up and running.”

“When’s that going to be?” Ruth asked.

“A month, maybe a little less.”

“And you’ll be here the entire time?” Ruth asked.

“Your parents were kind enough to give me a two-week job while the boat is dry-docked. Whiskey and I are looking forward to having dry land under our feet for a while.”

“Well, we got plenty of that.” Ruth couldn’t hide her excitement.

“Ruth and Talley, time to get back to the hotel and see to the guests,” Mama said. “We’ll let Carlotta and Whiskey get settled.”

“Maybe I could help her,” Ruth said.

“The guests always come first,” Carlotta said. “It’s the number one rule in entertainment.”

Ruth’s grin faded. She wasn’t interested in seeing the same old people and playing the same old games they repeated year after year.

Carlotta grinned and added, “The show must go on.”

“Come on, Ruth.” Mama’s words rushed out like an impatient gust. “I’m sure you and Talley will enjoy talking to the girls your age.”

“You said yourself we can’t be friends with the guests.”

Mama, always a bundle of nerves on the first day of summer, was wound tighter than normal. “Say goodbye to Carlotta.”

“See you soon,” Ruth said.