of us had told my father that she’d bitten Dusty’s goon that night at the marina when he snuck up and grabbed her. Dad would’ve gone bonkers if he found out.
And Mom, well, forget about it. We’d already be halfway to Saskatchewan by now.
What if they get suspicious and start hassling you?
I asked Shelly.
Why would they? Think about it from Dusty’s point of view. Why would I come back to work for him if I knew he and Luno were mixed up in Lice’s death? Heck, I’d have to be suicidal, right?
Shelly winked.
Naw, Dusty bought the whole sad story. He thinks I wanted my job back just because Lice left me broke. And I’ll be honest, the money’s not too shabby.
Dad stood up and started pacing back and forth.
Well, I’d better be off,
Shelly said.
How are things going with Dusty?
I asked.
Oh, don’t worry about that. He’s under control.
You be careful,
my father told her.
Yeah, well, don’t go sinkin’ that boat again,
Shelly said,
especially if I’m on it.
Then she said goodbye and breezed out the door, leaving us in silence with a light sweet scent of tangerines.
That night Abbey barely touched her dinner. She said she didn’t feel well and asked to go to bed early.
Mom tucked her in and returned to the table.
I think your sister’s got a touch of the flu. Are you feeling all right?
Fine,
I said.
Paine?
Never better,
said my father.
Did you call the taxi company?
Mom asked.
Tomorrow. I promise,
Dad said. He was supposed to make sure that they were holding his job for him.
Actually, I was thinking of trying to get my captain’s license back,
he said matter-of-factly,
so I could guide in the backcountry again.
My mother put down her fork.
You can’t be serious.
Well, why not?
After what you did to the casino boat, you honestly believe the Coast Guard will let you take customers back out on the water?
she said.
Honey, you’ll be lucky to get your cab back.
Dad stabbed at a green bean and let the subject drop.
Somebody from the Heraldphoned while you were in the shower,
Mom said.
I explained that you won’t be giving any more interviews. Right?
Yeah,
my father mumbled. One of the conditions for Dusty Muleman dropping the criminal charges was that Dad stop ranting to the press.
You know, he’s started flushing his holding tanks again,
Dad said.
It’s true. Ask Noah.
Mom looked at me, then back at my father.
How do you know this?
We’ve got our sources,
Dad said mysteriously.
Someone who works on the Coral Queen,
I added.
I see,
my mother said.
Then this source’ of yours should go straight to the authorities and make a report. That’s the way it’s supposed to be done. Noah, please pass the rice.
But Dusty’s got connections with the Coast Guard and the cops,
Dad complained.
They won’t do diddly unless somebody catches him red-handed.
And maybe somebody will,
said Mom,
but whoever that somebody’ is, they don’t live in thishouse. I’ve made my last visit to the jailhouse, is that understood?
That night I couldn’t sleep, so I dug out a stack of old skateboarding magazines. It was real late, well past midnight, when Mom peeked into my room and saw that I was still awake. She sat down on the bed and told me she was sorry that dinner had gotten a little tense. Everything would get back to normal, she said, once Dad’s legal problems were over and he was working again.
It took every ounce of courage, but I had to ask:
Did you mean what you said to Grandma Janet about a divorce?
Mom took a short breath and pressed her lips together.
You heard me on the phone that night? I’m so sorry, NoahI was extremely upset… .
I could tell she wanted to give me one of those big smothering hugs, like she used to do when I was small. This time, though, all she did was reach over and touch my hand.
Your father is a very unusual and intense personality,
she said,
as I’m sure you’ve noticed. I love him
And Mom, well, forget about it. We’d already be halfway to Saskatchewan by now.
What if they get suspicious and start hassling you?
I asked Shelly.
Why would they? Think about it from Dusty’s point of view. Why would I come back to work for him if I knew he and Luno were mixed up in Lice’s death? Heck, I’d have to be suicidal, right?
Shelly winked.
Naw, Dusty bought the whole sad story. He thinks I wanted my job back just because Lice left me broke. And I’ll be honest, the money’s not too shabby.
Dad stood up and started pacing back and forth.
Well, I’d better be off,
Shelly said.
How are things going with Dusty?
I asked.
Oh, don’t worry about that. He’s under control.
You be careful,
my father told her.
Yeah, well, don’t go sinkin’ that boat again,
Shelly said,
especially if I’m on it.
Then she said goodbye and breezed out the door, leaving us in silence with a light sweet scent of tangerines.
That night Abbey barely touched her dinner. She said she didn’t feel well and asked to go to bed early.
Mom tucked her in and returned to the table.
I think your sister’s got a touch of the flu. Are you feeling all right?
Fine,
I said.
Paine?
Never better,
said my father.
Did you call the taxi company?
Mom asked.
Tomorrow. I promise,
Dad said. He was supposed to make sure that they were holding his job for him.
Actually, I was thinking of trying to get my captain’s license back,
he said matter-of-factly,
so I could guide in the backcountry again.
My mother put down her fork.
You can’t be serious.
Well, why not?
After what you did to the casino boat, you honestly believe the Coast Guard will let you take customers back out on the water?
she said.
Honey, you’ll be lucky to get your cab back.
Dad stabbed at a green bean and let the subject drop.
Somebody from the Heraldphoned while you were in the shower,
Mom said.
I explained that you won’t be giving any more interviews. Right?
Yeah,
my father mumbled. One of the conditions for Dusty Muleman dropping the criminal charges was that Dad stop ranting to the press.
You know, he’s started flushing his holding tanks again,
Dad said.
It’s true. Ask Noah.
Mom looked at me, then back at my father.
How do you know this?
We’ve got our sources,
Dad said mysteriously.
Someone who works on the Coral Queen,
I added.
I see,
my mother said.
Then this source’ of yours should go straight to the authorities and make a report. That’s the way it’s supposed to be done. Noah, please pass the rice.
But Dusty’s got connections with the Coast Guard and the cops,
Dad complained.
They won’t do diddly unless somebody catches him red-handed.
And maybe somebody will,
said Mom,
but whoever that somebody’ is, they don’t live in thishouse. I’ve made my last visit to the jailhouse, is that understood?
That night I couldn’t sleep, so I dug out a stack of old skateboarding magazines. It was real late, well past midnight, when Mom peeked into my room and saw that I was still awake. She sat down on the bed and told me she was sorry that dinner had gotten a little tense. Everything would get back to normal, she said, once Dad’s legal problems were over and he was working again.
It took every ounce of courage, but I had to ask:
Did you mean what you said to Grandma Janet about a divorce?
Mom took a short breath and pressed her lips together.
You heard me on the phone that night? I’m so sorry, NoahI was extremely upset… .
I could tell she wanted to give me one of those big smothering hugs, like she used to do when I was small. This time, though, all she did was reach over and touch my hand.
Your father is a very unusual and intense personality,
she said,
as I’m sure you’ve noticed. I love him
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