10

 

The Call

 

I heard giggling behind me. I swiveled at the sound and was greeted by enthusiastic chanting voices.

 

“The pirate and Dog Girl sitting in the sea

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

First comes love.

Then comes marriage.

Then comes a baby pirate in a doggy carriage!”

 

Dog Girl? Who had raised these children, a pack of wolves?

“Hey, he kissed me. I didn’t kiss him. There is absolutely nothing to chant about.”

The boys grinned at me, unrepentant.

This was ridiculous, why was I concerning myself with a childish rhyme?

The boys’ mom gave me a sympathetic smile. “Thank you so much. Your dog saved my Anton. Can I offer you a piece of cake? We were about to go warm up and have a bite.”

I thanked her for the offer but refused.

The young family headed off toward their snack.

My head ached and the cold clung to me like the sodden remains of my red dress. But I was almost done, I could do this. If I got Leroy to the fountain, handed him off to August, and got changed into my very last girly outfit in time, I could still meet my cousin for brunch.

I snatched up Leroy’s lead and slogged down the path barefoot. I had made it about halfway there when my grandma’s watch fell off again, and the delicate, little key that wound it popped out in the dirt. I pulled Leroy to a stop and scrabbled around in the dirt until I located the key.

It clicked back into the watch without too much trouble, but the latch looked pretty bent up and the watch no longer ticked. It must have been damaged with my fall.

My purse hung heavy and wet from my back, and I didn’t relish wrestling around with the soggy thing. So, I unzipped the cute little pocket in Leroy’s collar and stuffed the watch inside.

My phone rang. I stared at it. Despite two dunkings, it still worked. The number belonged to my cousin Freja, but the signal was low. I answered with a perky greeting. She didn’t know I was barefoot and trudging down a dirt path looking like a drowned rat while dragging a mammoth beast behind me. What Freja didn’t know, wouldn’t embarrass her…or me.

“Are you almost ready for brunch?” I chirped.

“Morgan, listen to me. My cab driver has dropped me off in some frightful alley by the gravel road. I’ve never been to Tivoli. If you could—” Freja screamed.

There was clattering noise as though her phone had fallen. The unmistakable sounds of footsteps approaching the phone crunched in my ear. A low groan made me suck in a startled breath as goose bumps raced up my arms.

Then the line went dead.