“HOW WAS THE FIELD TRIP?” MACEY ASKED AS HARPER CLIMBED INTO her car.
“Pretty good.”
Macey waited for her to continue, but Harper just looked out the window. “That’s it? Just pretty good? Did they like your drawing of the loggerhead turtle?”
“Mm-hmm,” Harper said with a nod.
Macey looked over at the little girl sitting next to her. “Everything okay?”
“Mm-hmm,” Harper answered, mustering a smile.
“Any chest pains?”
Harper looked back out the window and shook her head.
Macey frowned. “You sure?”
“Mm-hmm. What’s for supper?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
“Pizza.”
Harper’s eyes lit up. “Pepperoni?”
“Is that what you like on your pizza?”
Harper nodded.
“Pepperoni it is!”
“Yes!” Harper said, gesturing with a fist pump.
When they got back to the house, Ben was just coming outside with Keeper, and the big dog bounded over to the car. “Hey, Keep!” Harper said happily, forgetting her backpack and slamming the car door. “Where’s your ball?”
The golden trotted happily across the yard, scooped up two tennis balls, hurried back, and dropped them at Harper’s feet. She picked them up and threw them, and he bounded away.
Macey watched for a few minutes and then reached into the back seat for the forgotten backpack, slung it over her shoulder with her own bag, and walked toward the house.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Good . . . busy. I swear there are more kids out sick than in school these days.”
“Well, don’t bring those germs home,” he teased, stepping away from her.
“Very funny,” she said, rolling her eyes. “How was your day?”
“Good. Just a couple more details to tie up.”
“Great,” she said, smiling. “I bet you’ll be glad to put this job behind you.”
“I will, especially because there’s another one waiting . . .”
Macey’s eyes lit up. “They took your bid?”
“They did.”
“That’s so great!”
“It is,” Ben said, smiling—he always felt better when he knew for certain they had another job lined up. “How was the field trip?” he asked, watching Harper play with Keeper.
She shook her head. “I asked, but all I got was pretty good.”
Ben nodded, knowing Macey wished Harper would open up a little more.
“We seemed to be doing so well those first couple days,” she said, “when we were all huddled in front of the fireplace during the storm. I don’t know what changed.”
“Maybe we’ll have to do that again—make a fire and watch a movie or play games—we don’t have to lose power to do that. Besides, Cora said it might take time.”
“I know, but I didn’t think it would take this long.”
“It’s only been a couple of weeks.”
“It’s almost three!” Macey countered.
“You gotta have faith,” Ben teased. “Isn’t that what your grandmother would say?”
Macey smiled. “It is what she would say.” She started to walk around to the back porch, and then called over her shoulder. “Pepperoni pizza tonight.”
“All right! That’s my favorite.”
“Harper’s, too!”
Ben smiled and then turned to Harper. “You guys coming in?” Ben called.
The little girl looked over. “One more throw.”
Ben nodded and followed Macey inside while Harper threw the two balls as far as she could. Keeper bounded off, and when Harper was sure Ben and Macey weren’t looking, she rubbed her chest. “C’mon, Keep. Let’s go in.” She walked slowly toward the back porch and up the steps with the big dog beside her. When she got to the top step, she sat down to catch her breath and Keeper pushed his bowed head into her chest. “That’s exactly where it hurts,” she whispered, fighting back tears. She pushed her cheek into his long, wispy fur and then heard a familiar tinkling sound above her head. She looked up and, for the first time, noticed the silver spoon chimes, just like the ones she’d made with Tom when she was little. She rubbed her chest again and finally felt the pain ease.