I nodded. “Grams was a piano teacher and sang in the church choir. They took me and Delly a lot.”
“My hand bell phase was short-lived, thankfully,” Delly added. “Lasted one practice, to be exact. They said I was ‘too aggressive’ for such a delicate instrument.” She made air quotes as she spoke, and Ireland and I both laughed, though Ireland’s chuckle was more reserved.
“That’s how I’ve always felt about ballet,” she said as she cut another piece off her cake with the side of her fork. “The softness never came naturally to me.”
“When did you start dancing?” I asked, way more interested in this conversation than the cake.
“Pretty early on. I don’t even remember the first class, but….” She trailed off, a distant look in her eyes, before she shook herself. “I have pictures of my first recital, so it’s almost like remembering.”
She turned her attention to her plate, gripping her fork a little more tightly than she was before. Delly was busy doing something on her phone, which left me open to sneak glances at Ireland as much as I wanted.
Which was a lot.
I wanted to know more, to ask every question I could think of, but with her head down and her hair curtaining her face, I knew she didn’t want that.
Not now.
“How long have you been living on the Coast?” Delly asked, setting her fork on top of her empty plate.
“Since just after Christmas,” Ireland responded, her tone flat.
“So, this is your first summer living by the beach too?”
She cocked her head to the side. “I suppose you’re right.”
“All done?” I asked them both, and when they nodded, I reached across the table with an apologetic smile and piled our plates in front of me.
“Wanna help me look for sand dollars later?” Delly asked, undoing the subtle work I’d just done to move onto a different conversation thread. “I’m determined to find one.”
Ireland lifted a shoulder. “Sure.”
I blew out a subtle, relieved breath.
“Tomorrow maybe?” Delly asked hopefully.
Ireland shook her head. “Sorry, I try to spend as much of Sunday with Dad as I can, and I have a couple classes too.”
I pulled out my phone and did a quick search. “Google says the best time to find sand dollars is early morning or after a storm.”
Delly blew out a breath. “Let’s hope for a storm. I’m not getting up early tomorrow for anything.”
I snorted. “I’m very proud of you for making it to work on time all week.”
“You woke me up every day,” Delly said dryly. “So maybe I should be proud of you.”
“Hey, I’ll take it,” I said.
Ireland got up from the table, and right when I thought she was going to leave, she turned and leaned her shoulder on the molding between the dining area and living room. “How’s work going for you guys?”
“Good,” I said at the same time Delly said, “Okay.”
Ireland and I both looked at her, but I asked the question. “Just okay?”
Delly shrugged. “It’s… a lot. Especially on the second floor.”
Ireland nodded in understanding. “A lot of difficultsituations on that floor. You’re getting your bachelor’s now?”
“Yeah,” Delly replied. “This coming year will be my last before I start medical school. Hopefully.”
