“Ah,” I say. “But did you know lobsters do have a monogamous bond, but it usually only lasts for a short while?”
Our attention shifts when a woman I’ve seen around town before but have never formally met comes rushing in. Amber and her friends take off for the other room.
“Look at you two,” she says as I glance at her Little Red Riding Hood outfit. “Adorable.”
Again with the adorable.
“Kira, it’s so nice to see you again.” She turns to me. “You must be Nate. Albert said you were coming. I’m Faith, and it’s nice to finally meet you.”
We shake hands, and I say, “Nice to meet you, too. Albert talks about you so much I feel like I know you already.”
“Easy there, boss,” Albert says, coming from the other room, a bottle of beer in his hand. “Don’t go getting me into any trouble, eh.”
“They better be nice things he’s saying,” Faith says as we remove our coats. Albert takes them and hangs them on the coat rack with the others.
Albert, dressed as the Big Bad Wolf, puts his hand around his wife’s waist and drags her close. Faith is quite a few years younger than him. I’d put her in her early forties, whereas Albert is closer to his sixties.
“If I take your picture, will you say cheese?” Albert asks.
I shake my head and grin. “Go ahead. I’ve heard them all.” Albert slaps me on the shoulder and laughs.
“Come on, let me introduce you to everyone,” Faith says to Kira, and I give her a reassuring nod.
Albert grabs a beer from the fridge, cracks it open, and hands it to me. “Have you met, Trevor? He’s a local boat builder. Owns the Dorey shop down on Bluenose Drive.”
I tip my beer to my mouth and follow him into the main room, where he introduces me to his friends, who are all dressed up for the occasion. There’s food laid out, and I glance at Kira as she nibbles on a sandwich. Great, now I’m picturing her nibbling on my cheese stick.
Not the time to be remembering that, dude.
Once everyone finds out Kira is Gram’s granddaughter, they all begin to share stories. I turn my attention to Trevor, since I love boats, and take in the cardboard box he’s wearing, shaped like a dory.
He tells me about the dories he’s made at his shop, and how he’s now building schooners and has classes twice a year.
“You’ll have to stop by. I’ll show you what I’m working on. You’re going to love the jigs and patterns that are over a hundred years old,” Trevor says.
“I would love that. Finding the time might be hard, though.”
Albert puts his hand on my shoulder. “Gotta enjoy the small things, son,” he says, and my gaze flies to his as my heart leaps. He’s never called me son before. Shit, my own father doesn’t even call me son. In a weird sort of way, I like Albert calling me that.
“You’re right,” I say. “Are the classes full?” I ask.
“I can always squeeze in one more,” he says, and I note the way Kira keeps casting glances my way. I mingle with a few more people and eventually make my way to where she’s sitting. I grab a sandwich from the tray, and overhear Faith ask about the studio. Kira shifts uncomfortably, her body language showcasing her discomfort. She’s an easy read, at least to me, and obviously doesn’t want to discuss Gram’s studio, whatever that might be.
“Drink refill?” I ask when I see that Kira’s punch is almost gone.
She gives me a smile full of appreciation and hands the mug over. “Thanks.”
I put the ladle into the punch and ask, “Anyone else?”
I fill a few more mugs and hand them back just as Amber and her friends come up from downstairs to grab more pop and chips. Then disappear as quickly as they appeared.
“Your daughter is adorable,” Kira says to Faith.
Faith smiles. “Thanks. She’s a good kid. We wanted