Gracie took them out to eat at The Crabby Fish, a local seafood restaurant. After they ordered, she excused herself to make a telephone call. Because they didn’t have a phone at the cabin, whenever she had to make a call, she would drive down to the restaurant.
“Wow, it’s taking a real long time,” Gennie said, after swallowing a spoonful of her salmon chowder.
Ben shrugged. He was obviously too focused on eating his arctic char to be interested.
“Maybe she’s catching up with an old friend,” he finally said.
“I don’t know,” Gennie said, “I think it’s something else. What if she’s trying to get rid of us?”
“I don’t think so,” Ben replied. “They didn’t have to take us in in the first place. Why would they want to get rid of us now?”
Gennie was on the verge of crying. She had a feeling her stay with Rusty and Gracie was just temporary. While she realized they had no room for them and their frequent traveling would make going to school near impossible, she wanted them to be her parents.
Gennie kept her eyes on the flowery tablecloth in case she burst into tears. Gracie returned to the table and dug into her fish and chips.
“I have good news,” she said.
“What is it?” Ben asked cautiously.
She looked at Gennie with concern. “Is something wrong, dear?”
“No,” Gennie said, sighing. “I’m okay.”
“You’re both acting like this is your last supper.”
“Gennie thinks you’re trying to get rid of us,” Ben said.
“Oh…,” Gracie replied. Gennie thought it was odd that she didn’t try to deny it.
Gennie gulped hard. Don’t cry, she told herself. Wait until you get back to the cabin.
Gracie cleared her throat and said, “Well, actually, I was talking to Rusty’s nephew Malcolm. Probably about once a year, he comes and visits us and he’s coming next week. I told him about the two of you and he’s looking forward to meeting you both. That’s why the call took so long. I was telling him how wonderful you are.”
“Does Rusty know about this?” Ben asked.
“No, not yet, and I’m not planning on telling him either. He gets so worked up when we have visitors, as you both know.”
“I imagine he’s not going to like that,” Ben said.
“He’ll get over it,” Gracie replied.
“So we’re not going anywhere?” Ben asked.
“Uh…I don’t think so. Do you want to go somewhere?”
“No,” Gennie said quietly.
“Then you don’t have to go anywhere. We’re not going to abandon you.”
The tears flowed from Gennie’s face onto the tablecloth. She was so relieved to hear that.
Chapter 8: August 24
What They Left Behind Page 7