“That sounds marvelous,” I managed, trying to control my racing heart. “Thank you—for accompanying Liss.”
If I tilted my chin up, our lips would meet. I reached for his arm, and heat rose from his skin through the thin fabric of Da’s shirt. I tightened my grip, my fingers pressing against hard muscle.
He made a slight motion toward me, dropping the basket, but hesitated. I nodded, and his arms wrapped around my waist, drawing me into his warmth. I raised my face to his, ready for the crush of his lips against mine, wanting to share more than these nervous breaths.
“Who wants to play Happy Families?” Grayse asked brightly.
For a moment, Fynn’s lower lip grazed mine, sending a jolt from my head to my toes. Then Grayse’s presence shocked us both, and our chins banged together.
I resisted the urge to peek at Fynn, or to rub the stinging spot on my chin where his stubbly skin had scratched mine.
“Now’s not a good time, Grayse.” My face and neck were on fire. But as I looked at my littlest sister smiling and clutching an orange box to her chest, my anger faded.
“Look, Grayse,” Fynn began. “We were just—”
“Having a secret. I know.” Grayse put a finger to her lips.
Relief washed over me. “Thanks, little fish.” I kissed the top of her head before finally glancing at Fynn and was pleased to note that the back of his neck was flushed.
“What’s that?” Fynn pointed to Grayse’s box.
“Happy Families,” Grayse said, with the air of a parent explaining something to a small child. “It’s a game. Every card in the box has a funny person on it, and you have to ask the other players if they have the cards you need.” Grayse gave Fynn a sympathetic look. “There must not be anything fun where you’re from.”
“Maybe not.” Fynn smiled. “But I’ll still play with you.”
Grayse squealed with delight, then focused her pleading gaze on me. “Will you play too, Bry?”
I pressed my lips together. What I really wanted was a few minutes alone to collect myself and finish putting up my hair.
“Please?” Grayse added.
“Please, Bridey,” Fynn echoed, and his low tone sent a pleasant shiver up my back. His lips turned up with a teasing smile. “Play Happy Families with me.”
I tried to answer, but my mouth had gone dry. “Give me a moment. I’ll meet you in the other room.”
Grayse hurried off, shaking the box, but Fynn lingered near the door. In the moment I’d looked away from him, his expression had turned cooler, distant. Like he’d just had an unwelcome flash of memory, or the interruption had bothered him more than he cared to let on in front of Grayse.
“Off you go,” I said, smiling shyly before shutting the door, and granting myself a moment’s privacy to splash water on my blotchy face.
In the main room, my sisters, Fynn, and Da formed a circle by the hearth. Grayse shuffled a stack of cards while Da sipped tea and pored over one of his older maps. Liss moved over to create a space and patted the floor beside her. My leg brushed Fynn’s as I sat, which did nothing to soothe the lingering redness in my cheeks.
“Fynn,” Da said, setting down his map. “Where might I find giant crabs like the ones Boyd and Nelson caught?”
Fynn stared at Da. “I’m sorry, sir?”
“I understand you don’t remember anything before your accident, but I know what you are. I’ve figured it out just by watching you these last few weeks.”
Fynn went utterly still beside me. “You do, sir?”
“’Course!” Da slurred. “You’re a fisherman! With your build, and your excellent eye for fish—I saw the herrin’ you selected for my wife at the market—there’s no doubt. The sea’s in your blood, my lad.”
Fynn’s rigid posture relaxed. “You’re right, sir. There’s salt in my veins.” Softer, he added, “So much I can almost taste it.”
Da attempted to clap Fynn on the shoulder, but cuffed him on the ear by mistake. “Why don’t you join me at sea, son? I could use the extra help finding anything out there.”
Fynn grinned. “I’d like that, sir.”
“Then it’s settled!” Da leaned back and took another swig from his bottle.
The distant sounds of Mam and Mally making supper drifted into the room. Maybe I could persuade Mally to tell Fynn he wasn’t well enough to leave yet. After all, it was more than likely his attacker was still out there.
After supper, Grayse begged everyone to play another round of Happy Families. Da had more maps to mull over, but once the table had been cleared, Liss, Mally, and Mam followed Grayse to the main room.
“Coming, Bry?” Liss called.