Chapter 21: Paid in Full

"You smell like woodsmoke," Maeve said, when I came in at seven that morning.

"I know."

"You're also wearing his sweater."

"I know."

"Good," she said, and handed me the baby, and went to bed.

I sat in the kitchen with my daughter on my arm and the dentist's number on the table.

I called it at nine.

The practice owner had never sounded so careful in his life.

"The board met," he said. "Mrs. Prescott is no longer a member. I can offer you your old position, with back pay for the leave, from March."

"Three days a week," I said.

"Three days is fine."

"And I'll come in by the right clock."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's a joke," I said. "I'll see you in March."

I hung up and kissed the top of my daughter's head, which smelled like milk and soap.

That was all the work my life needed that week, and I put it down gladly.

On Saturday morning, Orin took us to the dock.

It was cold and still, and the harbor lay flat and silver.

The boats sat at their moorings, and a few gulls stood on the pilings.

He had zipped my daughter into a snowsuit with ears, a gift from Maeve that she had refused to explain.

I held the baby in the crook of my arm, and Orin climbed down onto the deck of his boat and held up his hands.

"Give her to me," he said. "I'll carry her."

I stepped across the gap with him holding my elbow.

The boat rocked a little and settled.

Under my feet, the deck smelled of salt and diesel and bait.

He took the baby from me, and stood with her at the bow, and turned her to face the water.

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