Deadline (Sandra Brown)

unwelcome thought away, she stretched out onto her back, and, with a hand on each son so she could feel their sweet breathing, she fell asleep.
    *  *  *
     
    They had spaghetti for dinner. While they were eating, Amelia mentioned the beach ball to Stef. “Weirdest thing,” the young woman said, as she helped Grant twirl noodles onto his fork. “I’d thrown it away, but it showed up yesterday patched and inflated.”
    “How’d that happen? It didn’t heal.”
    “Maybe Bernie,” Stef said, shrugging, more interested in the mess Grant was making than in the beach ball mystery.
    When they finished, Stef began clearing the table. “If you’ll do the dishes, I’ll bathe the boys,” Amelia told her.
    “Are you sure? Compared with bath time, doing the dishes is a snap.”
    Amelia smiled. “True. But I’ve missed the boys this week. Even when I was with them, I was distracted.”
    Stef turned from the sink and said hesitantly, “There’s a write-up about the trial on the front page of the local newspaper. It mentions your testimony. I brought a copy in case you want to read it.”
    “No, thanks. I’ve kept the TV off during news time, too. I know all I need or want to know about it.”
    She shooed the boys upstairs. They put up token protests, but she soon had them stripped and in the tub. She knelt beside it to supervise the dispensing of liquid soap, which often got out of control.
    Just before plunging her hands into the bathwater, she automatically reached to remove her watch.
    It wasn’t on her wrist.
    Although it wasn’t an expensive, diamond-studded model, it was the last gift her father had given her before his death, and for that reason alone she cherished it. Staring at her bare wrist, she mentally backtracked, trying to remember when she’d taken it off. While preparing dinner? Before joining the boys in the ocean had she dropped it into her beach bag? She couldn’t remember doing either.
    Her thoughts were interrupted by an arc of bright-blue soap being squirted from the dispenser and landing on the front of her shirt. “Hey! Enough.”
    After their bath, she was almost as wet as they were. She oversaw their teeth brushing, got them into their pajamas, and listened to their prayers. By lights out, she was exhausted.
    Stef was waiting for her in the kitchen with a glass of cold white wine. Amelia took it gratefully. “I’ve misplaced my wristwatch. Have you seen it?”
    “No, but I’ll keep an eye out for it.”
    “I’m sure it will turn up.” Amelia sipped her wine, sighing with pleasure. “You must be angling for a raise.”
    Stef laughed. “The pay is adequate, but I would like to go out for a few hours tonight if that’s okay.”
    “Sure. I’ll even loan you my car.”
    “Thanks! I appreciate that. It’s a little nerve-racking riding my bike in the dark.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “Well, as you know, choices are limited.”
    The island’s only village amounted to several establishments clustered near the ferry dock: a general store; a boat-rental place that also had two gas pumps and a live-bait tank; a real estate office that was open only on weekends, when the sea island drew visitors from the mainland; and a café and bar called Mickey’s.
    After the café’s dinner hours, the bar stayed open and was the only nod toward a nightlife on the island.
    “Mickey’s?” Amelia asked. Stef nodded. “Meeting someone?”
    Stef grinned and said with cheek, “Maybe.”
    “Same guy?”
    “Maybe.”
    Amelia laughed. “Does he have a name?”
    “Dirk.”
    “What does he do?”
    “He works on boats. I don’t know the specifics.”
    “Is he a permanent resident? Maybe I know his family.”
    Stef shook her head. “This is his first summer here.”
    “When do I get to meet him?”
    “We’ll see how things go.” Changing the subject, she asked, “Will you be all right here alone?”
    “Of course. I’ve been staying here alone since I was eighteen and finally talked my daddy into allowing it.”
    “Yeah, but you’ve had a rough week.”
    “I’m fine. I may treat myself to a long bath. This will definitely help relax me.” She raised the glass of wine. “Thank you.”
    “I figured you could use it.” Stef picked up her small purse and lifted Amelia’s key ring off the hook as she passed through the back door.
    Amelia followed to lock it behind her. Noticing the bright porch light overhead, she said, “Thanks for changing the bulb.”
    Stef paused