Casting About
Noir.
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    As everyone lingered over dessert and coffee, Adam cleared his throat and said, “Actually, Monica and I had some news to share with everyone tonight. That’s why we wanted to have this gathering.”
    Opal jumped up from the table, clutching her hands to her chest. “I knew it! I knew it! You’re pregnant, aren’t ya, sugar?” she said, directing her happy gaze toward me.
    I broke out laughing and shook my head as I caught the raised eyebrows on Grace’s face.
    â€œAh, no. That is definitely not the news,” I told four staring faces that were waiting for my verification. “I can absolutely confirm that I am not pregnant.”
    Like a deflated balloon, Opal sank back into her chair. “Oh. Then what is the news?”
    Adam shot me a smile. “No, Monica’s not pregnant. However, we will be expecting a child in the house. My daughter Clarissa Jo will be coming to live with us this week.”
    Silence filled the deck as everyone waited for an explanation.
    Adam went on to explain about the car accident, Carrie Sue losing custody, the call from social services, and his trip to Georgia the next day.
    Dora was the first to break the silence. “That poor little girl. Ending up in foster care. Thank goodness she has a wonderful father like you who loves her. And you, Monica, that’s very loving of you to take in a child you don’t know that well.”
    Opal jumped up again, running around the table to kiss Adam. “My granddaughter? My granddaughter’s comin’ here to live on the island? Lord above, I may never return to Naomi’s house. A week every other Christmas and a month during the summer was never enough time for me to enjoy Clarissa Jo. Oh, Adam, this is wonderful news.”
    I was rather surprised at Opal’s reaction. In many ways she reminded me of Sybile. Heck, that woman didn’t even want me calling her Grandma —so I came up with the pet name of Billie . But Opal seemed happy at the prospect of having her granddaughter around full-time.
    Saren was his usual sweet self. “Well, doesn’t that just beat all. So now we’ll have another female member in the family. I’m looking forward to meetin’ her.”
    â€œSo does this mean you’ve changed your mind on purchasing the yarn shop?” Aunt Dora questioned.
    Adam spoke up. “No, Monica will still be the new owner. Well, unless she doesn’t want that. We’ll hire a babysitter for any evenings we want to go out. I know this isn’t what we’d planned when we got married six months ago.” He shot me a look of understanding. “But Monica has been wonderful about it. It’s not going to be easy for any of us and will be quite an adjustment, but I think we’ll manage.”
    â€œOf course you’ll manage,” Dora said. “And please, count on me for any babysitting chores. My grandchildren are all grown now and I adore being around young people.”
    â€œAnd you know I want to get to know my granddaughter even better,” Opal told us. “She can come to the cottage and spend a few nights with me whenever she’d like.”
    I caught the smile on Grace’s face as she winked at me and I knew she was thinking, “See, I told you it would be fine.”
    For some reason I felt teary. I should have known—I should have known that on this island, nobody goes it alone. No matter what the problem is, people pitch in to help. No, it wasn’t going to be easy—but it was comforting to know I wasn’t going to be alone.

4
    A fter Adam left for Georgia on Sunday, I began doing laundry and getting the house ready for Clarissa’s arrival. I hadn’t gotten to her room the day before, so I decided to tackle that first.
    When I walked in, I let out a loud gasp. There on the bed, folded up neatly, was my blue sweater. I felt a shiver go through me as I stood rooted to the
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