Chapter Seven Benny
Seven
Benny
“That woman is something else,” her mom said bitterly, closing the door behind Vivian, Angus, and the police officers. She looked at Peter, Wally, and Harris stonily. “Officers? Really? Was she going to escort Benny and me from the house?”
“Let me worry about Vivian Rudd. I’ve handled mediations like this before,” Peter said, turning to Benny. “You focus on finishing Evelyn’s game. Are you close?”
I found the island. It killed her not to say those words aloud, but Harris was in earshot. “I’m close.”
“Good.” Peter patted her shoulder. “That’s what matters.” He adjusted his ball cap, which was back on his head. “I’ll be in touch about everything else.”
“Thank you, Peter,” her mom said, opening the door again. A light rain had started to fall as Peter left, and Zara walked up the gravel driveway with Gil. It was strange seeing Gil in a T-shirt and joggers, looking like any other boy his age.
“I’m going to go too,” Harris said. “I should check in at the vineyard and make sure they’re able to get everything set up. I’ll see you both tonight?” He glanced at Benny. “I’m sure Ryan will join me so you have someone to hang out with other than us adults.”
“Super,” Benny said sarcastically, her emotions getting the best of her.
Her mom quirked an eyebrow as she shut the door behind Harris. “What’s wrong? Are you fighting with Ryan?”
“It’s nothing.” Benny felt the muscles in her neck tense. Where was Ryan right now? Did he have Axel with him? She hoped so. Otherwise, those officers who just left would soon get a call about a hysterical boy running around Greenport thinking it was 1825.
“Morning,” Zara said sweetly, pushing Gil forward. His eyes were wide as he took in the house. “Have you met my friend Gil? He’s visiting from camp.”
“Hi, Gil,” Benny’s mom said warmly. “I’m Lynn. It’s nice to have another Greenport newcomer among us. We just arrived a few weeks ago ourselves. We’ll have to learn this town together.”
“Yes, ma’am…Miss Lynn,” Gil said, running a hand through his hair. Benny’s mom didn’t seem to pick up on his awkwardness.
Benny wanted to tell her mom who Gil was, but seeing her standing there in her expensive new workout clothes, looking completely unlike the person she’d been before Greenport, Benny felt a pang.
For years her mom was always in a stained T-shirt from whatever diner she was working at, where they relied on tips to get by and her feet were always hurting because she was on them all day.
Here her mom looked relaxed and happy, and Benny wanted them to stay here and not move again.
In Evelyn’s house—which could be their house if they finished this game.
Benny didn’t want to worry her mom with complications, and explaining Gil would be, well, complicated.
Wally continued to hover in the doorway, and Benny could feel him staring. Benny waved him over. “Gil, this is Wally, the keeper of the house.”
Wally’s blue eyes were soft as he held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Gilbert.”
Benny hesitated for a moment. Wally had told her he had worked for the Terry family practically his whole life. It made Benny wonder: Did Wally know who Gil really was? What else did he know?
“Forgive me. You said your name was Gil,” Wally corrected himself. He picked up the tray of cookies. “Would you like something to eat?”
Gil’s eyes were round as he viewed the plate. Then he stuffed three cookies in his mouth at once. “Much appreciated. I haven’t had something sweet to eat in forever,” he mumbled, crumbs going everywhere. Benny’s mom looked horrified.
Wally was amused. “I’d offer you some milk, but the power was out all morning, so I need to go to the store.”
Gil looked at Benny and Zara at mention of power. Benny knew Gil would enjoy this technology once they explained it. Suddenly a ray of sun poked through the clouds, sending light through the living room windows.
“Sun! Finally!” Benny’s mom exclaimed.
“Don’t get too excited,” Zara warned. “It’s going to rain again later.”
“Still, the weather is improving,” Wally said. “That’s something to be happy about.”
Benny and Zara both shifted uncomfortably. It was something to be happy about if one wasn’t worried an uncharted island was going to disappear the minute the weather improved.
At least Benny assumed that’s how it worked. Kimble hadn’t really said.
“Can I help you with anything before I go to the store?” Wally asked.
“Yes, what are you kids looking for?” Benny’s mom asked. “Have you completed Evelyn’s game?” She looked hopeful.
Benny avoided the second question. “We need to find a gold dragonfly. Have either of you seen one in the house on a painting or on a plaque or in one of Evelyn’s paintings or…” Benny was grasping at straws here.
“Or a sculpture?” Zara tried. “On the grounds? Or a small statue?” She looked around the room. “Maybe it could be a paperweight. Oooh! Or jewelry.”
“I can’t say I have seen anything like that I’m afraid,” Wally said apologetically. “But if I think of anything while I’m out, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.” Benny tried not to be disappointed. Why should any of Evelyn’s clues be as easy as Wally being like, Why yes, we have a gold dragonfly right here on this shelf!
Her mom started to chuckle. “I don’t know much about dragonfly jewelry, but I did once date a guy who gave me a ring shaped like a cockroach made out of gems.”
“Gross,” Benny said as Zara said, “Cool.” Gil was too busy tapping the TV screen in the living room behind them, probably trying to figure out how it worked.
Benny’s mom smiled. “He was an exterminator and thought it would be a romantic gesture. Then I found out he decorated with cockroaches everywhere—on wallpaper, pillows, and bedsheets, and I couldn’t deal.
I think we lasted a month.” She looked at Benny.
“Your dad, however, carved me that bird I gave you, which I thought was sweet.” She looked contemplative.
“He didn’t have much, but it was a gift from the heart.
That’s why I kept it, I guess.” She shrugged and Benny watched as her mom looked out the window at the gray sky, lost in thought.
“I knew him such a short while, I didn’t even know I was pregnant with you when he gave it to me as a parting gift. ”
This was only the second time her mom had mentioned her dad ever. Greenport was making her nostalgic. Maybe, just maybe, she’d tell Benny more about him or even a name if they got to stay.
If. If. If.
The thought made her stomach tighten. “I guess he meant more to you than cockroach dude.”
“Yes!” her mom said with a laugh, snapping back to reality. “Alright, enough reminiscing. You three go Scooby this game of Evelyn’s, and I’m going to find something to wear for tonight.”
She headed up the stairs, and Gil watched her go. He looked overwhelmed, and Benny couldn’t blame him.
“We will!” Zara shouted cheerily, then looked at Benny, her expression darkening. “We aren’t going to tell her what we find, right? She’s with Harris. Yes? We can’t trust it won’t get back to Ryan.”
“We are definitely not telling her.” Benny looked at a row of old books on one of the library shelves (none were about insects). She was so mad at herself still about Ryan, but she had to concentrate on the big picture. “How are you doing, Gil?”
Gil’s face brightened. “Zara’s grandmother drove us here in a car. And music played while we drove up to this vast homestead that Zara said Evelyn owned. I can’t believe Sparrow owned all of this.” He ran his hand over the fireplace mantel. “She had good fortune in life.” He swallowed hard then.
Benny bit her lip and glanced at Zara. This had to be so hard for him.
“May I ask what a Scooby is though?” Gil asked as she studied a painting on the wall of a large boat caught in swells. No dragonflies there either.
Zara cracked up. “It’s a cartoon. Like a…painting that moves? It’s also a TV show and movie. And there are books.”
Recognition dawned on his face. “Ah, yes, the TV.” He looked around. “I look forward to watching that, and oh! The box is on now…” He gravitated toward it. The local news was on doing a segment on the Blood Orange Moon.
“Hey. You didn’t tell me you never met your dad,” Zara said quietly while Ryan was mesmerized by the news.
“There’s not much to tell,” Benny admitted. “They met when my mom was here in Greenport on vacation. This is only the second time in my life she’s ever she’s brought him up without me asking questions.”
Zara hit Benny. “He’s from Greenport? Or do you mean he was here on vacation too?”
“I don’t know the answer to that question actually,” Benny realized. Her dad had never been a part of her life, so she didn’t focus on him. What she was focused on right now was finding something gold and insect-like.
“Either way, you don’t think that’s weird?” Zara asked, kneeling down to examine the contents of a built-in bottom shelf. “They met in Greenport, and now you’re here in Greenport solving some mystery your ancestor, who is also from Greenport, left you?”
Benny felt her fingers tingle. “That is weird,” she said almost to herself.
“What’s that bird your mom was talking about?” Zara asked.
“It’s a small wood carving.” Benny went to her backpack in the foyer.
Even though they’d been at Evelyn’s house for a few weeks, she hadn’t unpacked her prized possessions.
Those included her favorite book (Ready Player One), a tortoiseshell hair clip that had belonged to Grams, and the bird.
It felt too permanent to unpack. Too confident that this fortune would all someday be hers.
She pulled out the small wooden bird, stained cherry with a high-sheen finish, and handed it to Zara.
Zara examined it from all angles. “This is pretty good. No clue what kind of bird it is, but at least we know it’s a bird.” She flipped it over, revealing the chunky little bird’s underbelly and pointed to a small round insignia that been carved in the bottom. “What’s this?”