Hannah heard the front door creak open.
Aunt Jessica smiled. "That must be June."
Her cousin appeared in the doorway. June was small for a ten-year-old girl. Everything about her was tiny, except for her bright hazel eyes and chestnut brown hair.
There was a young man with her. He looked to be the same age as Hannah. He was tall with a dark complexion and green eyes. Because his hair was almost coal black, his green eyes seemed to look brighter. He wore his hair rather long, almost to his shoulders and he was dressed in jeans and a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
Aunt Jessica introduced him, "That young fellow is Nathan. He lives here with us as well and walks June home from school every day." She said to June, "Well now, say hello to everyone. This is your aunt Charmaine and your cousin, Hannah."
Nathan kept a very serious expression on his face, but when he fixed his eyes on Hannah, she thought his look softened.
June looked at them and said, "Hello."
"How was school today, June?" Aunt Jessica asked.
June proudly held up a sheet of paper with a bright gold star in the top corner.
Nathan boasted proudly, "She got a hundred percent on her timetables test."
"That's nice." Aunt Jessica beamed.
Nathan said, "I have to get ready for my shift at the Rib Shack." He leant down to June and whispered in her ear. She nodded and then looked at Hannah shyly. Nathan glanced at Hannah once more before heading further into the house.
Aunt Jessica said to June, "Go upstairs and change your clothes, dear."
The young girl nodded before hurrying off.
"Nathan takes such good care of her," Aunt Jessica remarked with a sigh. "Paul and I had her late in our lives."
Aunt Jessica started clearing the cups and saucers from the table, and Hannah offered, "Let me help you, Aunt Jessica."
Her aunt looked at her in surprise. "Thank you, dear, but I can manage just fine. Why don't you go and get your things from the car so long and then I'll show you to your room."
"My room?"
Aunt Jessica smiled sympathetically and then walked toward the kitchen.
Hannah turned to her mum. "My room? Didn't you say we weren't staying for the night?"
"Let's go outside," her mum said.
Hannah followed her mum out of the house and her mum headed for the trunk of the car.
Hannah frowned. "What's going on, Mum?"
"Nothing terrible," she replied hastily. "Beautiful here, isn't it?" She gazed at the view of the ocean.