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“I’ll figure it out.”

I hang up and lower the hood.

The door beside mine opens as I’m walking back to the house.

Ruby steps outside with her keys in one hand and a canvas bag over her shoulder. Her hair is loose today, and the sleeves of her black sweater are pushed up enough to show the bright flowers running along both forearms.

She looks from me to the truck. “Problem?”

“Won’t start.”

Ruby glances toward the open hood. “That’s inconvenient.”

“Especially since Dad wants me to bring it to the shop.”

She starts toward her car, and I wait until she’s almost there before calling after her. “Any chance you’re headed that direction?”

She stops and looks back at me. “Hale Marine?”

“Five minutes away.”

“I’m going past it on my way to the store.”

“Really?”

“I need groceries.”

“And you’re willing to let me in your car?”

“That depends. Can you sit quietly for five minutes?”

“No promises.”

She unlocks the passenger door anyway. “Then you can walk.”

“I can be quiet.”

The drive to Hale Marine is short, following the road toward the water until the buildings thin out and the harbor opens ahead of us as Ruby turns into the gravel lot.

Dad is outside one of the open bays, wiping his hands on a rag.

“There’s my Dad,” I say.

Ruby pulls up beside the shop. “Excellent. My civic duty is complete.”

Ruby reaches for the gearshift as soon as she stops, but before I can even get my door open, Dad is already walking toward us.

He bends slightly to look through the open window. “Ruby, right?”

She glances at me before answering. “Right.”

Dad smiles. “Dean. We met at Sloane’s store a while back.”

“I remember.”

I get out while Dad looks between us. “You didn’t mention Ruby was bringing you.”

“I didn’t know that was important information.”