Free Lost on Brier Island by Jo Ann Yhard Page B

with ads and little stories about the island. The writing on the paper mat twigged her memory of name doodling the previous day. She thought about Gus’s boat, Evania Rose . “Eva, where does your name come from? I mean, is Eva your whole name?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, dear?”
    â€œYou know, is it short for anything, like—uh, Evangeline? Or maybe something else?”
    Eva looked at Alex curiously. “As a matter of fact, it is. My full name is Evania. What makes you ask?”
    Alex glanced sideways at Gus. She could see a wave of red rising from his neck. His head was bent over his mug and he made a funny noise in his throat. She was definitely on to something.
    â€œReally? That’s an unusual name—very interesting,” Alex said.
    â€œIs it now?” Eva seemed puzzled.
    â€œHave you ever been on Gus’s new boat?” Alex sat forward on her stool.
    â€œNot one toe—I get seasick something fierce. But what’s that got to do with—”
    â€œAhem. Yes, well, it’s getting late. Time to close up there, Eva?” Gus leapt to his feet and began grabbing plates off the table.
    â€œAugustus Emmanuel, what on earth are you doing?” Eva looked flabbergasted. “You’ve never touched a dish here in all the twenty years I’ve known you.”
    Gus’s face flamed brighter as he froze, his hand hovering over Eva’s chowder bowl.
    â€œBesides, I’m not even finished my dessert yet,” Alex said. She took a tiny nibble of her tart, watching Gus. Part of her felt good that it was someone else on the squirmy end of a hook for a change.
    â€œBogs!” Gus growled, his ferocious lion scowl focused on her. “Cheeky girl.”
    â€œDon’t be foolish. Sit down,” Eva ordered, waving him back to his stool. She tipped his travel mug towards her and peered inside. “You haven’t even finished your second cup of tea, for heaven’s sake!”
    â€œBogs,” he muttered again, so low it was hard to hear him. However, he obediently returned to his seat and piled the dishes in a precarious tower in the middle of the table, all the while sneaking glances at Eva.
    â€œYou were saying, Alex dear…”
    Gus twitched and his bushy eyebrows sunk even lower as his gaze zigzagged between Eva and Alex.
    Part of Alex knew it was none of her business—that she should leave it alone. But if Gus had a crush on Eva, he should just tell her. What was he waiting for, anyway? She didn’t know why it even mattered to her, but at that moment it mattered a lot. “It’s a very strange coincidence. Gus’s boat’s name—”
    Crash!
    The teetering stack of dishes toppled over. Two chowder bowls and a glass rolled off the edge of the table and smashed.
    â€œMy new stoneware!” Eva cried as she leapt up to grab one of the remaining bowls before it hit the floor.
    Everyone scrambled into action, collecting dishes and pieces of the broken bowls while Eva tut-tutted her distress.
    â€œIt’s my fault, Eva,” Gus said. He was sprawled on his hands and knees, carefully checking under the table for broken pieces. “I’ll get more bowls for ya.”
    â€œDon’t be silly! It was an accident.” Eva was trying to piece together one of the bowls. “I wonder if I can glue this…”
    They’d just sw ept up the last shards of pottery when lights from outside lit up the café’s interior. Alex’s mom had pulled into the parking lot. She turned the car off, but didn’t get out.
    Aunt Sophie frowned and walked towards the door. “Be right back.”
    Alex watched as Aunt Sophie leaned in through the car window and said something. Then she opened the passenger door and got in. She was talking to Alex’s mom and suddenly reached over and hugged her. They sat there, making no move to come in, and continued talking. What was happening? Alex was sure