The incoming call was from my mother, as she had sent me a message in the morning explaining that the day before she hadn't been able to answer because they were tired from the beach and had fallen asleep. This left me somewhat relieved; I definitely wouldn't have wanted her to answer at a moment like that and overhear anything about my nighttime encounter with Ivo.
"Mommy!" Alana's little voice, as cheerful as usual, rang out with joy. "Guess what?" We saw a giant mermaid, as huge as grandma's boyfriend's house."
"It wasn't a mermaid!" That was Benny, who replied to his sister's fantasy with annoyance. "I told you earlier it was a shark, don't lie to Mom." I laughed at their playfulness. I missed them a lot, and that call gave me a bit of peace.
"How have you been? I miss you so much,
