Two
Sunday nightThe Marlin house is just as much my home as the one I share with my mom and brother. I’ve lost count of how many family dinners I’ve eaten, how many sleepovers Zanzia and I have had, how many times Mrs. Marlin has had to sign a consent form because Mom was halfway around the world at a pearl convention.
I usually swim right in without even knocking.
Not tonight. As I float outside the familiar blue door, my heart thunders like I’m about to have an audience with King Whelk. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this nervous before.
It’s not only because I know Zak is inside. Until two months ago, almost every Marlin family dinner I was part of included him. Even when he started dating Angel, Sunday dinners were non-negotiable.
The last several without him felt like putting toget
