“You’ll be back in Tampa tomorrow, won’t you, Vicki?” Louise asked.
“Not tomorrow,” Vicki corrected her. “Sunday. Then one more trip and I’ll have a few days’ rest leave.”
“Perfect! We’ll spend the whole time at Clearwater Beach just relaxing and lying in the sun,” Nina said enthusiastically. “Daddy will take us out to Ybor City for dinner—and you’ll come to my shop and see all the lovely things we have. Then we’ll ...”
“Nina, dear,” Louise interrupted, “Vicki says this is a rest leave.”
Nina shook her silky black hair impatiently. “Oh, who wants to rest when there are so many more exciting things to do?”
“I thought you had a job,” Vicki said with a grin.
“Sure I have. And I work mighty hard at it too. But there’s always time to have fun.”
“This young dynamo wears me out.” Louise laughed. “I have to work, too, you know, Nina, and Vicki has to rest. But we’ll manage to have fun, don’t you worry.”
All three were chatting gaily when Mr. Curtin stepped out through the open French windows onto the tile floor of the porch. His face looked drawn and haggard, and worried wrinkles creased the skin around his eyes.
“Dad!” Louise cried, jumping up. “Whatever are you doing home at noon?”