47. Duty

Ruby bowed ninety degrees. Though her eyes were fixed on her sand-covered toes, the dark orange shawl's glimpse passed in the breeze. When Ruby straightened up, she was alone—stunned at the moon's reflection. Half of its surface seemed to be bathed in seawater.

Ruby wrinkled her watery nose. "That's right. This place is too cold and lonely. It must be boring because you've been alone all your life, Dad."

The night wind pierced the surface of Ruby's skin. She rubbed her upper arms, then turned her back to the sea, intending to return to the treehouse. Ruby's gray irises shone as Justin stood up, one leg swaying at an angle. Justin's hands were folded behind his back, waiting for Ruby to face him casually.

"Uh, you're not sleeping?"

Justin walked up to Ruby.

"Why are you here? Just wait, I want to put—"

Who would have thought that Justin was carrying a white fluffy blanket from behind his back? It was stretched out behind Ruby's body, and Justin draped it over the girl's shoulders. The c