Page 566 of You felt Familiar

I added pastries and savory pies from the harbor bakery and returned before noon.

Caleb smelled the food before I opened the break-room door.

“What did you do?”

“I brought lunch.”

“That is not an answer.”

Owen came in behind Noah.

Noah used the cane. Graphite darkened his fingers, and a narrow smear of sealant marked one wrist.

He looked at the boxes covering the table.

“Are we celebrating?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“The payment arrived.”

His face brightened.

“Today?”

“This morning.”

I opened the boxes and set out vegetable tarts, meat pies, and pastries.

Then I pointed toward the machine concealed beneath a cloth at the end of the counter.

Caleb pulled the cloth away.

Silence.

Owen placed one hand reverently on the stainless-steel casing.

“This is not sensible.”

“It is morale.”

“It has a pressure gauge.”

“Yes.”

“Do any of us know how to use it?”

“No.”

Noah leaned on his cane.

“We repair marine electronics.”

Caleb looked at him.

“That means no.”