"How would you feel about a vacation?"
The question was sudden and unexpected; Nancy glanced curiously up over her novel to catch her father's eye. He sat reclining in his leather chair, his glasses sliding down his nose as he looked above his copy of the local newspaper.
"Where is this coming from?"
She could barely see his shrug for the paper. "Fenton broached it to me a few days ago. Thought it sounded like a good idea. They have an apartment in Ocean City, Maryland, they're going to visit, and thought we might like to tag along. I think it's a good idea."
She grinned. "Really?" At his nod, she spoke again: "When were you thinking of answering?"
"Might give him a call tomorrow. We'd go in about a week, meet up there, spend a week, maybe two; we hadn't decided yet."
"Can we say yes—for two weeks?"
He smiled at the excitement in her tone. "I think I can get two weeks off. As long as you promise not to solve a mystery this time!"
The book flew from her hands as she leapt up to embrace her father, crying, "Scout's honor!" as her arms wrapped around his neck. She kissed him hard on the cheek, and he laughed.
