Tabitha turned her attention to Spencer’s phone, as if she could see Tex, and questioned him. “Are you sure, sir? That seems like a lot of work for you, and…you don’t even know me…us.”
“It’s Tex, Ma’am, and I don’t mind at all. This is what I do. And between you and me, in my network of people, there are no strangers. A friend of a friend, is also my friend. And someone on that list who’s in need—like you—becomes my top priority.”
Tabitha’s eyes filled up, but this time, instead of blinking back the tears, she let them spill over. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you,” she rasped.
“Well,” he drawled, “I hear through the grapevine that you’re a submarine pilot. I’m awfully sorry your submersible had a little accident…”
How did he know that?
“…but how about once you get your next vessel up and running, you take me and my wife Melody for a little tour of the Maine seacoast? That’safterwe get your sister back, of course,” he added genially, handing Tabitha those last few words to, at least subliminally, boost her spirits.
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Tabitha sniffed.
“Good.” His folksy voice turned on a dime to become all business. “Now write this number down to use in your post. It’s one of my burners that will connect directly to my computer. I’ll listen to everything that comes in, screen out the kooks, then send on anything that looks viable. Will that work for you?”
“It will.” Tabitha appeared close to done-in.
Tex rattled off the necessary digits, and Spencer saw that not only was Tabitha taking notes, his brothers were, too, just in case her fatigue had her messing up a numeral or two.
Once again, he was going to owe his family for this, big time. Not one of them had balked at putting everything on hold for Tabitha, even as midnight had come and gone.
Spencer picked up his phone and clicked it for privacy again. “Thank you so much, Tex. If you ever need anything…”
“A sub tour will do just fine,” he assured Spencer. “But I’ll say this. If I ever need any diving expertise, I’ll call on you and your new company in a heartbeat.”
Spencer could almost see the man wink over the phone line.
How the hell did he know…?
Spencer was just about to ask when the line went dead.
Huh. Tex was really something.
By the time Spencer got back to the table, everyone was tapping on their phones posting what they’d previously come up with for a picture and verbiage before adding the number Tex had supplied.
Spencer could see the moment it all became too much for Tabitha as she eventually slumped forward, elbows on the table.
“Ma, I’m going to take Tabbi up to my room so she can get some rest.”
His mother didn’t blink an eye. “You do that. I changed the sheets just in case you might want to stay,” she added.
Funny, he hadn’t seen his mother leave the room all evening, but she was like that. When things needed to be taken care of, the Sothard matriarch didn’t make a fuss, she simply spirited away and did what was needed, quietly and without fanfare.
“Thanks, Ma. Come on Tabbi,” he urged.
Tabitha stumbled to her feet, and Spencer could see how much effort it took. So rather than have her face-plant, he seizedthe initiative. He scooped her up into his arms to carry her upstairs.
He knew how exhausted she was, because she didn’t argue. She simply looped her arms around his neck, still clutching her cell phone in one hand while burying her face under his chin.
It felt good. It felt right.
Spencer couldn’t wait for circumstances to be different so the next trip to his room might be a joyful one.
He took the stairs easily, then switched the light on in his room.
She lifted her head, glancing around with a squint.
“Fishing?” she questioned, taking in his childhood sanctuary.
