“Daddy! Look at me!” Wolf shouted. He was standing behind the ship’s wheel and appeared to be steering the boat. Cope snapped pictures.
“Is everything okay?” Ten asked, when Fitz moved toward the back of the boat to watch Aurora take her turn at the wheel.
“I’m not sure.” Ronan shook his head. “Fitz has been a bit on edge lately. At first, I wondered if there was something going on at work or with Cisco that he hadn’t told us about yet, but whatever is going on has followed him on this trip. Can you read anything from him? You’re always saying Fitz leaks information like a sieve.”
Ten’s eyes slid shut. “Oh, shit,” he whispered.
Ronan took Ten’s elbow and steered him toward the empty front of the ship “How bad is it?” Fitz might be a titanic pain in Ronan’s ass from time to time— pun intended— but the manwas the best boss he’d ever worked for, not to mention his best friend.
“They’re not getting the baby,” Ten bit his bottom lip before continuing. “The mother decided to keep her daughter. Fitz got the call a week ago. He and Jace are beside themselves and aren’t quite sure how to tell Aurora, who is so excited to be a big sister.”
“Fuck me with an iceberg,” Ronan muttered. It had taken several months for Jace to get Fitz to see the plus sides to adding another child to their family, and now, when all three of them were so excited to meet this little girl, she was gone. “Are you just reading Fitz or is this carved in stone?”
“Just Fitz,” Ten said. “I’m not really seeing what the final outcome will be.”
“What do we do?” Ronan asked.
“Keep your big mouth shut. If Fitz wants us to know, he’ll tell us. In the meantime, try not to be an asshole.” Ten patted Ronan’s shoulder. “I know it’s a big ask, but do your best.”
“Daddy! I’m sailing!” Everly shouted.
Ronan hurried toward the center of the boat where Everly stood at the wheel. Ten took a ton of pictures, while Jude recorded. His gaze turned to Fitz, who, now that Ronan really studied him, looked exhausted. He moved to stand beside Fitz and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You good?”
Fitz turned to Ronan, shot him an angry look and bolted for the side of the boat. Seconds later, Fitz was hung over the side, chumming the water. Someone obviously didn’t take his seasick pills. Ronan was about to offer a wiseass comment, when movement caught his eye.
Jude sprinted to the side of the boat and became the second member of the chum club. It was on the tip of Ronan’s tongue to shoot off a wise ass comment, but then his stomach tossed and he felt his breakfast trying to make a break for freedom. “Fuck me blue!” He hurried toward Fitz and hung himself over the edge of the boat.
From behind him, Ronan could hear camera shutter clicks, which meant Ten was taking pictures of their posteriors for posterity, possibly to show at Ronan’s Celebration of Life, which at the moment, seemed to be rapidly approaching. All he could do was hope Ten dressed him in his best suit and that Everly didn’t call him a dumbass in her eulogy.
6
Tennyson
The rest of the voyage passed without incident. No one else blew chunks and the kids had a lot of fun helping with the sailboat and watching the dolphins that swam at the ship’s bow. Everyone agreed they’d love to go sailing again. Ronan looked a little green at the idea, but if there was a next time, Ten would make sure Ronan took his Dramamine like a good boy.
Thankfully, once the detectives were back on shore, they’d been able to drink a little bit of chicken broth. All three were taking a nap in hopes of feeling better before dinner. Jace and Cope were down at the beach with the kids. Ten was going to join them, but he wanted to take a few minutes to himself before leaving the suite.
He opened the door to the deck and took a deep breath of sea air. Just like the porch on the first floor, this one on the second had rocking chairs. Ten walked to the railing and caught sight of the kids. Everly, Wolf, and Aurora were playing in the water with Ezra and Lizbet. None of them were deeper than mid-calf. Jace and Cope had dragged lounge chairs to the surf line. It looked like they were dangling their feet in the ocean like you’d do in a swimming pool.
Snapping several pictures of everyone, Ten turned to walk back into the suite, when he spotted a woman sitting in one of the rocking chairs a few feet away. She wore a light grey dress with an apron attached to the bodice. If Ten didn’t know better, he would have thought she was someone from central casting on the set ofDownton Abbey.
“May I?” Ten asked, indicating the chair beside her.
The young woman nodded and he took a seat. “I’m Tennyson Grimm.”
“Vivienne LaRue. I’ve heard good things about you from your family. Same with Cope.” She pointed toward the beach. “I was hoping to catch you alone, and here we are.”
“Why didn’t you show yourself sooner?” Ten asked. Showing up when Lainie had been talking about her the other night would have been a good time to pop in and say hello.
Vivienne bowed her head. “Several years ago, men came here when the hotel was closed for the winter with all kinds of equipment. Cameras and boxes that sound like static when a radio is out of tune. They yelled and shouted for me to appear. One in particular tried to bait me with comments about Walter and asked if he was the one who killed me.”
“I am so sorry that happened to you. The men were most likely ghost hunters and were trying to get evidence that ghosts exist. In some cases, spirits are able to move objects and make their voices heard. I’m not a fan of the way these guys yell and scream.”Not a fanwas a gross understatement. Ten understood that people were interested in the paranormal, but there were kinder and gentler ways to find spirits that didn’t include traumatizing them for television ratings. “I’m honored you chose to show yourself to me.”
“Your little girl is very sweet. She could sense me and said that she would love to be my best friend. She is a remarkable child.”
“Yes she is. We’re very proud of Everly.” Ten took a deep breath. Vivienne had been badly mistreated, not only at the hands of Walter Todd, but also from the ghost hunters who’d come to Hurricane Pointe. “Everly has helped so many spirits cross over. Would you like her to help you with that as well?”
Vivienne shook her head. “Walt is gone. I’m safe here. The ocean is beautiful. I have winters to myself here, but for the caretaker who lives on the top floor of the barn.”
