Crouching down, I catch my breath and put my hands on her shoulders. “You okay, Sugar Muffin?”
Her little face crunches up in concern. “He’s a nice man, Daddy. I know I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, but I’m at school with the policeman.” She points to the policeman who’s returning empty-handed.
I hug her.
After the officer confirms he lost the guy and takes my information, we go home.
I look at the clock for the five-hundredth time. Crystal’s still not back. I hate that she’s still in the middle of that chaos, and I’m worried that anything could have happened to her. Car accident, mugging. I should have stormed the stage and taken her with me. I check my cell again—no response to my text. Even though Natalie’s just finished a jumbo watermelon gelato with bursting boba, I cook her some mac and cheese.
She finishes her plate and asks for more.
I shake my head. “Where are you putting all the food?”
She laughs and rubs her tummy. “In here, silly.” I poke the tip of her nose, which earns me a squeal.
After we finish eating, I ask her to tell me what the man said to her, and then brace myself for her answer.
“He said he knew you, Daddy, and he was sorry you died.” What? My muscles tense, every protective instinct flaring. “He told me I needed to tell my momma to stay away from the scientists. That they are all dangerous. And he said aBig, Mean Manis in Maverick Key.”
What the hell?
How am I going to protect them when I can’t remember what I got myself into as Nathan Carter? I think of the guy with the sunglasses and the man who scared Crystal. I’m the root cause of all this. I know it. I’ve got to get through my journals and find some answers fast.
“I’m scared, Daddy. The scientists and theBig, Mean Manwon’t hurt Momma, will they?”
“No. I won’t let that happen. I promise I’ll always keep you and Momma safe.” Thousands of possibilities race through my mind. “Did he say anything else?”
“He said his name was Walter.”
CHAPTER 19
The Widow
The lock turns with a click. Careful not to make a sound, I inch the door open. It’s ten thirty, so I know Natalie’s asleep, and Nathan might be too. I’d texted him back earlier to let him know not to wait up for me.
The town knows Nathan Carter’s alive, and it won’t be long before they know where he lives. At least no one followed him home tonight, but we both know those crazy reporters will show up eventually.
What a long day.
A soft glow spills from the living room. Nathan’s up. He’s on the floor flipping through his journals with a plate of Natalie’s chocolate chip cookies beside him—half eaten. Another favorite food they share. When he sees me, he gets up and crosses the room, reaching for me. His walk is relaxed and confident. There’s my Nathan.
“Missed you,” he says.
He brushes his lips against mine.
I gesture toward the books and papers scattered across the floor. “Find anything interesting?”
“A lot, actually.” He sits back down and pats the floor next to him. “Join me?”
Sliding out of my heels, I cross my legs and settle in beside him.
“When I’m reading through my text, it feels like I’m writing the words down for the first time.”
He moves through a stack of journals until he finds the one he’s looking for. Flipping through its pages, he shows me his college dissertation. The one that earned him a ProQuest award and put him on the academic map. A thesis about the descendants of Atlantis.
“Did you learn you’re a genius today?” I wiggle his chin.
He lets out a short laugh. “Hah, right?” He shifts and riffles through another stack of papers and notebooks, pulling out a newer leather-bound one.
