After more than a year of sensational news stories, outsiders, and murder, Maverick Key may be about to get even more attention.
It’s been a long afternoon. As much as I wanted to be wrong, the lab results came back as I predicted. My boss and I have another meeting lined up later tonight to brief county leaders. Now there will be days of navigating red tape. And sadly, the people who’ll be most affected will be the last to know and won’t have much time to react.
While I’m supposed to keep my mouth shut for the moment, there’s one person I can’t keep this from.
When I reach the Maverick Key Dive Club, I pull in beside a silver Land Rover I’ve never seen before. The windows are tinted, but I can make out what appears to be someone sitting inside.
I read the license plate: Washington, D.C.TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
We always get a throng of out-of-state visitors in December. I’m sure it’s one of them eager to get their kids swim lessons before beach day.
As I step inside onto the pool deck, I smell the chlorine.
Four little children are in the pool, paddling their way from one side to the other. Maddie and Sandy watch attentively, ready to move in at a moment’s notice, but keeping enough of a distance to encourage the little swimmers.
I wait near the door as they finish up and their proud parents help them dry off.
After the last family leaves, Maddie calls me over.
“There she is! Miss Assistant Director of Environmental & Coastal Resources... come join us, fancy pants. Cool off.”
Maddie leans back on her arms at the pool’s edge. Her belly is bigger than the rest of her now. She’s overdue, but it hasn’t slowed her down one bit. My recent promotion is exciting. It’s what I’ve been working for—for how long? All my life? Now, three days in, I’m already challenged with a crisis.
Maddie and her husband Scott have worked so hard on their dive club and the Carter’s Drop cave exploration. I don’t want to give them this news.
“Sorry, can’t do it today. I need to head back to City Hall and get ready for another late night.” Walking by the desk, I see Maddie’s brand-new pink scuba tanks. A birthday gift from Scott. There’s a smiling green elephant painted on each one.
“They’re right there, but I can’t use them,” she grumbles.
She can’t dive until after the baby comes.
“I’ve done everything I can think of to induce labor—pineapples, long walks, lots of sex—it’s no use. But I guess the good news is, I can float around without breaking a sweat.”
Sandy laughs and gets out of the pool. “Gotta go, girls, Clint’s taking me to dinner.” She pulls her strawberry-blonde curls back in a tie and waves goodbye.
“See you Saturday,” Maddie says.
Sandy is Maddie’s assistant. She helps with the club’s swim lessons and with Maddie’s veterinarian house calls. She met Maddie after her boyfriend, Clint, started working for Scott as a boat captain. Clint and Sandy are young, sweet, and deeply in love. I remember what that felt like.
Don’t think about that right now, Crystal.
Turning back to Maddie, I point to the tanks. “Don’t worry. Christopher will be here before you know it. Then you won’t have any time to eat, sleep, or take showers, let alone dive.”
Frowning, she sticks out her tongue. “That’s not very nice.”
Christopher is named after Maddie and Nathan’s father.
Nathan.
The thought of him knocks me off-center.
Instead of pushing the memory away, I let myself imagine him for a moment. That day at Lummus Park. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed him, but it was the first time he’d seenme. He was walking along the shoreline. His chiseled chin in profile against the horizon, golden-brown hair aglow with the highlights of the fading sun. My dreamer. And the most brilliant man I’ve ever known.
Dr. Nathan Carter. Natalie’s father.
My husband.
Clutching the platinum wedding bands and engagement ring that lie against my neck, I sigh. It’s been over six years since he’s been gone, and I still love him just as much.
