“And here I thought you’d figure that out the moment I proclaimed myself Annaliese’s chaperone.”
Norma Jean’s mouth went a little slack. “You’re really going to let me go after that treasure?”
“No, I’m going to let you come with us to an island Miss Ottilie Merriweather might be marooned on. However, if there happens to be a pirate treasure buried there, and perhaps one Ottilie hasn’t completely unburied, I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to the two of us indulging in some shoveling.”
“That would be amusing, although...” Something that looked like calculation flickered through Norma Jean’s eyes as she turned to Annaliese. “Shoveling, while at first fun, might get rather tedious and, in fact, begin to seem like a form of punishment.”
“If that’s your way of suggesting that hunting for buried treasure with your mother should be considered your punishment for skunking up the school, think again,” Annaliese returned.
“It’s completely unnerving how you realized I was thinking that,” Norma Jean muttered.
“As a former student who occasionally had a certain disregard for the rules—something you pointed out—you really shouldn’t be unnerved that I’m capable of figuring out your thought process.”
“How unfortunate.”
“I think it’s delightful,” Louisa exclaimed. “But since you broached the matter of punishment for your misdeeds, perhaps now is the perfect time for me to say something that has been on my mind ever since you left Chicago.” She stepped directly next to Norma Jean. “I’ve realized that I’ve been delinquent with overseeing your upbringing, but that’s about to change.”
“You’ve done a wonderful job with my upbringing,” Norma Jean argued.
“Nice try, but I’ve been negligent, which has allowed you to run wild,” Louisa countered. “I’m about to remedy that.”
“Remedy ... how?”
Louisa smiled. “No longer will you be wandering aroundwilly-nilly, doing as you please. Instead, you’ll be spending a great deal of time with me as I’m not intending on coming down with any additional cases of scurvy, or the plague, for that matter.”
One of Norma Jean’s eyebrows inched up a notch. “What about lockjaw? I recently read in a magazine I found in our library that there’s been an increase of lockjaw cases, and I’m relatively certain it’s the same magazine you got your idea for scurvy from.”
“Lockjaw cases are normally found in factory workers who’ve cut themselves on the job. Since I’m not intending on taking on a factory role anytime soon, I don’t believe we need to worry about that, or any other illnesses, since, as I’ve said, I plan to be more present in your life.”
For the briefest of moments, Norma Jean considered her mother, until her eyes welled and she blinked, which resulted in a single tear rolling down her cheek. “Do you promise to be more present?”
“With all my heart,” Louisa whispered before she drew Norma Jean close and hugged her quite as if she never wanted to let her daughter go, a sight that left Annaliese with the distinct feeling that even though she’d thought the skunking of the castle was a disaster of epic proportions, it was now beginning to seem as if it might have been a blessing in disguise.
Twenty-Three
Seth took a moment to enjoy the feel of the ocean breeze on his face, as well as the sound of water lapping against the side of the ship they’d hired in Pensacola, the one Norma Jean had found through an article in a newspaper. He knew full well that the serenity he was currently experiencing could very well change once they reached the island Charlie had drawn a crude map of if Ottilie Merriweather wasn’t the lady marooned on that island, and he wanted to savor it while he had the chance.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Norma Jean said as she moseyed her way across the deck. “Mother wanted me to come have a chat with you, during which I’m supposed to mention that she might very well come down with another case of scurvy if you don’t start taking her advice.” Norma Jean’s lips curved. “I’ve also been instructed to tell you that since we’re currently out to sea, her chance of experiencing scurvy increases to thirty-two percent if she’s facing undue stress.”
Seth’s lips began to curve as well. “Since you and I made a point to stock this ship with fruit, Mother’s chance of contracting scurvy is under one percent, and I’ve never read anything that suggests stress contributes to an onset of that particular illness.”
“I’ve never read anything either about stress and scurvy, but I think she’s just using that as a way to get you to pay more attention to Annaliese.”
“I’ve been spending scads of time with Annaliese.”
“And yet the two of you don’t seem to have finalized a proper courtship between you, something Mother told me she talked with you about just this morning.”
“Mother seems to be under the misimpression that I’m an idiot when it comes to ladies and matters of romance.” Seth patted a spot on the deck beside him. “I’m not nearly as obtuse as everyone thinks I am.”
Norma Jean plopped down beside him. “I told Mother that, as well as told her that you’re different these days.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “You’re not as lost in thought as you used to be, and you talk more.”
“An interesting observation.”
“Of course it is, just as it’s an interesting observation that the reason behind this new attitude of yours is because of Annaliese.”
