In this silent, serene wilderness the weary can gain a heart-bath in perfect peace.
—John Muir, conversationist
Scout had showered, trying to wash away the day, but it kind of stuck to her. Some things just didn’t rinse off so easily. She’d changed into her most comfortable sweatpants and T-shirt, dried her hair, and twirled it into a messy top bun. She should have felt lighter, freer. Instead, she felt like she was carrying something heavy and unwanted.
Eleven years. That’s how long it had been since she’d last seen her father. Since she’d last heard a single word from him.
And then today—out of nowhere—there he was.
She had so many questions for him but didn’t want to hear a single answer. As crazy-making as her mother could be—and she really could be—Scout could always rely on her, always count on her. But her dad? Well, as Mother said, he’d divorced them both.
Still, the weight of seeing him again settled deep, making it impossible to fully shake.
Then came the knock.
She hesitated. Just for a second. But she got up from the couch and opened the door to Naki.
“Long day,” he said.
Scout let out a shaky breath. “The longest.” And it was only five o’clock. But the day had started at four in the morning, when Chase came to get her to head to Cadillac Mountain. That seemed like days ago.
“May I come in?”
“Sir, I really have nothing to say.”
As soon as he heard the wordsir, his face clouded over. Honestly, it was the most emotion she’d ever seen out of Naki.
“I want to explain, Scout. And apologize.”
Oh, well, that was a horse of a different color. She stepped away from the door to let him in. His tall frame took up more space than seemed possible in her tiny cottage. “Can I get you somethin’ to drink? Sweet tea?” She was, after all, her mother’s daughter.
“No, thank you.”
She pointed to the wobbly rocker for Naki, and she sat on the sagging sofa.
“Seeing your father was probably a shock.”
Probably a shock? Probablya shock?No. A shock was getting a jury duty summons in the mail. A shock was a near-miss of a car accident. This was more like getting surprised by an earthquake. Sudden, without warning, cataclysmic.
“I met your father years ago,” Naki said finally, his voice calm, steady. “He was giving a talk on maritime archaeology at Harvard. There weren’t many in attendance, so I was able to ask a lot of questions. Afterward, he asked for my contact information, and we kept in touch. I started to do research projects for him while he was out in the field.”
Out in the field for her dad, Scout knew, meant at an underwaterwreck site. Anywhere in the entire world. Anywhere but home.
“He wanted me to work for him, but I couldn’t commit to anything full-time, not while I was in law school. But I thoroughly enjoyed the work. Mostly, learning from him. He’s, well, one of a kind. Top in his field.”
Yep. Scout was well aware.
“Eventually, we collaborated together on some journal articles. And now he’s finishing up edits on a book that I helped with. That’s why he’s been in my office.”
“A book,” Scout said, her voice flat. “He’s writing a book. Here. In Maine.” Less than thirty miles away from where she’d been living these last few months.
Naki nodded.
“And he’s been helping you with this gold hunt.”
“Well, not the clues. The shipwreck. He’s been researching it while I’ve been in the park with you.”
She cast a sideways glance at him. “And you’ve known I was his daughter from the start.”
