“Thanks, Fitz, that’s really sweet.”
“You bet.” Fitz grinned. “Hurry up and settle in. We need you down here to make a salad to go with the steaks for dinner.”
“Aye-aye, Captain Fitzgibbon.” Ten snapped off a salute and headed for the stairs. Climbing toward the second floor, Ten felt the remaining tension drain from his body. They’d made it to the Cape with no real hassles, aside from the traffic, and he could hear the happy kids laughing and running upstairs.
When he reached the top of the stairs, Ronan guided him to the right. “This is us.” Ronan threw open the door like a model onThe Price is Right. “What do you think?”
The room was done in shades of navy blue. A king-sized bed sat in the middle of the back wall with matching nightstands. A small sitting area near the picture window was the perfect spot for watching the sun rise. Ten noticed the bathroom had a large walk-in shower done in blue subway tile, which matched the color of the double sinks. “It’s gorgeous and peaceful. I feel like I’m out to sea without a care in the world.”
Ronan sighed.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to add more than one care to my world?”
“Because you’re a brilliant psychic?” Ronan guessed. “Actually, I don’t think it’s anything major, but I wanted to ask you if Everly spoke to you about Sam Bellamy?”
“The pirate?” Ten asked. Why the hell would Everly have had contact with him? He flashed back to twenty minutes ago when Everly told him they needed to get down to the beach. Was Sam Bellamy here? What did he want with Everly? “Please tell me he’s not in this house with us, Ronan. I know Fitz said he wouldn’t mind pirate ghosts, but I would.”
Ronan took Ten’s hands and led him to the sunrise chairs near the windows. “She hasn’t mentioned Bellamy being here, but she had a vision about him at the pirate museum.”
“A vision?” Everly hadn’t mentioned anything of the kind to him. “And you’re just telling me about this now?”
“Hold on, Ten.” Ronan held his hands up, as if to say, I’m innocent. “She had a vision of herself onWhydah. She saw Bellamy and some of the other crewmen, but they couldn’t see her. There was no sign of foul weather, so it wasn’t the night of the sinking.”
Ten took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He’d nearly bitten Ronan’s head off over something as simple as a little fly-by vision. “I’m sorry for getting so upset.”
“Don’t be. I was just as upset then as you are now.” Ronan paused, looking as if he were choosing his next words carefully. “I think part of the reason that maybe she didn’t tell you and was reluctant to tell me is because we respond like this. We’re angry or scared and then there’s yelling or accusations. I don’t blame her for keeping things to herself sometimes.”
That was complete and utter bullsh-Ten paused. Or was it? “Everly is eight years old and she’s been seeing and interacting with spirits since she was a baby. Her gifts have strengthened and expanded over time, so finding out she can do new things shouldn’t be a surprise to us anymore. You’re right, we need to find a better way to come at this.”
“I know it’s still a long way off, but she’ll be a tween in two years. She needs to know she can come to us with any problem and we’ll listen and not judge. Right now, I don’t think she can say that’s the case.” Ronan sank his head into his hands.
“You’re right. Again.” Ten chuckled.
“You said I was right twice in the last couple of minutes.” Ronan’s face lit up. “If this wasn’t such a serious discussion, I’d be dancing around the room right now. But since I’m a humble man, I’ll simply agree with you.”
“If you’re humble then I’m Bigfoot!” Ten snorted.
“Ohhhh, kinky!” Ronan’s eyes widened. “I wish you’d mentioned Bigfoot sooner and we could have borrowed the fur coat Cope inherited from his mother. Long Dong SilverlovesBigfoot!” Ronan made a heart with his hands.
“Now I’ve heard everything!” Ten laughed. He let out a roar that was a combination of Chewbacca and the T-rex fromJurassic Park.
“Ewwww!” Everly screeched from the other side of the door. “Uncle Fitz wants your dumbasses downstairs to help with dinner. I’ve gotta go wash my ears out with bleach. I’llneverunhear that.”
“How much of that conversation do you think she overheard from the hallway?” Ronan asked with a grimace.
“Enough to scar her for life.” Ten pulled Ronan out of his seat. “I love you, Long Dong. Let’s go help with dinner before Fitz and Jace stage a mutiny and we have to walk the plank.”
“Aye, Cap’n.” Ronan grabbed Ten’s hand and dragged him out of the bedroom.
Ten would find a time later to ask Everly to tell him about the vision of Sam Bellamy. While he was at it, he’d also ask her why she’d wanted to go to the beach when they’d arrived. He had a feeling it had nothing to do with going swimming or collecting sea shells.
Ronan had been absolutely right when he said they needed to chill out when Everly told them little stuff or she wouldn’t come to them later when big things cropped up. Ten vowed that would stop now. Unless, of course, Black Sam Bellamy came for a visit, then all bets were off.
7
Ronan
“Fitz, those were the best steaks I think I’ve ever eaten in my entire life,” Ronan said, setting down his knife and fork beside his empty plate.
