“Is he okay?” Fitz asked, a few seconds after everyone left the kitchen.
“So far as I know. When we were at the pirate museum, Everly had a vision of Sam Bellamy at the wheel of theWhydah. I was with her when it happened and I didn’t tell him. I think it freaked him out, not just the vision, but the fact Everly didn’t say a word either.”
“Any idea why?” Fitz asked.
Ronan shook his head. “I know she doesn’t want to alarm Ten, but she’s never been in danger in her visions.”
“Maybe she’s waiting to see what happens next?” Fitz suggested.
“What do you mean?”
“If she knows there’s more coming, like a second installment of this vision, she might keep it to herself until she knows what the vision is leading her toward. No sense in getting anyone upset or running the vacation off the rails until she absolutely has to.”
Ronan thought about what Fitz had said. Everly was the most empathetic and thoughtful person he’d ever known in his life. It would make sense she didn’t want to interrupt anyone’s good time. Not to mention the fact that Fitz said he wanted to have an un-haunted vacation. “What you’re saying makes a lot of sense. I don’t know as much about her gifts as Ten does, but the vision could have come from the objects in the museum. Maybe she picked up their auras, so to speak. The other option is that Sam Bellamy is trying to communicate with her.” Ronan paused, not wanting to take his theory to the next step. “Why? Why woulda three-hundred year old pirate ghost want to speak with my eight-year-old daughter?”
“That’s obvious,” Fitz said. “Love.”
“Love?” Ronan barked back. “Why the hell would-” He stopped, suddenly understanding what Fitz was driving toward. “Bellamy’s lost love. The girl. What’s her name?”
“Maria Hallett,” Fitz said with a grin. “Bellamy went to sea to make his fortune so he could get her father’s approval for their marriage. He died on his way back to her.”
“Bellamy wants to be reunited with his lost love,” Ronan said. It sounded so simple. “Do you really think Bellamy’s spirit has been hanging around waiting to reunite with Maria since 1717?”
“I would if I were Bellamy and Jace was Marry Hallett. Wouldn’t you wait for Ten?”
Ronan nodded. He absolutely would wait for Tennyson. He’d wait for his husband until the universe ended if he had to.
“I’ve heard Cope and Ten say that spirits know when people can see or understand them. Maybe Bellamy’s been waiting for someone with Everly’s skill to reunite him with Maria.”
“It makes sense. What can I do to help?” Ronan asked.
“I hate to say this, but all we can do is wait for Bellamy to reach out and show Everly the next installment of his vision.” Fitzgibbon shrugged. He patted Ronan on the back and headed into the living room.
Ronan hated feeling helpless in any situation, but none more so than when Everly was involved. His daughter hadn’t seemed anxious or scared. Hell, she cared more about cute whales than a centuries old pirate ghost needing her help.
Everly might be footloose and fancy free, but until Bellamy made another appearance, Ronan would be on guard, keeping his daughter safe. Well, as safe as one could be when the danger was invisible.
8
Tennyson
Tennyson woke up the next morning feeling like a new man. He’d been so deeply asleep that he hadn’t heard Ronan come to bed and hadn’t been awakened by his snores. He’d taken a long, leisurely shower with no interruptions before leaving his room. Breakfast was in full swing when Ten came downstairs. Jude was making waffles and Ten could smell bacon. The kids were gathered around the table eating.
“Good morning,” Ten said, pressing a kiss to the top of Everly’s head.
“Hi, Dad! Are you ready for a walk on the beach?” Everly looked ready to go.
Glancing out the window, Ten saw the beach and ocean were obscured by thick fog. “What’s the deal with the fog?”
“It’s supposed to burn off soon. Apparently fog is normal on this part of the Cape.” Jude shrugged. “I don’t think the kids should go in the water, but it shouldn’t be a problem to walk on the beach.
“It won’t be a problem, Uncle Jude,” Everly said in a knowing tone.
“Give me a minute to have coffee and a waffle, then we can go.” He grabbed a plate and Jude forked a waffle onto it along with two strips of crispy bacon.
Fifteen minutes later, Ten and Everly walked out of the house onto the back deck, which allegedly overlooked the ocean. Ten hadn’t seen very much of the water since they’d arrivedyesterday afternoon. He hoped the entire trip wasn’t going to be spent in a fog bank.
“Don’t worry, Dad. The fog will clear up soon. I promise.”
