“Daddy, everything’s gonna be okay,” Everly said, taking a seat beside Ronan.
Ronan knew he was being ridiculous. These shark tours ran several times per day and it would have been all over the Boston news if a tour boat and its passengers had been devoured by hungry sharks. Plus there were several other ships around them which could come to their aid if there was a problem. Of course one or possibly two members of their party would probably have been eaten by then. Maybe Fitz and Jude. Ronan would, of course, take the reins as the new captain of the cold case unit, vowing to run the team in the footsteps of his dearly departed friend, Kevin Fitzgibbon, who sacrificed himself, so the rest of their families could live.
“Daddy!” Everly gasped. “Uncle Fitz is not gonna get eaten out here today. “Sheesh! No one’s gonna get eaten.”
Ronan snickered. “Are you sure? I mean I’d probably make more money as the captain of the unit.”
“We don’t need more money, Daddy.”
“Oh, really, little miss? Care to remind me how much your new Cape Cod wardrobe cost?”
Everly giggled. “Okay, fine, maybe I went alittlebit overboard with the hats and shoes, butyouwere the one who told me to get all four dresses when I couldn’t narrow my choices down to two.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you need a bigger clothes budget without sacrificing Uncle Jude and Fitz to get it, right?”
Everly rolled her eyes. “You’re really freaked out about the sharks, huh?”
“Aren’t you?” Ronan asked. His heart was beating so hard that he thought it might come clear out of his chest.
“Nope, I’m not scared one bit.” Everly looked as brave as she sounded.
“That’s because your gift is telling you that you’ll be the lone survivor of this shark buffet.” Ronan crossed his arms over his chest.
“No, Daddy, not because of my gift. When we watched the shark videos, I listened to what they were saying, that people aren’t shark food. They said don’t swim at sunrise or sunset and never with seals. Since we’re not doing any of those things, common sense says we’ll be fine. Unless, you start being a dumbass and Uncle Jude dumps you over the side. In that case, you’re on your own.”
“Seriously, you won’t try to save me? Me? Your favorite father?”
“Who says you’re my favorite father?” Everly asked with a giggle.
“Well, you’re my favorite daughter, so I figured you’d return the favor.”
“I’m youronlydaughter.” Everly rested her head on Ronan’s shoulder. “Did Dad tell you what happened on the beach this morning?”
“Yeah, he told me Maria’s story and how she still thinks it’s 1717.” Ronan had felt horrible for the young woman when Ten told the story of how she lost her child, her freedom, then her one true love. “Do you have any idea how to bring them back together?”
“Not yet. We don’t know where Sam’s spirit is. He could be crossed over, living it up in pirate heaven.”
“Pirate heaven?” Ronan asked.
“Yeah, you know, with gorgeous ships and endless treasure, mermaids, and more rum than they could ever drink in a lifetime.”
“That doesn’t sound half bad,” Ronan laughed. “Does pirate heaven have ribeye steaks and lobster?”
“Probably.” Everly shrugged. “If we can’t find Sam I might not be able to reunite them. You should have seen Maria, Daddy. Wandering the beach, all alone, looking for Sam. It broke my heart. The only good thing is the time loop. Three hundred years have passed for all of us, but Maria still feels like theWhydahis due in port any day now.”
“That sounds like a blessing. I can’t imagine how interminable three hundred years would feel.”
“Me either ,” Everly agreed. “Maria said something that puzzled me.”
“What was that?” Ronan asked. He was really enjoying this moment with Everly. He might not be able to help her with ghosts, but he knew how to help people.
“Maria said that she was glad I was here at long last and that I could help her.”
Ronan nodded. “Dad mentioned that to me. Why does that puzzle you?”
“It’s been three hundred years. I can’t have been the only psychic medium on Marconi Beach in all those years, right?”
“The odds of you being the only one are slim to none. There must have been other people with your gifts on that beach. Maybe Maria knows you’re the one who can help her and Sam. Maybe she was somehow able to see you in her future or something?” Ronan was grasping at straws. He didn’t know how else to explain Maria’s words.
