“That’s a pot calling the kettle black.” Eva began to hum, and Leia looked down at her sister. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
“Don’t yell at Bane. He’ll go away, and I won’t get to go dive anymore.” Eva stuck her fingers in her mouth again.
Leia pulled Eva’s hand down with a gentle touch and shook her head. Eva winced and rubbed her wet fingers against her shorts. Leia patted her arm, and Eva’s face cleared. “Bane isn’t going anywhere, are you, Bane?”
He shook his head. “Not when I get to take the prettiest girl in town diving.” He smiled at Eva, then his gaze shot to Leia.
The trip to the Romero house only took ten minutes, but Bane’s larger-than-life presence in her small car was like being caged with a tiger shark. He was every bit as sleek and dangerous to her peace of mind as the big fish. She parked in front of the Romero house behind Dirk’s green army jeep.
The plantation-style home sat in a grove of palm trees. Though modest, the pale pink-and-white color scheme reminded Leia of a frothy glass of pink guava juice. They stepped past the mass of welcoming flowers at the road. Candace’s green thumb showed in the banks of ginger and hibiscus that bloomed along the walk.
Leia’s steps dragged as she walked to the front door. There would be no boisterous Tony flinging open the door to greet them. Her throat thickened, but she went to the door and pressed the doorbell with a steady finger. She could hear a murmur of voices beyond the door, then heavy footsteps approached and the door swung open.
Dirk’s shoulders filled the doorway. He didn’t wear his usual smile. “Come on in. Candace is in the living room. The doctor wanted to give her a sedative, but she wouldn’t take it. See if you can get her to listen, Leia.”
“I’ll try.” She stepped past Dirk with Eva and Bane on her heels. They kicked off their slippers at the door, as was the Hawaiian custom, and went down the hall. She knew the way. This home had been filled with light, laughter, and good friends. The somber tone now made the place unfamiliar. The cool tile floor felt good against her bare feet. Without the usual aroma of cappuccino candles that Candace normally burned, the air smelled stale and lifeless. Candace lay curled on the sofa with her eyes closed. Someone had drawn curtains over the wall of windows, blocking out the view of the garden.
“Oh, good, she’s asleep,” Dirk said. “She’s been crying so much, her eyes are practically swollen shut.” His voice was a whisper, but it sounded loud in the room.
“I’m not asleep.” Candace sat up. “I was just resting my eyes for a minute.” She rubbed her swollen face. “I still can’t believe it, you know?” Her face crumpled again, and she hugged herself.
Leia sat beside her on the sofa and slipped her arm around her. “I’m so sorry, Candace. Tony was a great guy.”
“Yes, he was. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know anything at all about running a dive shop, but it’s the only income we have.”
“Doesn’t Tony have some insurance?” Bane asked.
Candace shook her head. “Only enough to bury him. I told him we needed it now that we were going to—” She looked down at her hands.
“Going to what?” Leia had a sick feeling she might know what Candace was about to say. She glanced at the young widow’s flat stomach.
“We’re going to have a baby,” Candace whispered. “I just told Tony yesterday. He was so happy.” She buried her face against Leia’s neck. “We were going to wait a few weeks to tell anyone.”
Candace’s hot tears trickled down Leia’s skin. At a loss for words, Leia just hugged the woman. No comforting words could change what had happened. The way Candace trembled made Leia feel weak. She drew away. “I can help out with the administrative part of the business a few hours a week. I can work around my clinic hours. You won’t have to pay me.”
Candace raised her head. “Oh, Leia, would you really? Just until I get the hang of things? I never paid any attention when Tony tried to show me the books. I don’t know what to do.” She gazed up at Bane. “What about the search for the galleon? Are you and Ron going to go ahead with it?”
Bane shifted from one foot to the other. “I haven’t talked to Ron yet, so I can’t speak for him. But I plan to stay. If we can find it, the money from the discovery will set you up for a long while. It’s the least I can do for Tony.” Bane’s voice was husky.
Candace was wilting against Leia by the minute. “Lie down and try to sleep,” Leia told the grieving widow.
Candace nodded. “Maybe that would be best. I’m so tired.” She stood.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Leia promised. “If you need anything, just call.” No one said anything as Candace went down the hall.
“I wish she had family here,” Dirk said.
“What about her parents?” Bane asked.
Leia shook her head. “They’re dead. They died in a house fire about three years ago along with her twin sister.”
“Any other siblings?”