He stayed very still, waiting for her to order her thoughts.
She stared out the window at darkness. “She said that that one day, she’d come back for me and we’d go see the pyramids.” Her eyes watered, but she didn’t cry. “She died of a drug overdose in California when I was six. I didn’t know until I found the newspaper clipping when I was going through Sissy’s things a couple of years ago—after she got so sick.”
Images of a little girl with blond curls waiting by the window for a mother who would never come flashed in his head and it felt like his chest had caved in on itself. “Why didn’t your grandparents tell you?”
Her slight smile was wistful, as if she were far away. “Sissy was always a big believer in hope. Without hope, you had nothing. She didn’t want to take it from me.”
He ran his hand up and down her arm. “She should have told you the truth.”
She took his hand in hers. “No. Then I would’ve had nothing to look forward to. For as long as I can remember, my Grandpa was sick, and Sissy never left the place, which put a rain cloud over my head as a kid. Then, right as I got old enough to spread my wings a little, she got sick, too, which made me the sole caregiver. Honestly, there were times when that letter was all that kept me going—the dream of traveling to Egypt like my mother had with my grandparents when she was a girl. It made me who I am. It’s why I got so into ancient cultures. It’s why I got into an Ivy League school. It might have actually saved me, Will. Sometimes it’s the difficult stuff that makes us better.”
“Maybe you’re right.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm.
She looked out the window and nothing was moving. Will’s hot breath across her wrist made her squirm and he chuckled. “We’ve stopped,” she said.
“I hadn’t noticed,” he replied, releasing her hand, then pushing the intercom button to speak with the driver. “Please inform T.J. we’re here and will be coming aboard.”
“Yes, sir,” Jacob’s voice answered.
Aboard. Oh, great. A boat. The only boats she’d ever been on were ferries, and she’d refused to get near the edge.
“Ready for your surprise?” he asked, as Jacob opened the door.
“No.”
He laughed, but was the perfect gentleman, of course, as they exited the limo and walked to a long wooden pier at a quaint harbor that looked like something right out of a movie.
The water gently lapped the pilings as they made their way past sailboats and motorboats of all sizes. As they neared the end of the walkway, it dawned on her that the sleek, enormous vessel at the end was their destination.
When they got up close, she realized there were several people wearing uniforms on board. This was not at all what she’d expected. Surprise. “Take me out to dinner, huh?”
“Mr. Anderson! Welcome aboard,” a man called from the deck above them.
Will gestured for her to lead the way up the ramp leading to a door in the side of the boat, or ship, or whatever it was. “Careful,” he whispered. “This has very high Claire-ism potential.”
No kidding. The whole prospect of a moving object in the water was fraught with peril. She climbed the ramp and entered a chic, modern cabin. Before she had a chance to really take a look around, the guy from the deck entered the cabin behind them.
“Will. So good to see you.” The man, who was much smaller than Will, extended his hand.
Will shook it vigorously. “T.J. Hooper, this is Claire Maddox. Claire, T.J. is the captain of the Linda IV. He has captained every one of the Lindas, in fact.”
T.J. took her hand and shook it briefly. “Been with the Andersons since I was a teenager. Known Willy since he was in diapers.” His attention went back to Will. “I was told you had an eleven o’clock return this evening. No sunrise then?”
“Sadly, no.”
“I’m glad to see you out again, even if it’s for a quickie.” He winked. “Well, as you can see, we’re all ready for you.” He gestured to a small, elegant table set for two, complete with silver candlesticks in the middle of the cabin. “I guess I’ll go up and get us under way.” He nodded to Claire. “Nice to meet you, Miss Maddox.”
He extended his hand again. When Will took it, the older man pulled him into an embrace. “I’m happy to see you again. And the entire crew of the Linda IV is glad, too. Especially Nancy. She can’t wait to see you.”
“Thanks,” Will said. “It’s good to be back on board. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to show off for my guest.” He winked, then added, “Show off the ship, I mean.”