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What a loaded question. There was always the possibility. Stranger things had happened. But she didn’t want to give her friend false hope, especially since that storm had rumbled on until four in the morning, twisting and turning the ocean with waves uncharacteristic for this time of year.
Trinity looped her arm around one of the few true friends she’d managed to make—and maintain—from her years at university. She held Mallary’s gaze. “I know it’s crazy to hope for a miracle, but I reached out to an old charter buddy of my dad’s, and he said he heard of people being found days after their boat went under. So, no, it’s not crazy. If I had a brother, I’d be doing the same thing. Plus, Jared was a good captain. He would’ve done all the right things.”
“You watched his boat capsize.” Mallary sighed.
“We don’t know it was his vessel,” Trinity said. “There are two other missing boats from nearby coastal towns. It could’ve been one of them.”
“But you told me you witnessed a boat go down. One that looked similar in size. You also said there was a possible pirate ship in the area.” Mallary hiccupped. “You heard gunshots. The Coast Guard said all the same things, and my brother never came home. Why? Why my brother?” Mallary shot her hand up. “That was a rhetorical question. I’m not expecting an answer.”
“Do you have any idea what he was doing or why his friends didn’t go with him?”
“All I know is my dad said Jared asked if he could use one of the charter boats to go fishing with his friends. My dad reminded him that a storm was brewing off the coast and to be mindful of the weather. He never worried about Jared on the water.” Mallary shook her head. “He trained us both to handle ourselves out there. The lessons were sometimes tough, but Jared really knew what he was doing. He loved the ocean so much—more than I ever did. I could take it or leave it. Growing up, we used to call JaredBaby Aquaman.If there was rough weather coming, Jared would’ve come in. He didn’t take chances. He knew how devastating the sea could be.”
“I can tell you it was bad out there, and Jared’s little fishing boat could’ve easily capsized.”
“You’re not helping.” Mallary glared, blowing out a puff of air. “Bethany babied that poor kid. She wanted him to be an overachieving pencil-pushing nerd. Sometimes, I swear she wanted him to take over that flower shop, as if that were a place for Jared.”
“Maybe not, but flowers could have gotten him laid,” Trinity said, desperately needing to lighten the mood. She pushed down her aversion to the concept of receiving such a thoughtful gift, reminding herself that, somewhere, there was a man who presented a woman with flowers for no other reason than that he cared.
Mallary dropped her head back and burst out laughing. “At least I can be happy he got to experience sex before he died.”
“No. Seriously?” Trinity jerked her head. “Little Jared? With whom?”
“This marina babe. A girl by the name of Valerie. A real looker, too.” Mallary heaved in a breath and let it with a big swoosh. “I miss him so much already. When I was his age and my friends would all complain about their pain-in-the-ass little siblings, I didn’t understand. He was just a baby back then, and I couldn’t get enough of him.”
“I remember when we met in college. I first thought you were a teenage mom.”
“I thought of myself that way with him,” Mallary whispered. “What am I going to do? My dad is dealing with so much because Bethany has completely lost her shit. The worst part is she’s blaming me—and my dad—for what happened as if we told him to go out there alone. Now, everyone believes he might’ve had something to do with the jewels stolen from Ralph’s parents.”
“I heard that.” Trinity nodded. “Dawson, you met him, the new chief of police of Calusa Cove. I overheard him telling his buddies that they believe either pirates heard Jared must’ve had the jewels from theFlying Victoriaor that he was meeting pirates out there to sell them.”
“That’s utter crap. My little brother would never do something like that.” Mallary’s face hardened. She stared at Trinity with daggers shooting from her unwavering gaze. “I bet it was Ralph who stole that jewelry. That kid is a no-good little twit. But it still doesn’t explain why Jared went out there alone, and my ugly stepmother will never forgive either me or my dad.”
“Oh my God. That’s so unfair. Neither of you were even out there.”
“Doesn’t matter. My dad handed him the keys, and once again, I took my dad’s side. She’s always feeling ganged up on by us. It’s my fault he deferred college for a year, and now she’s going to blame his death on me for as long as she has breath in her lungs.”
Trinity understood a little something about blame. Totally different situations, and she wouldn’t compare—not out loud anyway. But her mother blamed her very existence for her misery. If Trinity hadn’t been born, her father might never have moved back to Calusa Cove to show her something other than the station to which she was born. And her mother would have never blamed her for all the pain she suffered.
“Right now, all you can do is allow yourself to grieve,” Trinity said softly. “You have to do that. You have to let the emotions in—and out. Don’t fight it. Plus, your dad is going to need you. His heart is breaking just like yours. So is Bethany’s, even if she doesn’t empathize with anyone other than herself. Remember, I’ll be here every step of the way. Whatever you need.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Of course I do.”
“My dad wants to have a memorial service. I think it’s too soon, but I won’t argue with him. He asked me to help him plan the memorial. You know how much I hate things like that.”
Oh boy, did Trinity know that. When they’d been in college, a friend—not a close one, but someone who had lived in their dorm—had died in a horrible accident. They had all been drinking that night at a party, butAmber had been a hot mess and remained behind when the rest headed back to their dorm. They’d all drawn straws to decide who would pick her up, and Mallary had gotten the short one. But when she’d gone to collect Amber, she’d disappeared. They’d all searched for her for over an hour. No one could find her. The next day, the police found her body. She’d stumbled into someone’s backyard and fallen into their pool. They’d all been utterly heartbroken.
“My dad also wants me to speak at this…thing. He believes Jared would’ve wanted me to, but I haven’t a clue as to what to say.”
Trinity squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out together.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Ditto.” Trinity’s phone vibrated. Quickly, she pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the text. She’d ignored Fenton since their fight yesterday, other than to let him know she’d made it in safely. She’d neglected to tell him anything about her adventure at sea. He’d learn about it soon enough.
Although it appeared from his worried text, he might have already been told.