Page 3

N AVY

“Would you look at that?” Ben said from his seat at the end of the bar.

He was one of our regulars - and by that, I meant a customer I saw for more hours a week than I did my own family - called out from his seat at the end of the bar.

I saw that he was watching the news, like he did at this time every day, and walked over to see what was happening.

“The Oceanside Police Department hasn’t released any more details on the victim, but a cursory examination of his background puts him in the same category as the other victims. The social media release detailing the injuries inflicted by the perpetrator has garnered over a thousand comments today alone, with most of them commending whoever tortured the victim while also asking the police department why someone with his record wasn’t already behind bars. ”

My sister was standing below the television, reading the captions along with the rest of us, and laughed before she asked, “Did you see the smirk on her face when she called those guys victims?”

“She could barely choke out the word,” Dad agreed. He lifted his mug toward Ben and said, “To whoever is out there doing the Lord’s work, may he be successful and invisible because he damn sure doesn’t deserve to be punished.”

“Hell yeah, brother!” Ben said loudly before he tapped his mug against Dad’s. “Those men aren’t gonna be able to wipe their own asses, let alone hurt anyone else.”

“Not sure what I’m gonna do if I ever run into a man who's missing both hands. I can guarantee you I’ll take a second look just to make sure he doesn’t need an ass whoopin’.”

“What are the odds, right?” Corrie asked.

“They should start a survivors club or something,” Ben suggested. He burst out laughing before he said, “Oh, wait . . . sex offenders aren’t supposed to hang out with each other, are they?”

“I’d hope not,” I muttered before I went back to the register so I could count the day’s sales and turn it over for Karlie, who would be in later to cover the bar this evening.

“Might be nice if they did,” Dad said cheerfully. “It would give somebody with violence in their heart a place for target practice.”

“Or someone could just drag them behind a truck,” Corrie suggested with an evil laugh before she bumped me with her hip. She asked, “Do you need me for anything else today? I’ve still got some packing to do, and we need to be at the airport by seven.”

“Nope. Go home. I’ve been looking forward to your time off for weeks now.”

“Oh, shut up. You know you’ll miss my smiling face around here.”

“Not a chance,” I said as I put the credit card slips and extra cash in a bag to take to the safe. “Seriously, though, check in now and then to let us know you’re okay.”

“Are you afraid James is going to throw me over the side of the boat?”

“It’s a ship, Corrie. Jesus.”

“Considering the family she grew up in and the people she surrounds herself with, you would think she’d know that by now,” Ben said with a guffaw.

“She does it to piss us off,” Dad said before he pointed at Corrie and asked, “Do you need anything before you go? You know not to carry too much cash, right?”

“We’re not going to explore the streets of Seattle, Dad. We’ll land and go straight to the boat.” Corrie grinned at me before she said, “We’ve got everything we need, and I’ll send you a text from each port.”

“Love you, brat,” I said before I wrapped my sister in a hug. “Y’all have fun.”

Corrie hugged and kissed our dad before she blew a kiss at Ben and left through the front door.

I caught a glimpse of the sunny day and hurried to finish up so I could leave as soon as my relief arrived.

I’d had a long day, which seemed even longer since I barely got any sleep last night, but that was by choice.

I knew that some time in the water would make today much better. Plus, it would give me some time by myself to take care of one little task I had left after yesterday’s adventures.

“Go on, son. I can see you champing at the bit,” Dad called out.

“I can wait for Karlie.”

“I can, too, considering I’ve been running this place since you were just a twinkle in your mama’s eye.”

“She always hated it when you said shit like that,” I reminded him with a laugh. Decision made, I walked toward the office and said, “I’m outta here, old man. Don’t drink too much, and if you do, make sure you call me for a ride.”

“Fucking bossy children are gonna be the death of me.” I heard Dad complain to Ben as I pushed through the swinging doors that led into the kitchen. Rafael was slicing jalapenos and looked up as I said, “Feed my dad soon, will you? He’s on his third beer.”

“I’ve got him covered,” Rafael assured me. “I’ll call if anything comes up.”

“I’ll be close by.”

“Are you going to visit your girlfriend?”

“The ocean isn’t my girlfriend; she’s my mistress. She makes me happy, doesn’t throw fits too often, and doesn’t give me any shit when I go a few days without paying attention to her.”

Rafael’s laughter followed me into the office as I made sure the bank bag was secure in the safe.

I waved at him over my shoulder as I left through the back door, then stopped just outside to put my head back and enjoy a glimpse of the sunshine that would be disappearing soon.

I had just enough time to go home and grab my board so I could get out on the water in time to watch the sunset.

I’d missed way too many over the years and made it a point to see as many as possible now.

Sun, surf, and the occasional beer - what else could a guy like me ask for?

◆◆◆

DALI

“Surprise!” Corrie squealed loudly before she rushed toward me for a hug.

At the last second, she stopped herself and gently patted me on the shoulder instead.

I burst out laughing - something I hadn’t been able to do for months due to the pain, but it didn’t hurt at all anymore.

I threw my arms around her as I yelled, “Honey, I’m home! ”

“Shut up!” Corrie yelled as she leaned back to look at my face. When I just smiled, she said, “You’re kidding me!”

“I’m free and ready to figure out what life’s got in store for someone who has absolutely no plans for the future.”

“Mom! I can’t find my straightener!”

Corrie let me go as she rolled her eyes. Over her shoulder, she called out, “It’s in the blue suitcase.”

“Suitcase?” I asked.

“We’re leaving in three hours.”

“Oh my God! I totally forgot about your trip!”

“No! I’m so glad you came by. It’s crazy right now, but then again, it almost always is. If you don’t mind the chaos, I’d love to talk while I do some last-minute packing.”

“We can wait . . .”

Corrie grabbed my hand and yanked me further into the house before she said, “Bullshit! I can’t wait to introduce you to James and Audie, and I know Antonia is going to be thrilled to see you again.”

“Okay, but I’ll get out of your hair after that.”

“Are you staying with your parents, or do you have your own place?”

“My parents moved up north to be closer to my brother, so I’m planning to stay in a hotel for a few days while I explore my options.”

“Absolutely not! We’re going to be gone for two weeks, so you’ll stay here.”

“Oh, no, Corrie. I can . . .”

“As if I’d have let you stay in a hotel anyway when we’ve got a spare bedroom.”

“But I . . .”

“Haven’t you known her long enough to know that once she gets an idea in her head, there’s no sense in arguing?”

“James! Dalisay is here!”

“I see that,” Corrie’s handsome husband said as he walked into the living room with their daughter on his hip.

He handed her over to Corrie and said, “She was steadily unpacking everything I put into the suitcase, so I gave up.” He stuck his hand out toward me and said, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Dalisay. ”

“Call me Dali,” I insisted as I shook his hand. I’d seen the man on my video chats with Corrie but hadn’t had a chance to meet him in person yet.

My friend had found her Prince Charming, enjoyed a whirlwind romance, and gotten knocked up on her honeymoon with the first of what I assumed would be many kids, judging by the stars in her eyes.

As sad as I was that I’d missed this pregnancy, I was almost relieved.

Corrie had been a complete pain in the ass when she was pregnant with Antonia after I stepped into the role that Corrie’s deadbeat boyfriend was all too happy to abandon.

I dealt with her morning sickness, odd food cravings, and mood swings and went to a million and one appointments before I watched my goddaughter come into the world. I didn’t regret a single minute, considering that I knew that was probably as close as I’d get to motherhood myself.

Since then, I’d watched Antonia grow up from afar with occasional visits when Corrie could plan a vacation to wherever I happened to be stationed, just like my parents did when they wanted to see me.

I heard my goddaughter gasp from behind me. I spun around and grinned at her before I burst into tears at the sight of her sweet face that was now accented by makeup that she hadn’t been allowed to wear the last time we’d seen each other. “Oh my god! Oh my god! Aunt Dali!”

It was a wonderful reunion with my favorite child on the planet. Once we’d hugged each other so tightly that we could barely breathe, I turned to meet the newest addition to the family - little Audie Ingstrom, the baby that stole my heart the second I laid eyes on her.

I took Audie out of Corrie’s arms and smiled at the chubby toddler before I looked up and said, “She’ll be fine here with me while you’re gone.”

Corrie laughed as James frantically shook his head in alarm. “Don't tempt me, Dali - although James would never go for it. He can’t be away from her for more than a few hours before he starts getting antsy.”

“There will be plenty of time for you to get to know her after we get home,” James assured me, relieved that Corrie had shot down my idea.

“And you can stay in the spare bedroom until James finds a place for you to live.”

I chuckled as I shook my head and said, “I’m not sure James sells anything in my price range.”

James winked at me before he said, “We’ll figure it out.” He checked his watch and then looked over at Antonia and Corrie before he said, “I suggest we use Dali’s presence to our advantage and finish packing while Audie is entertained.”

“Go for it! I’ve got her.”

“James, honey, can you bring in Dali’s bags before we leave?” Corrie asked. She smiled at me before she said, “She’s going to house-sit while we’re gone.”

“That’s perfect! I’ll carry them up after I take ours downstairs.”

“Are you sure this is okay? I hate to impose.”

“You’d be doing us a favor. Besides, there’s no sense in spending money on a hotel or an Airbnb when we’ve got plenty of room.”

I looked down at the baby and asked, “How did I get lucky enough to have such great friends?”

Antonia laughed as she corrected me, “We’re not friends, Aunt Dali. We’re family.”

I smiled at my goddaughter before I agreed, “Yes, we are.”