Eric lay flat on Fiona’s foredeck, lost in the twinkling benevolence of the star that he had long ago designated as Heather’s. Tonight it shone with a special radiance, like a diamond affixed to the fabric of the sky.
He had carried Phoebe home from the vacuum cleaner shop where she’d sought refuge, her sleepy head nodding against his shoulder. Now Molly was below, putting her to bed.
He sighed and adjusted his position; the deck was hard beneath his back. He hadn’t bothered with the cushions, thinking that he wouldn’t stay up here long. But he would do nothing to interrupt Phoebe’s time with Molly, since it seemed so important to her. And to Molly, too, of course. She had shed tears of joy when they’d found Phoebe, and she’d held his daughter’s hand tightly on the short walk back to the boat.
Phoebe had apparently crawled into Ralph Whister’s shop through a pet door at the service entrance in the back. It had been left unsecured for some reason, even though the dog that once used it no longer accompanied his master to work. Since the vacuum cleaner competition in Jacksonville was coming up over the weekend, Phoebe had intended to talk her friend into taking her along. She’d headed for her favorite vacuum cleaner, the Robo-Kleen in the window, and sat watching it at work until she felt sleepy. Then she’d climbed in the neighboring window and curled up beside the Orvasweep to go to sleep. Phoebe had never been in any danger, Eric was convinced of that.
He heard a quiet footstep on deck and turned his head to see Molly walking carefully toward him, holding on to the railing. She eased down beside him and clasped her hands around her knees.
“Phoebe’s asleep,” she said. “She’s exhausted.”
Molly’s hair, teased by the wind, fell over one shoulder, a tumbling cascade of color. He reached for her hand, prepared for her to pull it away, but she didn’t.
“You were wonderful with her,” he said. “You comforted her when she started to get upset that you might leave before she woke up tomorrow, and you settled her down with a glass of milk before she had a chance to bring up our argument.”
“I didn’t do much. I feel so guilty that she ran away because of the things I said.”
“That we said,” Eric corrected her. “We never intended her to hear us.”
Molly didn’t speak, only stared resolutely toward Bottlenose Island.
“Molly?”
“You’ve got Phoebe back. I’m going to bed.”
“Wait,” he said, turning on his side so that he could see her expression. She looked beautiful and determined and sad.
She skewered him with a glance. Her eyebrows lifted slightly as if she were asking a question, and he recalled a time when that expression had seemed imperious, demanding.
“I’m numb, Eric. I don’t have the emotional reserves to handle any more tonight.”
He was all too aware of the many ups and downs of the past week. Her grief over Emmett, her dashed hopes about their relationship and Phoebe’s disappearance had all contributed to emotional overload. “Please stay here awhile,” he said. He reached up and slid his hand under her hair, brought her lips in line with his. He kissed her, an exploratory kiss, and when she didn’t pull away, he deepened it.
She was the one to end the kiss, but not immediately. The scent of her skin filled his nostrils, a heady perfume. Her hair was soft against his cheek.
“We shouldn’t be doing this, Eric,” she said, her voice a mere whisper.
“Who says?” he whispered back. He kissed her again, more intensely this time.
“Maybe it’s not only Phoebe I want back. Maybe I want you, too,” he told her when they broke away.
“You can’t get back something that wasn’t yours to begin with,” she said with unexpected spirit.
“Oh, but you were always mine. I knew it in my heart from the moment I saw you.”
“Eric, don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I never do,” he said. “In fact, I’m going to say something momentous in a few seconds.” He sat up and took her into his arms. He was surprised to find that she was trembling.
“Dearest Molly, I love you. I never want us to be apart. I’ve been wrong about us, just as I’ve been wrong about a few other things in my life. Luckily for me, I’ve had an epiphany of sorts, and it was brought about by my daughter’s disappearance. I panicked when I thought I might lose her, and it made me realize how important both of you are to me. I couldn’t live without Phoebe, and I can’t live without you, either.” He paused to catch his breath, noticed Heather’s star.
“See that star up there? Heather’s star? I’ve been lying here on deck, trying to figure out what to do, and while I was staring at it, it seemed to twinkle a bit brighter. Some people might believe that’s because of conditions in the earth’s atmosphere or because the moon isn’t as bright as on some nights, but I believe it’s Heather telling me that I’ve found the right woman for me.”
“I don’t think—”
He gently placed a finger to her lips. “Stop, Molly. Just say yes. Will you marry me? Be my wife forever and ever? Be Phoebe’s new mommy?”
She studied him as if he’d lost his mind. When she finally found her voice, she stammered, “D-didn’t we have a big discussion about this very topic? Where you told me that you couldn’t offer me anything? Where you ran yourself down and I got angry because I can’t stand for you to undervalue yourself when you’re one of the finest, most intelligent, loving men I’ve ever known?”
He managed a sheepish grin. “Well, I guess we did have quite an argument, but I’ve reconsidered. Without you, the freedom to wander becomes a prison. I still don’t have many material possessions to offer you, Molly, but I can give you the most important thing of all. Love, Molly. I love you more than you’ll ever know, and it will last a lifetime.”
He had a few moments’concern when she looked up at the heavens, at the water rolling by, at the flag billowing on the cabin cruiser across the way.
“Eric,” she said with great deliberation, “I do love you. I told you that earlier tonight, and you broke my heart when you said you wanted to end it between us. There were so many things I wanted to say to you, but you never gave me a chance. I accept you as you are, Eric—as a kind, loving man who chose an unconventional way of dealing with the problem that fate dished out to him. I don’t fault you for that. If you and Phoebe hadn’t been on Fiona, I wouldn’t have met you, and my life is so much richer and more meaningful with the two of you in it. I love you and I love Phoebe, and in answer to your marriage proposal, my answer is…yes.Yes, yes, yes!” She shouted the last word so loudly that everyone in the marina could have heard.
Eric began to laugh, starting with a long chuckle. He leaped to his feet and pulled Molly along with him. “I’ll find some way to earn a decent living, Molly, I won’t disappoint you,” he said. Their joy burst into an impromptu waltz along the length of the foredeck. They danced to music only they could hear, sidestepping cleats and piles of rope and the open hatches that provided ventilation below.
One of the hatches creaked open even more, and a small head popped out. “Dad?” said Phoebe in a voice fuzzy with sleep. “Are you and Molly fighting again?”
Holding Molly’s hand, Eric knelt beside his daughter. “Absolutely not, Peanut. This is what people in love sound like when they’re making up. I’ve just asked her to marry me.”
Phoebe’s eyes grew wide. She blinked at Molly. “Did you say yes?” All the awe and concern she must have felt were contained in those short words.
“I certainly did,” Molly told her.
“Wow. Oh, wow,” Phoebe said. She looked from one to the other, a wide smile spreading across her face. “I can’t believe it.”
“Come up here with us, Phoebe. We’re going to have a family celebration.” Eric reached down and eased her up through the open hatch, then settled back on the deck with her in his lap.
“What do you do for a celebration like this one?” Phoebe asked, wide-awake now.
“I’m not exactly sure,” Eric said, smoothing her nightgown. He winked over the top of her head at Molly. “Before we find out, I have a story I want to tell.”
Phoebe perked up at that. “A story? What kind?”
“It’s something like the Greek myths and the Egyptian ones. In fact, you might call the story a Norvald myth, except that it’s true,” he said, improvising as he went along.
“Tell it, Dad.”
“Well, once upon a time, there was a true goddess, and her name was Molly Kate McBryde. She had long and beautiful hair in a color that looked as if gold and copper had been melted together.”
Phoebe wriggled delightedly. “Eric,” Molly began, laughter in her voice, but he silenced her with a wink.
“The beautiful goddess Molly Kate lived in a cold, hard land called Chicago. Sometimes she was lonely and gazed up at the stars from her window, thinking about how much fun it would be to ride away on the flying horse Pegasus to play her harp. Unfortunately, she had other duties, and this was never possible. One day, she escaped from Chicago due to the kindness of a sage old man named Emmett. She got on a big silver bird and traveled to a faraway place where she boarded a magic boat. There she met an angel named Phoebe and a man called Mr. Grumpy.”
Phoebe darted a surprised look up at him. “You know about that name?” she asked with trepidation.
“Yes, but it’s okay,” he said. When Phoebe relaxed, he went on spinning his tale, enjoying the telling of it. “Mr. Grumpy was lonely, but he loved the angel Phoebe, who was his daughter. Together they went on many travels. Sometimes Mr. Grumpy felt as though he carried the whole world on his shoulders, and—”
“That wasn’t Mr. Grumpy’s job,” Phoebe interjected. “Nut, the enormous naked blue giant woman, was supposed to do that, like in the Egyptian myth.”
“Sometimes Mr. Grumpy forgot that the world wasn’t his responsibility. Lots of times, the world became too heavy for Mr. Grumpy, so he was tired and crabby and hurt the angel Phoebe’s feelings. When Goddess Molly Kate appeared on the boat, Mr. Grumpy wasn’t too happy about it. Worse yet, Molly Kate didn’t like him at first. Then she played her harp, creating music so beautiful that it enchanted Mr. Grumpy. After that, he was much more agreeable and pleasant. The angel Phoebe was so grateful for the change in her father that she became Molly Kate’s good friend.”
“Let me tell it,” said Phoebe, sitting up straight.
“Okay,” Eric said.
Phoebe’s eyes sparkled as she continued the story. “The angel Phoebe loved Molly Kate very much and hoped that she would become her new mommy. Phoebe tried to cast a spell on Mr. Grumpy and Molly Kate, but sometimes it didn’t seem like it was working. The angel Phoebe sent messages, many messages, to the gods and goddesses of the ocean, asking them to help her. She made sand wishes, hoping that something, anything would help Goddess Molly and her father fall in love. Then, just when the angel Phoebe thought that the two of them really loved each other, Mr. Grumpy and Molly Kate had a big fight—it sounded like maybe they were throwing thunderbolts at each other across the deck of the magic boat. So the angel Phoebe ran away. She wanted to find another kingdom where everyone was happy.”
“Now it’s my turn,” Molly said.
Phoebe clapped her hands and regarded Molly raptly.
“When Mr. Grumpy and Molly Kate realized that the angel Phoebe had flown away, they were very frightened. They didn’t want anything to happen to the dear, sweet angel that they both loved so much. So they searched everywhere, knowing that they would never stop looking until they found her. When they did, they were so happy, and after they took Phoebe back to the magic boat, they realized that the three of them should never be apart again.”
“Never,” said Phoebe.
“Never,” echoed Eric. All was silent for a moment as Fiona rocked between the water and the sky, the stars twinkling above and below.
“And that, my girl,” Eric said after a time, “is our story.”
Pheobe regarded him solemnly. “We’ll never be apart again? Honest?”
“Honest,” chorused Molly and Eric.
“I think this calls for a celebratory dish of Chunky Monkey,” Eric suggested.
“I’ll go get it,” Molly said. “You two wait here.”
She hurried below, and Phoebe treated Eric to an expansive grin. “Our story didn’t say anything about getting our dog back. Or buying a house.”
“Cookie will be here as soon as I can arrange it. I was thinking that we might want to find a place right here in Greensea Springs.”
“What about Molly’s job?” Phoebe asked, as Molly reappeared carrying a tray with three dishes of ice cream.
“I’m going to find work I like better. I’m pretty sure it’s going to have something to do with music and puppet shows,” Molly said. “My boss will manage very well with the marvelous Mrs. Brinkle to take over my job. She’s fully capable, and Frank will feel relieved that he won’t have to promote her to the Legal Department.”
As Molly handed around the dishes of ice cream, Phoebe frowned. “Okay, so you don’t have to go back to your old job. But music and puppet shows all at the same time?”
“I’ll make music at the Blossom Cabaret, and maybe there’s still a seat available on the board of directors of the new Emmett McBryde Puppet Theater.”
Eric listened to them chatter excitedly about the future, and he smiled to himself. Finally he, too, had something to anticipate, that would make his life happier. The three of them had many details to discuss, but he had no doubt that it would all work out. His eyes sought Molly’s, and as they exchanged smiles over Phoebe’s head, he thought he must be the luckiest guy in the world.
He reached for Molly’s hand, the one that wasn’t holding the ice-cream spoon, and squeezed it. She squeezed back.
She loved him. He had come close to losing her, and that made what they had—and what they would have in the future—all the more precious. Sitting out here on deck, making plans, telling stories and discussing dreams, the three of them were a family, and had been, in fact, since he and Molly had learned to work as a team. The thought warmed him, and out of curiosity, he glanced up at Heather’s star again, occupying its own special place in the universe. As did he. As did all of them.
The star still shone brightly, but it imparted no special message. Then again, he hadn’t expected that. He already knew that he had made the right choice.
“MAIL CALL!” Micki said. “Eric, you have an overnight letter.”
Molly opened her eyes, sat up and stretched. Eric pulled aside the curtain at the porthole in Molly’s stateroom to reveal Micki’s stocky figure firmly planted on the dock beside Fiona.
“You stay in bed,” Eric said after dropping a swift kiss on her forehead. “Anyway, if we hope to preserve the fiction that we’re not sleeping together, Phoebe shouldn’t find me here.”
“We’re getting married soon,” she said, though she still couldn’t believe her good fortune. “Maybe it’s okay to sleep together if we’re engaged?”
“I’ll leave figuring that out to you. For now, I’m outta here.” He yanked on his shorts and went into the salon.
She heard him climbing the ladder and, afterward, exchanging short pleasantries with Micki.
She jumped into the shower and was out again in a matter of minutes. After throwing on a pair of shorts and a shirt, she checked on Phoebe, who was sprawled across her bunk and snoring slightly, then hurried up to the cockpit. Eric was seated on one of the long benches and staring at a letter in his hand.
“You won’t believe this,” he said. His voice was hoarse, his tone unbelieving.
She sat beside him, leaned forward to read the letterhead.
“‘Graham, Segars, St. Bernard and Pyne’? Those are Grandpa’s attorneys.”
“I know,” he said. “Read it.” He passed the letter to her, and she leaned back to study it.
“This is about my grandfather’s will?” she asked, darting a glance in Eric’s direction. He still looked stunned.
“Keep reading,” he said.
“‘Dear Mr. Norvald,
“‘This is to inform you that according to the stipulation of the last will and testament of our client, Emmett C. McBryde, you are entitled to $1,000,000, payable in a—”
She stopped reading, unable to comprehend for a moment. She knew that Emmett had left the bulk of his fortune to her and her brother and sister, and she had been informed long ago that he would make bequests to friends and others that he considered worthy, but she had never suspected that Eric was one of those.
“Eric?” she said, her voice no more than a croak. She cleared her throat. “Were you aware of this?”
He shook his head. “Of course not. It’s a complete surprise. Keep reading.”
“‘…the sum of $1,000,000, payable in a lump sum. Enclosed is a letter that Mr. McBryde asked to be forwarded to you in the event of his death.’”
There was more, mostly legal jargon, and Molly skipped it.
“Here’s the letter,” Eric said, passing her the envelope. “I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Go ahead,” Molly said. “If you want to read it in private, that’s okay.”
“You’re part of everything I do from now on, Molly. We’ll read this together.”
He opened the envelope, removed the paper within and draped an arm around Molly’s shoulders:
Dear Eric,
I’m glad we became friends, and if you are reading this, you know I am gone. I had a wonderful life, a caring family and good times, some of which were with you as we sat on the deck of Fiona and talked. I admire you, Eric, for following your own path and for being such a terrific father. Phoebe is a lucky little girl to have you for a dad.
When I first decided to leave you a million dollars in my will, I wanted to put restrictions on it. In other words, you would inherit it only if you and my granddaughter, Molly Kate McBryde, pursued a relationship ending in marriage. From talking with you, I had an idea that the two of you would be well suited. Then I decided that to do such a thing would be unfair. Molly Kate has a mind of her own. Furthermore, you deserve to inherit this money because my bequeathing of it isn’t based on whether she likes you or you like her. I am giving it to you so that you can pursue your dreams. If they happen to include my granddaughter, that’s even better.
Wherever the voyage takes you, whoever your companion on the journey, Godspeed.
With all best wishes,
Emmett.
“Oh, Eric,” Molly said, resting her head on his shoulder. “I had no idea he was doing this.”
“Nor did I,” Eric said. “I still don’t believe it.”
Molly dried her eyes. “Does this windfall make you feel any better? Does it put us on a more equal footing?”
“It provides an opportunity, Molly. Instead of a job, I can have my own business. What would you say if I bought this marina? As Micki said, it’s for sale. Greensea Springs is growing, and as more people discover that this is a great place to live, the marina will expand. I’ll be working around boats, and the marina will provide a steady and ever-expanding income.” He looked excited, happy, energized.
“I like it!” Molly said.
Phoebe emerged from the companionway and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “What are you two talking about? What do you like, Molly?”
Molly drew her close and hugged her. “Your father and I were talking about living in Greensea Springs.”
Eric picked up his baseball cap and twirled it on one finger before jamming it down on his head. “You’d better get dressed, Peanut. We’re going shopping for a house as soon as we’ve finished eating breakfast.”
“Can it have a red door and an azalea bush? And—”
Eric laughed. “Whoa, kiddo! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Hurry and get dressed, we’ve got a lot of things to do.”
“A red door and an azalea bush sound great to me,” Molly interjected.
“Our new house should have lots of bedrooms, so I can have brothers and sisters. And we need a doghouse.” Phoebe clambered down the ladder, and they could hear her clattering around below.
Eric took Molly into his arms. “Is that okay with you, Goddess Molly? Lots of brothers and sisters for Phoebe?”
“First a girl, then a boy. What do you think?”
“Names?”
“Phoebe likes the name Thoth for a boy,” she warned him.
He made a face. “And how about you?”
“Nicholas for a son, Emma Kate for a daughter.”
“Hey, I think it’s a plan,” he said, and then he tried to kiss her. The bill of his cap got in the way, and she laughingly turned it around so that the back of the hat was in the front.
He did kiss her then, and it was a kiss full of hope and happiness and the promise of even better things to come. A promise of life lived to the fullest with the one person in the world who could make it all beautiful. And fun. And worthwhile.
“Dad? I’m ready. Can we go shopping for our house right now?” Phoebe climbed up the ladder and presented herself on deck.
“We sure can,” Eric assured his daughter, and Molly’s heart expanded with joy when she saw the delight that sprang into the little girl’s eyes.
“My mommy wish worked,” Phoebe said. “It really worked!”
“I guess it did,” Eric said, gazing at Molly as though he never wanted to stop.
Molly was so happy that she couldn’t speak. All she could do was look from Eric’s dear face to Phoebe’s. This pristine moment would become part of their collective history, as much as Emmett’s bequest to Eric, or the story of Nut the giant blue goddess, or finding Phoebe curled up sleeping beside a vacuum cleaner. This was their family circle. They were meant to be together, through thick and thin, through sick and sin.
“I love you both so much,” she said unsteadily. Then they were all hugging, and laughing, and crying, and she knew that now that they had found one another, they would never let go.