CHAPTER 9

River lay on the floor of the catwalk, the cool air from the ship’s vent blowing on her face. Emma and Jackson were running around the cargo bay playing some manner of game, their mirth washing over her like waves of ocean. The crew went about their work, their thoughts lying about as carelessly as dirty laundry. The Captain was at the helm, not letting her back to work yet. She didn’t mind so much. She wasn’t ready to go back. She wanted to spend a few more days listening.

River heard the soft click of Zoë’s boots coming up the stairs, and closed her eyes, focusing on the sound. Zoë stopped just behind her and leaned on the rail, placing her foot on River’s rump as if she were a part of the scenery. River giggled, more in her heart than out loud. ‘Zoë sees me’, she thought.

“You take your meds today?”

“Yep.”

“Good girl.” Zoë paused, watching the children in the cargo bay as they leap-frogged over each other. The first mate considered River again and River smiled at the continued attention.

“Was Cappy the first fella you ever liked?”

“No,” River answered plainly. “When I was thirteen, I kissed a boy in the gazebo. Mom and Dad didn’t know, but Simon found out and beat him up later.”

“That doesn’t sound like Simon.”

“He was trying to protect me,” River explained.

“Maybe it does a bit.”

River mulled over Cappy, considering the difference between being intrigued by him in an intellectual versus a romantic way.

“Cappy – he was dark. He was a mystery. Kept secrets from me.”

“Didn’t think it was possible – keeping secrets from a reader.”

“Don’t know how. But I liked the mystery.”

Zoë smiled in agreement. “There ain’t nothin’ like a man who keeps you on your toes.”

Zoë tensed as Jackson fell, scraping his elbow and unseating his silly hat. The boy brushed off the injury with a laugh and continued. Zoë turned her attention back to River.

“Don’t worry, honey. Other men will come along. Maybe even ones tryin’ to steal your heart.”

“Won’t be the same.”

“Doesn’t have to be,”