Page 56 of Hidden Depths
It had one tiny bedroom.
No air conditioning.
A leaky roof.
Rose smiled.
"We thought it was a palace."
Frank reached over and took her hand.
"It was."
Ward watched them.
Nobody noticed except me.
He wasn't looking at them because they were entertaining.
He was wondering...
What fifty years of loving the right person looked like.
Later that night...
Most of the yacht had gone quiet.
Storm was alone on the bridge.
Again.
She stood beside Grandpa's empty chair.
One hand resting lightly on its worn wooden back.
She looked out over the moonlit Pacific.
"So..."
she whispered softly,
"What am I missing?"
She wasn't expecting an answer.
She never did.
Talking to Grandpa simply helped her think.
Behind her...
The bridge door opened.
She didn't turn.
"You walk quieter than everyone else."
Ben smiled.
