Page 118 of Echoes

“When we get home, do you maybe want to, I don’t know, take some time off?”

“Time off?”

“Neither of us has another boat lined up yet. You were going to work on the book, and I was going to work at the museum. What if we took a few weeks off and just…”

“Just what, babe?”

“There’s a boat for sale. I saw the sign and looked into it online. It’s perfect for us. Sailboat that we can run together. I was thinking we could buy it, if it’s still available when we get home, or maybe one like it, and sail for a while.”

“You want to buy a sailboat?”

“Why not? We both know how to sail. And we love the water, but we’re always working when we’re on it. Besides, we both have our scuba certifications. Maybe we can dive together and take a real vacation.”

Rosie smiled against her wife’s skin and said, “Yes, to all of that.”

“Really?”

“Does this sailboat have a bed that’s meant for two adults to sleep in?” she asked.

Felicity laughed and said, “Yes. I already checked that part out. First thing I verified.”

“Good, because I miss sleeping next to you whenever we’re out here together. I like the bunks enough, and we can squeeze sometimes, but if we’re on vacation, we’re sharing the same bed every night.”

“I agree.” Felicity nodded.

Rosie looked out at the deep water in front of them, knowing there was no land beyond it in sight, and smelled the salt water that mixed with the gas and rubber from the ship and equipment. Then, she leaned in closer to breathe in Felicity’s scent.

“You and me. Sailing together.”

“Yes.”

“But not for a few weeks.”

“No?”

“Let’s take a few months, or maybe a year off, and sail wherever we want.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” she said.

Felicity turned in her arms and revealed, “That’s what I wanted, but I didn’t think you’d want to take all that time off.”

“I’ll be with you, and we’ll be on the water. My favorite person and my favorite place. I’m sure we’d be able to find some shipwrecks to dive around, and maybe we’d even find a mystery to solve, but if not, I’d be just as content lying next to you on the deck, looking out at the water, or making love in the bed that two people fit in.”

“Yes, to all of that,” Felicity replied with a wide smile before she wrapped her arms around Rosie’s neck. “Call me the thing.” She rubbed her nose against Rosie’s. “Come on. Do it.”

Rosie smiled back at her and said, “My love.” Then, she kissed Felicity slowly, cupping her cheek, and listened to the water as it crashed against the side of the ship. “I love you,” she added in a whisper after pulling back.

“I love you, too,” Felicity replied.

Eliza & Lydia

They watched their three children as they played in the backyard. Their oldest was running around, holding a bubble wand and creating a bubble, pulling it through the air to make it bigger. Their kids were old enough now that bubbles didn’t exactly excite them how they had when they were little, but every so often, they’d find a toy or a blast from the past in the garage or the basement, and they’d start playing with it. Today had been one of those days, and Eliza and Lydia loved when they got like this. Lydia had started it by making the soapy mixture since they’d only found the old bubble wand and not the bubbles themselves. Then, she’d blown a few bubbles into the windless afternoon. The kids had kicked it off after that, and now, their mothers were sitting on the back deck, watching them entertain themselves, laugh, and occasionally, get upset when someone didn’t share. Some things would never change…

Eliza took her wife’s hand and moved it into her lap, entwining their fingers. She looked over at Lydia, who was smiling at their kids, and thought about how years ago now, they’d been in the woods, trying to close a chapter in their lives and protect this very important thing they’d built.

They hadn’t been sure where to hide their piece of the device, but after the ordeal with the strange man, they hadn’t been eager to invite more danger into their lives, so it had been a simple plan, really. They’d gone to the cemetery, where her mother was buried next to her father, and, at night, they’d buried some of the broken pieces there between them. She supposed that if anyone knew about her family’s connection to the device, they might surmise that some things could be buried there, but having the device already in three main pieces gave them the confidence that no one would be able to put anything back together.

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