Page 12 of Forever Mine

"Anytime."

I caught Maddie watching us, but couldn't tell what she was thinking. Oscar's small hand never left mine.

As we got back down to the pier, he stopped. Staring out across the water, he sighed. His whole body sagged, looking so much like his mother.

"Hey buddy, what's wrong?" Clearly the kid was upset by something.

Maddie came up behind us, rubbing his shoulders. "Oscar was excited to see Alcatraz. He researched everything about it, wrote a paper on it for school even. He found what tour would actually let us on the island, but they are booked solid all week."

"Oh," I said, wanting to make it all better. I took out my phone and started to dial a number. "What day and time were you hoping for?"

"Any!" Oscar told me with a pout and Maddie cast a concerned look my way. I knew I'd do whatever it took to get them on that island. Fortunately, I knew it wouldn't take much.

"All four of you?"

They all nodded, but Jacob added, "Well, Annie and I only have today and tomorrow for sight-seeing. I'm in town for a convention, but Oscar and Jane have all week."

I nodded and dialed Steph's number.

"Hey Lee, what do you want?"

I laughed. "Why do you think I want something, gorgeous?"

"Gorgeous? Oh, you want it bad. What is it?"

I tried to fake some innocence. "Can't I just call and check on an old friend?"

"Never. If you wanted to just check in, you'd have called Mark. If you need a favor, you always call me."

I laughed, knowing she was right. "Okay, you got me. I need a tour group of five to the island."

"Private?"

"Of course."

"When?"

"Tomorrow. Anytime."

"Tomorrow? You ass, you're in the city and didn't call?"

"Maybe . . ." I gave her a sec. "So . . .we good?"

"It's a good thing you're so cute. One o'clock okay?"

I pulled the phone away. "One, tomorrow?" I asked as four shocked heads nodded my way. "Yup, one's great." I confirmed.

"You owe me," Steph said.

"My life," I responded. We always ended calls that way.

Hanging up the phone, I turned back to them, all staring awkwardly at me. I decided to address Oscar directly. "One o'clock tomorrow off Pier 37. I'll introduced you to my friend Steph, who will take you all out to the island."

He looked skeptical. "Is it legal?"

I laughed. "Yes."

"You're sure? ?Cause it's illegal to go without a special permit and there's only one charter that has it, otherwise we'd just take any boat over."

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