Page 11 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

“Oh shit!” Tom yelled.

I turned and headed for him, but by then Hannah and Toby had caught up to us and he snatched her up, putting her body between me and him much as I had done at the shore.

Time lost all understanding as we splashed, dunked, and played. It made me feel like I was just a kid again.

At last Hannah announced she was cold and hungry, so we swam back to the shore laughing all the way.

My heart was light. I hadn’t realized just how much I needed a carefree afternoon with my siblings.

Back in the car I shook my hair, sending rivulets of water all over.

“Lachie! Stop it,” Hannah squealed.

I winked at her.

“This was fun. Can we do it again before you leave?” Jack asked hopefully.

“You are staying more than a night or two, right?” Toby asked.

I cringed. I hated disappointing them, but I really didn’t know how long it would be before I was called away.

“That’s a no. I told ya,” Tom said.

“It’s not like that,” I protested.

“Are you staying tonight?” Hannah asked, big blue eyes filled with hope, staring up at me.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then we’ll take this one day at a time.”

The boys all reluctantly nodded.

“I thought you were here on three weeks’ vacation,” Jack finally said.

“That was the plan. But something’s come up with work.”

“You have to go back to America early?”

“Not exactly. My team will be arriving here in Sydney tomorrow morning.”

Toby’s eyes widened. “You have a mission here? In Australia?”

“Yeah. But that’s top secret.”

They all nodded.

“Do we get to meet them?” Tom asked.

I shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe, yeah.”

“Cool,” Hannah said.

They peppered me with questions about everyone on the drive home and we were still in high spirits when we walked into the house.

Mom was standing in the kitchen, and her eyes glazed over with unshed tears.

“Mom? Are you okay?”

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