Page 14 of Saul

We walked back out to the pool and luckily spotted Calvin trying to blow up a little boat to sit on in the large pool. Ricky hadhold of a tube and foot pump, but Calvin was trying to do it with lung power alone. I chuckled and headed over to them. “Calvin,” Chris took the tube. “We need to talk to you and Ricky.” Not giving them a moment to protest, Chris led them back inside, got some juice, and sat them at a corner table. Ricky’s chin wobbled. “Something’s wrong.”

“Is it the license?” Calvin asked.

Chris shook his head. “No, you know Daniel is a notary and he will perform the ceremony.”

I butted in and explained quickly because I could see Ricky was getting worked up. “There’s no reason to imagine they would come this far north. The Coast Guard is stepping up patrols.”

“And Daniel offered to relocate us all,” Chris added, taking hold of Ricky and pulling him onto his lap. I glanced at Calvin, who didn’t look particularly upset or panicky.

“At a Sunset,” Calvin worked out. “One of Daniel’s hotels.”

Then Ricky burst into tears. “But it won’t be the same. Everything will beruined.”

Chris hushed him, rocking him close. “No, baby.”

“Now then, young man, I’m sure it can’t be as bad as all that.”

We both turned to see the old lady from the TV room leaning on a stick. “Ma’am,” I said and rose politely. She took that as an invitation to take my seat and peered at the four of us.

“Now tell me what’s wrong.” She patted Ricky’s knee with gnarled fingers. “You may call me Nana May. All the Little ones do.”

Ricky was so astonished he stopped crying, and I must admit to being surprised myself, both at her immediate assumption and her immediate acceptance. “Binkie,” Ricky turned to Chris, and Chris looked torn. I knew he didn’t want to put Ricky in a bad situation because we didn’t know this woman. “Daddy?” Ricky begged, and Chris sighed, taking one out of his pocket. Itwasn’t a child’s one. He dipped it in the juice and then handed it over. Ricky immediately opened his mouth because Chris obviously gave it to him himself, and Chris obliged.

“No,” the woman scolded immediately and both Chris and I stiffened, ready for whatever offensive remark she was likely to spew. “You should have dipped that in cooled boiled water. Dipping it in sugary juice will rot his teeth.”

Even Calvin gaped that time.

She opened a huge purse and got out a bottle of water, passing it to Calvin. “Do you need your binkie?”

Calvin shook his head, and I took his hand and squeezed onto the seat next to him. I didn’t know how Calvin would feel about me dragging him onto my lap, like Chris had done to Ricky. I knew he liked it in private, but I wasn’t sure about here.

She looked over at Chris. “What’s the problem?”

Chris smiled evenly. “Just some last-minute snags.”

She nodded. “Well, of course. But Joshua is marvelous at last minute snags.” I so hoped that was true, but just agreed politely. Then she looked up. “Joshua, come and help solve this.”

I saw the now harried-looking man from the TV room earlier, and assumed this was Daniel’s husband. He’d clearly been looking for her.

“May-belle,” Joshua started. “I was looking for you.”

She sighed. “Please don’t tell me that useless daughter of mine has sent another doctor to write me off.” May-belle tutted and patted Calvin’s hand this time.

Joshua sounded indignant. “Of course not. You know Matt wouldn’t let her on the island.”

And in the middle of everything, Calvin giggled. “Is Matt like a guard dog?”

May-belle sent Calvin a fond glance. “Every year she tries another way to get my money, but Seth always manages to proveI still have all my marbles,” I had no idea who Seth was. Joshua looked at Ricky, who was still sniffing.

“Daniel has established that we have room for your entire party at Sunset Royale in Orlando, and—”

“No,” Ricky nearly shouted after yanking his binkie out. “I wanna stay here.”

“So do I,” Calvin whispered, and Ricky reached over to fist bump him.

“Daddy will look after you, Nana May,” he declared, then put his binkie back in. Joshua rubbed his forehead like it was aching.

“That’s very kind of you, sweetie,” she beamed, then looked at Joshua. “Now, why do I need looking after?”

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