Page 30 of Island Protector

“Did I miss a grand opening?”

“No. It was a private invitation. Roxy Billings and Connie Copeland.”

“Miz Connie the baker?” Bryce asked. “Do you have leftovers?”

“The same. And yes, I do,” she said to Bryce.

“Can we go home?” He tugged on her hand.

Laughing, she turned him to face the water. “You just said you wanted to stay here forever.”

“If you have things to do, he can hang out with me,” Miles offered.

Bryce’s tune changed again. “Please, Aunt Sharon? Please?” He hopped up and down as he pleaded with her.

“Maybe another day. I think your momma would be happier if we stuck together today.”

Bryce settled down, nodding somberly, as if the weight of the world rested on his little shoulders. “Okay.”

“I bet your mom appreciates you sticking close.”

“Yeah.” He swiped the hair out of his face, turning into the wind and leaning a little. “We’re taking dinner home,” he said. “You could come too.”

“Oh. Well…”

“That’s a fantastic idea, honey.” Sharon beamed at him before he could make any excuses. “We’d love to have you.”

“If you’re sure it’s not an imposition.” He didn’t want to upset Molly or set back his plans with her by showing up uninvited everywhere.

“Absolutely not,” Sharon assured him. “It’s the least we can do after all the help you gave us yesterday.”

“I told you I didn’t expect anything in return,” he reminded her.

“And you didn’t possibly expect me to accept that,” she replied with a wink.

Hospitality was the name of the game in this part of the world. Something he appreciated more after living and traveling elsewhere. Although on occasion, hospitality could feel like a competitive sport.

Bryce tugged on his hand, started hauling him up toward the E-scow. “Did you work on the boat today? What did you fix? When will you take it out?”

“Time out,” Miles said, laughing. “Why don’t I show you?” He turned to Sharon. “Do you have a few minutes?”

“We do.” She beamed.

“You can tell us all about it,” Bryce said. “Then we can have dinner and you can tell Mom.”

“You sound pretty confident she’ll like that.”

“Mm-hm. As long as you chew before you talk. She likes you. Even if she doesn’t like boats.”

Bryce darted ahead to the work area, chattering even though the wind swept his words away. Then he came racing back, his eyes wide. This time he slammed right into Miles and held on to his leg for dear life.

“Hey, bud. What’s the matter?” He scooped him up and saw a tear trailing down his cheek before he buried his face in Miles’s shoulder.

Sharon rubbed the boy’s back. “Talk to us, honey? Did you fall?”

He lifted his head. “It’s the boat. It’s wrecked.”

With Bryce in his arms, Miles jogged up closer to his work space. It was a glorified carport over a concrete pad with locking cabinets on one end for his tools and security cameras at each corner. He’d been thrilled when the city permitted him to install it so he could more easily handle repair work and restorations like the E-scow.

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