Page 39 of Ship Wrecked

Just as she was set to leave as quickly as possible, the silver-framed photo on his nightstand caught her attention. Unable to stop herself, she paused and studied the only real decoration he’d added to his suite.

The picture’s colors had faded slightly, and no wonder. It had to be over two decades old.

In the photo, a boy of maybe eleven or twelve, indisputably Peter, stood next to a woman who looked almost exactly like him. Long-limbed and solidly built, she had wavy, deep brown hair, dark eyes snapping with intelligence, and a smile that somehow encompassed both genuine, affectionate joy and wariness.

A blue expanse of water sparkled in the background, and fieryautumn leaves on the trees bracketing them seemed to rustle in an invisible breeze. She had her arm wrapped around his shoulders. His smile echoing hers with eerie similarity, he’d cuddled close to her side.

There was no mistaking the photo. “This is you and your mom.”

Any trace of softness in his expression, however conflicted, disappeared in an instant. He grunted out an affirmative sound, mouth now grimly shut.

“I suppose I don’t have to ask whether you’re adopted too.” Because maybe a little ironic humor would help relax that now-stony jaw. “She’s lovely.”

Not delicate or ethereal, but undeniably striking. If Maria fully understood Nava’s explanation of the term a few weeks back,handsome.

Another low, rough sound of agreement as he stared at his childhood self, at his mother.

When he finally responded with actual words, though, they were bland. Stripped of any inflection or emphasis. “She was.”

Oh, fuck. She’d hoped it was simply a favorite photo among many others taken over their years together, not a memento of a parent gone too soon.

“Peter, I—” she began.

“She died the next year.”

Each carefully neutral word landed in her heart like an anvil.

She bit her lip. “I’m so sorry.”

What else could she say, really? The pain of death, of loss, wouldn’t be eased by any facile words she might offer. Only time and love could do that—and he’d had plenty of the former and wouldn’t let her offer the latter.

“It’s fine,” he told her in casual dismissal, and it wasn’t just a brush-off and an obvious falsehood. It was an impenetrable wallconstructed between them in the space of a heartbeat, tall and solid and entirely unnecessary.

If he didn’t want to talk about his childhood, she—of all people—understood. She certainly wouldn’t force him.

“Okay.” With firm resolve, she turned away from the photo. From him. “Well, I’d better get going, friend. It’s time for breakfast. And of course, I shouldn’t linger in your suite. I wouldn’t want to catch yourterribleillness, would I?”

After directing a breezy wink in his general direction, she put a bounce in her step as she headed for his door and offered a jaunty wave before leaving.

“See you—” he started to say, but the door shut behind her before he could finish.

As she started down the hall, she kept smiling until the expression didn’t feel forced anymore, and she could greet Conor and Fionn and her crew with the good cheer they deserved from her.

Honestly, she couldn’t imagine why she felt so unsettled. Because, really, all was well, and nothing much had altered between her and Peter. Even good friends didn’t share everything, and even close friendship and mutual attraction didn’t guarantee a romantic or sexual relationship.

Hewasa good friend, and those didn’t come along every day. That was definitely something to appreciate.Nej, tocultivate. Also, the next time someone tempting offered a potential hookup, she knew not to turn them down, which was certainly useful knowledge to have.

As he’d noted, they had years ahead of them.

She’d make the best of those years. In a variety of fun ways.

And if she now had a new set of words she’d like to watch Peter eat, that was no one’s concern but hers.

Con of the Gates Panel Transcript

Moderator:Maria and Peter, you’re the two newestGods of the Gatescast members, but you’ve managed to make quite a splash during the second season of the show. You’ve quickly become fan favorites, and we’re glad you could both join us today.

Maria:That’s very kind of you to say. Thank you.

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