Page 47 of Cruel Tides

After Kai finished the last bite of Laverne’s portion of stew, I stood up to collect the dishes. She’d made a noise from deep in her throat when he’d first gone for her bowl, as if she was about to snap at him for daring to take the offering meant for her. But then she’d glanced at my dad and thought better of it. Wouldn’t want to spoil my dad’s perfect image of her by showing her actual personality, now would she?

Barren stacked Leander and Kai’s empty bowls over his own and rose from the table.

“Oh, let me get that,” I said, but he headed for the sink before I could take the stack from him. Then, to my surprise, he started doing the dishes. I stood behind him in awe, watching how efficiently he worked and scrubbed with one arm.

Wow. No matter what he did, Barren was amazing. Even in the water, he was the fastest swimmer out of the three of them and never let anything slow him down.

When he’d finished washing what was in the sink, I tapped him on the left shoulder. “Mmh?” he hummed, and my lips curved up into a smile as his head tilted back to me.

“Thanks, Barren,” I said softly, passing him the rest of the bowls. “But I could have done those.”

“Oh, let him work without you fussing and hovering over him, Claira.” Gram got up from her chair, making a show of stretching out her back. “Hard to find a man these days who knows his way around a sponge.” She shot Dad a look that could freeze fire. “Isn’t that right, John?”

Gram had been surprisingly quiet during dinner, letting Dad do all the talking. She was never one to open her mouth during a good meal unless it was to put more food inside it. Now that she was full… Well, who knew what she would say?

Dad’s mouth drooped into a frown. “What? I clean up around here plenty.”

“Mm-hmm.” Gram tutted, her nose wrinkling in distaste at the sight of Dad’s muck-crusted boots. Then she turned her soured look to me. “And I suppose you’ll be wanting them to spend the night.”

My heart raced. “Oh, I…” Had I expected them to spend the night? It hadn’t even occurred to me how late it was getting and how we’d all need somewhere to sleep.

I turned to Leander and Kai at the table for some help, but their expressions were split between sinful mischief and eager curiosity. I barely kept my voice from squeaking when I said, “I mean, I guess. Could they? Is—is that okay?”

I’d never had a guest stay overnight.Definitelynot three grown men. Or a sea lion.

“Of course they’ll stay,” Dad chimed in. He was scratching Laverne under the chin now, in the place where Kai had told him she liked to be scratched on the most.

Before I could ask the obvious question ofwherethey were going to stay, Dad supplied, “If we move the couch back a bit, there’ll be plenty of room out here.”

“I guess I’ll grab some quilts then,” I said, feeling strangely excited. “And we’ve got some extra throw pillows in the closet.”

It was oddly comforting to see Dad and Gram so ready to accept them into their home.

“Make yourselves comfortable, you three—” Gram’s gaze fixed on Laverne. “—Four. Bring the fish in too, John. Might as well invite the rest of the ocean in there while we’re at it.” She waved a hand around before exhaling a deep sigh. “What a day this has turned into.”

When I passed Gram on my way to the linen closet, I gave her hand a squeeze and quietly said, “Thanks, Gram. For letting them stay.”

“Of course, dear,” she said before turning back to the others. “There’s water in the tap, and the bathroom is down the hall.” She gave the back of my hand a loving pat before snapping her hand away and leaning in to whisper, “But don’t think I won’t be keeping one eye out here tonight, young lady. I’m determined to find out which of these troublemakers might end up becoming my future grandson-in-law.”

“Gram!” I let out a gasp, glancing back to see if anyone else had heard her.

“Oh, I’m only teasing, dear.” She laughed, deep and rich, like hosting this crazy dinner party was the most amusement she’d had in ages. “But if I were you,” she started, leaning back in, “I’d choose the one who did the dishes without being asked.” Then she waggled her eyebrows. “I’ve always had a thing for drummers.”

* * *

Words couldn’t describethe joy of taking a hot shower, getting into clean underwear and pajamas that actuallyfitme, and then lying down in my own bed. I barely had time to think about whether Leander would ignore my request not to sneak into my bedroom or if the others would be comfortable sleeping on the living room floor before I drifted off to sleep.

Leander must have respected my privacy for once, because when the sound of the front door opening woke me, I was still alone, just me and my unicorn comforter. When I looked at the five on my alarm clock, I knew it was Dad who had left through the front door. It seemed even staying up late to dote on Laverne hadn’t kept him from waking well before the sun.

I took an extra ten seconds to savor the comfort of my pillow before rising out of bed and changing into my thermal overalls. If I hurried, I’d be able to spend some time with Dad before the others woke up. Opening my closet, I grabbed a fresh pair of boots and took special care to lace them tight. I spared a second to brush out my hair and smoothed it back before slipping out of my room.

A medley of snores reverberated from the living room, and I was relieved to hear Laverne among them—by far the loudest snorer of all. Without her around as a distraction, maybe I’d actually get to talk to Dad. I was on my way to the front door when something snagged me by the leg.

Looking down, I spotted Kai’s sleepy grin in the darkness, his arm stretching out from under his blanket to wrap a hand around my ankle. His voice barely reached a whisper as he said, “Have fun.”

“Thanks,” I mouthed back, and my heart melted when he lovingly touched the side of my boot, holding his hand there for a moment before letting go. “Get some more sleep,” I said, and his smile held when he tucked his arm back under the quilt and closed his eyes.

Outside, the air was crisp enough to wake me more than a cup of coffee would have. The light was on in the shed. I jogged over, and when I opened the door, I found Dad winding a net at his workbench.

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