“Not me. I can’t wait to walk around without the ground moving under my feet. It’ll be nice to be out in the sun. Oh, and the rain! I’ve heard it rains in San Francisco. I’ve hardly ever seen rain. I’d love to take a walk in the rain.”
He propped himself up on one elbow. “You’re up for a walk?”
“I’m dying for a walk. Aren’t you feeling cooped up? I want to get out and see new things, meet new people.”
“You know, when you’re completely better, we could take a long walk and see lots of new things. I could take you to Colorado.” As much as Reid dreaded facing his grandmother, it would be better than the crushing guilt of not telling her. And he thought he could handle seeing Kayla with Mia by his side. “What do you think?”
“Right. Walk to Colorado. Sure.”
“It would take awhile, but we’d be together. We’ll sleep out under the stars, and I’ll tell you the stories of the constellations. You’ll tell me everything about your childhood and your family. I don’t even know if you went to school, or what your favorite color is.”
“You’re serious.”
“If you want to see new things, Colorado is nothing like Lost Angeles. The Rocky Mountains are enormous, and hey—I bet you’ve never seen snow.”
“I haven’t even seen San Francisco yet. How can I think about walking clear across the country?” Someone knocked at the door, and Mia couldn’t open it fast enough.
“Did you eat your breakfast?” Cook pushed her way in, scowling at the full breakfast tray. “Miss Mia, being sad about your friend is no excuse not to eat my delicious food. But I do understand the sadness. I truly do. That’s why I brought someone to cheer you up.”
Tatiana poked her head in the doorway. “Hi, I’m Tatiana, Nikolai’s daughter.”
“Please, come in,” Mia said.
Reid nodded. “Nice to see you again.”
“I brought some clothing,” Tatiana told Mia, indicating the duffle over her shoulder. “I thought you might like some new things since we’re arriving in San Francisco today and you’ll be meeting everyone.”
“I’d love that,” Mia said.
“Young man.” Cook tapped his shoulder. “You need to scram. Us girls have girl things to do. Don’t come back for at least two hours, understand?”
“See you in awhile,” he said to Mia from the doorway, but she was already absorbed going through the clothes Tatiana dumped on the bed.
“You could do with new clothing, too,” Cook called after him, eyeing his ratty sweats. “Go see Will. He’s got things to fit you. Nice things. Bright colors. Go.” Cook shooed him out.
Reid showered, then went to Will’s cabin.
“Come on in.”
“Cook said I should ask you for some clothes,” Reid said. “Apparently these sweat pants I found are not up to her standards for arriving in San Francisco.”
“Here’s some jeans.” Will tossed him a pair. “See if those fit.”
Reid stripped off the sweats, thinking he’d be happy never to see them again, and pulled on the jeans. “These work fine.”
“Shirts are in the closet. Take whatever you want.”
Reid chose a collared T-shirt that was the least obnoxious in color—a blue bordering on purple. He didn’t want to offend Will, but he wasn’t accustomed to men wearing pink or orange.
“What about regular shoes?” Reid asked. All he’d been able to find on the boat—Will’s closet included—were flip flop sandals.
“We’ll scavenge some when we go ashore. You’ll want something better for dancing.”
“Dancing?”
“My aunt throws a party with music and dancing almost every night.”
“Mia asked if there would be music.”
“Damn straight, there’s music. Piano, guitar, harmonica. Banjo when Creighton is around. It’s not a party without music.”
Reid was excited to tell Mia, but the thought of dancing made him nervous. He’d seen dancing a few times, but he’d never tried.
“When we get your shoes, we’ll find you some other clothes, too. Don’t worry about packing anything from here, unless you like those colors.”
“You don’t?”
“Are you kidding? That’s all Cook.”
Reid smiled. Maybe folks weren’t all that different here.
He looked around, unsure what to do next. He had more than an hour before Cook would let him back in the room. He spotted a chessboard in the corner. “Have you got pieces for that?”
“Chess or checkers?”
“Chess, of course.”
Will grinned. “Are we talking a friendly game, or would you care to place a wager?”
One Hundred Seven
Lost Angeles
Pascal decided to give Justine some time to stew. Perhaps he’d take Linus and Jenna to Club Three. He hoped there was no red wine, just so he would witness Linus deal with that pompous wine steward.
“I’d like to speak to Linus,” Pascal told Gomez.
“Are you sure you want to interrupt his date?” Gomez asked, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “I’m sure they’re having a wonderful time.”
“I’d like to see for myself. Where can I find them?”
“I’ll take you.” Gomez came around the desk.
“That’s not necessary, just tell me where.”
“Really, it’s no trouble,” Gomez said, already heading down the hallway.
Pascal wondered why Gomez was being uncharacteristically cagey, but he didn’t care enough to ask. After following Gomez down two flights of stairs to the hospital basement, Pascal was becoming irritated—he’d specified that Linus go somewhere outside the hospital.
Gomez stopped at a large door, and turned to him, his expression grave.
Poor serious Gomez. Laughter bubbled in Pascal’s chest, though he didn’t know why.
“Ready, sir?” Gomez asked.
“Yes, of course.” Why wouldn’t he be?
Gomez muscled open the giant door. “I’ll wait here.”
“No need. I can find my way back.” Pascal stepped inside. It was chilly. Silent. No windows, but lights were on. Cold light. Cold cement floors. An odd choice for young people.
He walked down the side of the room, avoiding the center, though he couldn’t say why. He knew he could figure it out if he thought about it, but he didn’t want to think. He didn’t want to know. Better to avoid looking.
But the center of the room called to him. He glanced without seeing.
A wave of nausea swept over him. The ground pitched like he was at sea, and he planted his feet wide to steady himself. He couldn’t move, but he knew he had to. Keeping his gaze locked on the floor, he took one step closer. Then another. His feet continued of their own volition. When they stopped, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes he saw Linus and Jenna. They were on their backs, side-by-side but not touching. A red and white checked blanket covered the cold metal table where they lay. Almost like they were at a picnic. Like they were staring up at the summer sky, trying to find pictures in the clouds.
Except that they are dead.
The weight of that knowledge crushed the air from his lungs, his ears rang hollow, and his vision blackened. He gripped the table to keep from collapsing.
“No!” He closed his eyes against the truth, but he couldn’t deny it any longer. He laid his head on Linus’s feet and sobbed until his throat was raw.
When he had nothing left, he straightened and took a ragged breath, wiping the mucus and tears from his face with his sleeve.
His little boy was dead.
He could admit that now. He’d known, of course. He’d simply needed time to accept it. A cushion between life and death. A veil over reality while he prepared himself.
Now he could face the truth without it destroying him.
“Linus?” He took his boy’s hand. “This is not what I wanted for you. Not what I dreamt of for my only child. Not at all what
I envisioned.” He closed his eyes, not wanting to face the whole truth, but knowing he had to. He took a deep breath and squeezed Linus’s hand, then looked his boy in the face. “I did this to you, Linus. I’m sorry, son. I’m so very, very sorry.”
He looked at the girl. Jenna. Wholesome. Pretty. She’d been kind to Linus. Clearly she’d been smitten. They both had. Perhaps he’d judged her too harshly. Did any of the trappings of station or intellect matter now?
It was good they were together. It was good Linus had a friend. Especially in this cold, unforgiving place.
He reached over and placed Jenna’s hand in Linus’s.
“There,” he said. “Keep each other company until I return. It won’t be long. It won’t seem like any time at all. I’ll take care of everything. When I come back, you’ll be able to rest.”
He returned to the door and found Gomez waiting as he said he’d be. Stolid, dependable Gomez, looking at him expectantly, if a bit apprehensively, through his little spectacles.
“Thank you, Gomez. I’m okay now.”
“Very good, sir. Shall we?” He gestured to the staircase.
Pascal’s mood lightened as they climbed because each step took him that much closer to making things right for his son. At the top of the stairs, Pascal turned toward the hospital room that held the girl who would fix everything so his son could rest.
“Gomez, now that I’m back, we’ve got work to do. I need to see Minou right away.”
“Yes, sir. At the command post?”
“This needs to be private.” He remembered the bottle of brandy in his room. “My temporary quarters. Don’t keep me waiting.”
One Hundred Eight
Aboard the Belle
“Yoo hoo, Captain. Knock, knock.”
Nikolai opened the door for Cook.
“A message from the sleeping beauty,” she said. “She summons you to her chambers.”
“I never should have told you that.”
“I’d think you’d know better by now.”
“Apparently I’m not as smart as I look. What does Mia want?”
“Her highness did not say, but you’d better get on your magic carpet and zip over there before she turns you into a rat or something.”
“You’re mixing up your fairy tales, Finny.”
“What tales? I’m serious.” She winked and stepped out of his way.
“You’re not coming with me?”
“I don’t wanna be turned into a rat.”
Nikolai walked to the other end of the Belle and knocked at Mia’s door.
“Captain, I’m glad you came.” Mia sat on the edge of the bed looking radiant in a pink dress. Her hair and makeup were artfully done, but not by Finola if he were to guess based on subtlety alone.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“Keep me company?” She patted the bed.
Nikolai nodded but opted for the chair. Mia produced an exaggerated pout.
“Where’s Reid?” Nikolai assumed Mia had dolled herself up for the young man who was so obviously in love with her.
She shifted, giving him a long look at her slender legs. “I don’t know. Off doing something. I was lonely, so I asked Cook to see if you’d pay me a visit.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he said. “You had us worried. I was beginning to think you’d sleep all the way to San Francisco.”
She smiled. “Cook says you thought I looked like Sleeping Beauty.”
“I’m making a mental note not to tell Cook anything anymore.” Nikolai hoped Mia couldn’t tell that under his beard he was blushing.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Mia said in a low voice. “I’m glad you were with me when I first woke up. I felt safe the moment I saw you. And the sound of your voice . . . it was somehow familiar, comforting.”
“I’m sure my voice was familiar because I read to you while you were sleeping. I used to read to my daughter while she slept. In the morning, she’d say my voice was in her dreams.”
“I hope she knows how lucky she is to have a father like you. I never knew my father.”
“I’m the one who’s lucky to have a daughter like Tatiana. Especially after her most recent escapade. Did she tell you about her pirate adventures?”
“I want to hear you tell it. I love the sound of your voice.”
Was she looking for a father figure, or was she flirting? “I’m afraid that will have to wait. I need to help my son prepare the ship for arrival.”
“You have a son on board?”
“Yes. He escaped from the Tank with you and Brandt and Reid.”
“Is he handsome like you?”
“I’ll introduce you after we land, and you can see for yourself.” He stood.
She grabbed his hand. “Stay a little longer? I’m not afraid when you’re here.” Her lower lip trembled. “Tell me about San Francisco. If I know what to expect, maybe I won’t be so scared.”
The frightened look on her face reminded him of Tatiana as a child, and he couldn’t say no. He sat beside her, telling himself she wasn’t angling for anything more than the comfort of a father, though he wasn’t altogether certain.
One Hundred Nine
Aboard the Belle
Reid stood at the bow with Will and Brandt, straining to see through the gray mist. The fog lifted, and Reid gasped at the enormity of the bridge before them.
“That’s the Golden Gate,” Will said.
“It’s phenomenal,” Reid said.
“Wow,” Brandt said. “There’s nothing left like this in Lost Angeles.”
“If you look close, you can see glimmers of red paint,” Will said. “When the sun hits it just right, it glows.”
The fog continued to dissipate, revealing patches of bright green between the rocky gray shoreline and jagged brown mountains.
“That green . . . what is it?” Reid asked.
“Apple orchards,” Will said. “When my mom was alive, we came once a year to plant. There’s an orchard for every spring. There are big ones on the west side of the peninsula. This is what we could fit into the little valleys where good soil collected from rain runoff.”
“I never thought . . . It’s so beautiful.” Reid’s chest constricted as he thought of his brother. Brian should be the one seeing this.
“Where is the city?” Brandt asked.
“Actually, there are cities all around us,” Will said. “See those houses? That was a suburb of San Francisco. The city of San Francisco itself is ahead on the right. It will come into view in a moment or two. Our settlement is in Sausalito, on the left side of the bay.”
“I thought it was in San Francisco,” Reid said.
Will shook his head. “Too dangerous. My dad says survivors lived there at first, but it hasn’t been safe in my lifetime. Too many collapsed and unstable buildings.”
“I wish Mia was seeing this,” Reid said.
“She and my sister are taking forever to get ready,” Will said.
“I saw your sister in the kitchen with Cook,” Brandt said. “But I didn’t see Mia.”
“That’s odd,” Reid said. “I’d better go check on her.”
“Mind if I come?” Brandt asked. “I want to talk to you about something.”
“Not now,” Reid said, remembering his promise to Mia. “She might not be feeling well.”
He hurried down alone, wondering what Brandt wanted to talk about. Was it possible he actually blamed Mia for Justine’s death?
From the hallway outside Mia’s room, he heard the tinkle of her laughter. He smiled and swung open the door. The last thing he expected was Nikolai sitting on the bed holding Mia’s hand.
Mia looked up, her face beaming. “Reid!”
Nikolai stood and straightened his shirt. “I’m glad you’re here. I was keeping Mia company while she waited for you, but I have business to take care of.”
Reid remembered they were his guests and bit back what he wanted to say. “Thank you,” he said instea
d, but he sounded disingenuous, even to himself.
Nikolai nodded. “See you topside.”
Reid closed the door behind him and leaned against it, finding it hard to string words together. “I interrupted something.” His voice was strangled.
“Not really,” Mia said. “He was telling me about San Francisco. I’m excited to see it.”
“He needed to hold your hand for that?”
“Don’t be silly. He wasn’t holding my hand, he was reading my palm.”
“Right.” Did she think he’d believe that?
“It’s fun. You should ask him to read yours.”
That was safe to offer, since he’d never ask in a million years. “What was your fortune?”
“Oh, riches of course. Everyone gets told that. A sea voyage—easy since we’re already at sea.” She giggled. “And he said there were many men who had come and gone from my life, but that my one true love had finally found me.”
Reid clenched his teeth. “I suppose he said he is that one true love.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “It’s sweet you’re jealous, but he thinks of me as a daughter.” She crooked her finger, beckoning him, but he stayed at the door, holding on to his anger. “Oh, you want me to come to you, is that it?” She walked over and ran her fingers down his chest. “It’s sexy when you’re angry.”
He grabbed her wrist. “Don’t.”
“Oooh, that’s what I mean. You like it rough?”
“Knock it off.” He stepped around her. “I’m not an idiot.”
“That’s not fair. I wanted to get pretty for you, so we could be together. I was ready early, and I didn’t know where you were, and . . .” Her voice trailed off and she pressed her fingers to her temples.
Reid caught her before she hit the ground. He placed her on the bed and held a glass of water to her lips. “Sip. Real slow. Now lay back.” The timing of her faint was awfully convenient. If he had to bet, he’d say she faked it, but he couldn’t tell for sure.
“I don’t feel good.”
“You’ll be fine in a minute.”
“Please, don’t be mad.” Her lip quivered and her eyes welled with tears.
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