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tourists. A friend of Gram’s was visiting relatives in New York and had given them use of her home, a quaint Caribbean-style house that had been built in 1840 and recently restored. Since the house was only a few blocks from Old Town, they decided to walk to Mallory Square to have dinner and watch the sunset.
    They were seated on the deck of what Jennie thought must be the world’s classiest restaurant and had a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico. As they ate their meal of broiled swordfish, rice pilaf, and broccoli with hollandaise, bright orange and purple splashes of color covered the sky. Concerns about Ryan, Nick, her mom and Michael, and Dad had slipped into a fuzzy, remote corner of her mind. Several boats glided across the horizon, their dark sails silhouetted against the fiery sky.
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” Jennie whispered. “I wish I could stay here forever.”
    â€œHmmm.” Gram sipped her tea and smiled. “Moments like these are to be captured in the soul and relived in harder times.”
    They were just leaving the restaurant when a large dinner cruise ship approached the wharf area. “Let’s watch,” Jennie suggested. It had been a spectacular sunset, and the people aboard seemed flushed with excitement as they filed past Jennie and Gram. Jennie was about to dub the evening the most perfect one she’d ever had when a loud, raspy voice broke the quiet.
    â€œIf I ever catch you within a foot of my boats again I’ll smack that big mouth of yours so hard you won’t be able to eat for a month!” the voice boomed. “Now, get your gear and get out of here.”
    â€œBut what about my pay? You owe me for four days …” That voice. Jennie had heard it before.
    â€œYou’re lucky I don’t sue you for thirty times that. Now, get out of here before I call the cops.”
    As soon as Jennie saw the shadowy figure emerge from the boat, she knew why the voice had sounded familiar. “Scott.” She hadn’t meant to say his name out loud and didn’t realize she had until he spun around in her direction.
    He stared at her for a moment and touched a hand to the cut above his eyebrow, then heaved a sigh and walked away. He was obviously embarrassed; Jennie knew the feeling well. “Wait,” Jennie called. He didn’t respond, so she ran after him. When she caught up with him about halfway down the block, Jennie wondered why she’d bothered.
    â€œWhat do you want?” he snarled.
    â€œI … I guess maybe I wanted to help. Though I’m not sure why. You are the rudest person I’ve ever met.”
    â€œWell, you’re …” Scott’s expression softened. “Look, I’m sorry. I guess I’m not in the greatest mood. I just got fired.”
    â€œI heard.” Jennie tucked some hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear. “What happened?”
    â€œI decked one of the passengers.”
    â€œYou what? No wonder you got fired.”
    â€œThe guy deserved it. He totally ignored the rules. Went diving and came up with a big chunk of live coral from the reef.”
    â€œHow do you know it was live?”
    â€œI saw him do it. When I tried to signal him not to, he just ignored me. We got into a big fight and I won.”
    â€œThat’s a matter of opinion,” Jennie said as she pushed aside his hair to get a better look at the cut. He winced. “Your eye is swollen, and that cut looks like it needs stitches. What do you think, Gram?” When no one answered, Jennie felt her stomach knot in alarm. Jennie spun around. Gram wasn’t there.

5
    â€œYou looking for the old lady who was with you at Dolphin Playland this afternoon?” Scott asked.
    â€œShe’s not an old lady—she’s my grandmother.”
    Scott shrugged. “Same difference.”
    â€œShe was right behind me. At least I thought …”
    â€œWhat