Spirits of the Pirate House Read Online Free PDF Page B

Adventure Channel’s paying him some serious money. He’s
supposed to be one of the top diving guys in Bermuda, and since
it’s he who discovered the wreck, he has exclusive rights to dive
on it for a period of time. I’m sure he’ll keep a close watch on
the kids. And I’ll be there, too, whenever I can.”
    “I still can’t believe how you worked this
out, Tom,” smiled Pippa, sipping her tea. “Such fortuitous
circumstances!”
    “It’s pretty simple, actually. Bermuda is one
of my favorite places on earth, and I’ve been just about
everywhere. While most guys were going down to Daytona Beach or Ft.
Lauderdale for Spring Break, my college buddies and I preferred
Bermuda. It was cleaner, safer, and a lot less crazy, though we
managed to have our fun. Plus, we could play golf and swim in
pristine waters. We’d rent a couple mopeds and have a blast.
    “Then, when I got married, T.J.’s mom and I
went there on our honeymoon, and I fell in love with the place all
over again. Cheryl and I visited a couple more times, including
once when T.J. was around two years old, and as an architect I
hoped to someday be able to work on a project there, something that
would blend perfectly with traditional Bermudian surroundings and
add to an already fantastic landscape.
    “Well, last fall I was contacted by this golf
resort near the town of St. George’s on the East End that is
revamping its clubhouse and dining facilities. The manager is a guy
originally from Bermuda who was one of my college buddies, and the
one who actually had suggested we do Spring Break there. We’ve
always kept in touch, so when this project came up he thought of
me, because he knew I could create something that in no way would
look out place.
    “I took a quick trip over there in March to
get the lay of the land. Since then I’ve been working on the
design, and I’ll be meeting with the resort committee and Bermudian
officials during the kids’ two weeks to submit my presentation.
Hopefully, they’ll accept my ideas.”
    “You know they will, Mr. J,” said
Bortnicker.
    “Not to brag, but I’m pretty confident,” Tom
Sr. replied. “Anyway, to get back to the itinerary, they’re
figuring two or three days of diving on the wreck, and then a few
more investigating the estate house. In between, the kids will have
a little down time to hit the beach or whatever. And T.J. and his
cousin are even supposed to participate in a road race of some
sort.”
    “It all sounds so marvelous,” gushed
Pippa.
    “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,
Mom,” said Bortnicker with exasperation. “I mean, really .
What could possibly go wrong?”
     

Chapter Five
     
    “ I told you I’d hit
.300,” said T.J., as he dropped his equipment bag on the kitchen’s
hardwood floor.
    “Yeah, but only just,” said Bortnicker, who
had already cracked open the refrigerator in search of snacks. “You
no hit curveball so good.”
    “Something to work on for next season. But
jeez, cut me some slack, Bortnicker. I hadn’t played in two
years!”
    “No problemo, Big Mon. Overall, I’d say you
had a great season. I mean, when Coach Pisseri asked you to come
out for the team last winter, he was just looking for guys to round
out the bench. I think you were a pleasant surprise for him.”
    Indeed, T.J. had even surprised himself. It
was true that he’d only been asked to try out for the Bridgefield
High JV because the small school’s talent pool was so limited, but
after an early season injury had shelved the team’s starting
centerfielder, T.J. found himself roaming the outfield with the
long, loping strides he’d cultivated during cross country season in
the fall. His arm was only fair but extremely accurate, and as the
team’s number two hitter, he had become adept at bunting or hitting
behind the runner to move his teammates into scoring position. And
although the JV season had ended with a rather mediocre 12-12
record, Coach Pisseri had taken him