Page 75 of The Awful Truth

Mercy held up her coffee mug to him, and said, “Cheers to that,” before having a sip.

Travis arrived just at that moment. “Oh, there you are. Mr. A/C Wizard himself.” He laughed at his own joke. “I’m just kidding, of course. The truth is, I’ve decided air conditioning is for sissies. Real men like us can take the heat, can’t we, Ollie?”

“Yes, definitely, sir.”

“Oh! Look! In the water!” Antonia called.

Everyone walked over to the starboard railing, only to be gifted with the view of two curious seals popping up to look at the yacht.

Oliver’s heart dropped as he watched Travis’s face spread into a wide grin. Grabbing a fistful of bacon off the tray, he said, “Ollie, get the spear guns ready.”

Antonia gasped.

Mercy said, “Travis, no!”

“Oh, yeah.” He took off for the stairs and met up with Ted at the entrance. “Come on, man! We’re going spearfishing!”

Ted shook his head. “I can’t. I’m waiting on an important call.”

“Ted, I am offering you the experience of a lifetime and you want to wait around for a phone call?” He snapped his fingers at Oliver, who was still standing behind the bar, completely appalled. “Well, come on. I’m not paying you to stand there and catch flies with your mouth. We need snorkeling gear and spearguns, pronto!”

9:46 A.M.

MERCY

As soon as Oliver got Ted and Travis into the water, each with snorkel masks on their faces, flippers on their feet, and spear guns in their hands, he turned to Mercy and Antonia, who were standing on the swim platform, Antonia looking as horrified as Mercy felt.

Oliver smiled at them. “Don’t worry ladies. The monk seals are safe today.”

Mercy was immediately skeptical. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because one of them told me he’s not going to do it and the other one has a gun that’s jammed.”

She felt her shoulders relax.

Oliver glanced back at the men, who were swimming to the nearest cave. “He’ll probably be pretty pissed at me when he gets back, but I’m willing to risk it.”

“Thank you, Oliver,” Mercy said, overcome with relief.

“Don’t mention it. I mean, please don’t mention it,” he told her with a wink. “I should run some food to the Taggart suite now, before Mr. Bishop realizes his gun won’t work.”

He hurried off, leaving Mercy and Antonia alone. Mercy sat on the ledge and dangled her feet into the sea, feeling the cool water against her skin.

Antonia took a seat next to her and did the same. “Ahh, that’s nice. How are you feeling this morning?”

Mercy’s stomach twisted in knots at the question. “I’m all right. No, that’s not true. I’m…confused, I guess. Angry. Scared. I’ve been thinking about Travis. And I know you can’t officially give me a diagnosis, so I won’t ask. But maybe you could tell me just this—whatever my husband has wrong with him, can it be cured?”

“No.”

Nodding, she looked over at Antonia. “I have to leave him, don’t I?”

“Yes, you do.”

“Thought so.” Her body tingled with fear, but she also felt oddly strong at the same time. It was as if somewhere in her, there was a pure sense of faith that she would get through this, and she and the children would be better off someday.

From above them, Miguel’s voice cut into the air. “Hello ladies! What are we doing this fine morning?”

They both turned and saw him and Winslow standing side-by-side on the deck above them. They were beaming, and the sight of it made Mercy’s heart surge. “You two look happy!”