Page 278 of Hidden Tide
His answer is quiet.
Serious.
He looks around the Sea Whisper.
At Storm laughing with Ward.
At Ivy and Naomi arguing with Willow about whether they are allowed to sample dinner before everyone sits down.
At Hazel listening to one of Thomas’s stories.
At Mom greeting Captain Marquez.
At the four men who entered a sinking ship because Ben was inside it.
Then he looks at me.
“You were right,” he says.
“That happens often. You’ll have to be more specific.”
“I didn’t understand why you couldn’t walk away from the compass.”
“I didn’t understand it either.”
“You thought finding the truth would bring your father back.”
“I know better now.”
“Do you?”
I look at Dad’s photograph.
“The truth didn’t bring him back. It gave us the chance to stop the men who took him from us.”
“And now?”
“Now we live.”
Ben touches my cheek.
“I like that plan.”
“Even if it means living aboard a yacht?”
“I’m a SEAL. I can adjust.”
“You complain about the size of the shower.”
“It’s very small.”
“You’re very large.”
His eyes darken.
“That sounded like a compliment.”
“It wasn’t.”
