She goes her own way, Miz Callie said. She always has. Never especially bothered by what everyone else is doing.
Everyone else in this case being family?
I spose so. She twinkled at him. Theres quite a tribe of us, as you can see. And all the cousins are so close in age, too. Still, I guess family gatherings are all pretty much alike everywhere.
He nodded in agreement, although nothing could be further from the truth when it came to comparing this noisy crowd to his family. They all seem very close.
That was not entirely a compliment, at least not in his mind. He wouldnt care to have this many people feeling they had a right to tell him what to do.
Close. She repeated the word, but her tone gave it a different meaning. I wish
Alerted, he studied her face. There was something theresome worry or concern evident in the clouding of those clear eyes, the tension in the fine lines around her lips.
You wish he prompted.
She seemed to come back from a distance, or maybe from thoughts she didnt welcome. She shook her head. Goodness, Im forgetting why youre here. You want to talk to the boys about the Coast Guard, and here Im yammering on about everything else.
She was out of her chair before he could move. Adam, come on over here and talk to Ross. Hes wantin to write something about the service.
AdamBodine, he supposed, they were all Bodines, came in obedience to his grandmothers hail.
Sure thing, Miz Callie. He bent to plant a kiss on her cheek. But Ill just bet hed rather talk to you.
She gave him a playful swat and scurried off before Ross could do anything more than rise from his chair. Since Adam didnt take the empty seat, he remained standing, putting them eye to eye.
Tall, muscular, with an open, friendly smilethe man had been introduced to him, probably, but he couldnt for the life of him remember if this was Amandas brother or cousin.
Adam grinned, almost as if he interpreted the thought. Adam Bodine, he prompted. Amandas cousin. Thats my sister, Georgia, pouring out the coffee. My daddys the one standing next to Amandas daddy. Its tough to sort us all out.
Im usually pretty good with names, but
But were all Bodines, Adam said, finishing for him. Amanda tells us youre fixing to do some articles for the newspaper about the service.
The Coast Guard seems important to the community, so its a good subject for a series of articles. That bit ran smoothly off his tongue. What made so many of you decide on that for a career?
Ask each of us, youd get a different reason. Adam nodded toward one of the laughing group clustered around the twins. My cousin Win, now, hes a rescue swimmer. He always was a daredevil, so jumping out of a chopper feels normal to him. Hed say hes in it for the excitement. Me, I couldnt imagine a life that didnt involve being on the water. My daddy was the same. He paused, as if he looked deeper at the question. Bottom line is serving our country, I guess.
Patriotism. He tried not to let cynicism leak into his voice. Maybe he was jaundiced. Hed seen his father wave the flag too many times out of political expediency.
Adams gaze met his. Thats somethin we take kind of serious around here. Charlestons been a military town since the Revolution, and we have more military retirees here than most any place in the country our size.
All the more reason to highlight what you do and the effect it has on the community, he said quickly, not wanting to get on the wrong side of the man. Financially, for instance. Im sure many companies in Charleston benefit from having the station here. It has to pump money into the local economy.
And into someones pocket, if his informant was right.
Sure, I guess so. My uncle Bretts the one you should talk to about that, though. He beckoned to Amandas father, who veered in their direction. Me, I just know about cutters and patrol boats.
Brett Bodine was probably in his early fifties, with a square, bluff face and a firm manner. He nodded, a little stiffly, and Ross wondered again what Amanda had been telling her family about her boss.
Ross was just asking me about somethin I figured you could answer better, Uncle Brett.
Whats that? The man was measuring him with his gaze, and it looked as if he wasnt impressed with what he saw.
Hes wanting to know about the base doing business with local merchants, that kind of thing. Adam took a step back, as if leaving the field to his uncle.
Ross barely noticed. All his attention was on Brett Bodine. In the instant Adam had said those words, the man had reacteda sudden tension in the erect figure, a flicker of wariness in the eyes, an involuntary twitch in the jaw.
Barely perceptible, unless you were looking. Unless your instincts were those of a trained interviewer, alert for the signs that youd hit pay dirt.
Brett Bodine recovered quickly, Ross would say that for him. Hed managed a fairly pleasant smile in a matter of seconds.
Ill put you in touch with our information officer, he said briskly. Shell be glad to answer your questions.
Shed be glad to give Ross the canned speech, in other words. In order to do a series of in-depth articles, I need to talk to the people who are actually involved in the work. Amanda thought you could help me with that.
The mans face tightened, as if he didnt like the reminder that Ross was his daughters employer. Our information office will
Daddy. Amanda stood next to them, and theyd been so intent on their battle of wills that neither of them had noticed her. I told you how important this is. Youre not going to fob us off on someone else, are you?
Us, shed said. Apparently Amanda considered them a team. Well, if thats what it took to get him what he wanted, so be it.
Bodines deeply tanned face reddened slightly in a flare of temper, but it eased when he looked at his daughter. He shrugged, seeming to give in to the inevitable.
I guess not, he said. Well set it up for you to come in and talk in the next couple of days.
The words sounded right, but again, Ross read the body language, and it said exactly the opposite. Something was going onsomething that Brett Bodine obviously knew about.
And something that, just as clearly, Amanda didnt.
For probably the first time in her life, Amanda was eager to leave the beach house. The party had been lovely, but she couldnt control the stress she felt at having her boss there.
That was all it was. Surely shed been imagining the tension shed thought existed between Daddy and Ross. They didnt even know each other. What did they have to be at odds about?
She popped her head in the kitchen door, looking for Miz Callie to say her goodbyes and thanks. Her grandmother probably shouldnt still be putting on birthday parties for the family, but no one had enough nerve to tell her so.
The kitchen was empty, the dishwasher humming, but before she could turn away, Miz Callie came in from the deck.
Theres the birthday girl. Come here, sugar, and let me give you a birthday kiss.
And one to grow on, Amanda said, smiling, and kissed her grandmothers soft cheek. For a moment she stood, Miz Callies comforting arms wrapped around her, and unexpected tears welled in her eyes.
She couldnt think of her vibrant, energetic grandmother, the rock of the family, as growing old. It was too soon for that.
She blinked back the tears, knowing what had put that thought into her mind. For months Miz Callie had been obsessed with the idea of righting an old wrong. She kept saying that it must be done before she died; a constant reminder that their precious grandmother might not have too many years left hurt.
Miz Callie drew back and patted her cheek. Amanda, honey, have you found out anything more about Ned?
And there it wasthe albatross that seemed to be hanging round all their necks these days. Ned Bodine, Granddads older brother. Theyd none of them even known him, except Miz Callie. Hed left long ago, running off in 1942, never in touch with the family again. Every old-timer in the county believed hed run out of cowardice, afraid to fight in the war.
Amandas cousin Georgia, the first one Miz Callie had trusted with her quest, had found out that what everyone believed wasnt true. Instead, after a sad love story and a rift with his father, Ned had left the island to enlist under a false name.
And there the story ended, as far as theyd been able to discover. How could you trace an anonymous man who could have gone anywhere, used any name?
Miz Callies eyes grew suspiciously bright, and she patted Amandas cheek again, her hand gentle. Its all right, darlin. You dont need to say it. I guess its too much to hope for after all this time.
Pain twisted her heart. We wont give up. There must be something else I can try.
She glanced toward the deck where her cousin Georgia stood with her fiancés arm around her waist. Matts little girl, Lindsay, leaned against Georgia trustingly. Lucky Georgia. Shed not only found the first clues to what had happened to Nedshed found love in the process.
Miz Callie shook her head slowly. Maybe its time to give up on learning anything more. The nature preserve is nearly ready to go. Maybe Id best just make the announcement and be done with it.
But Miz Callie, the scandal She bit her lip. The family might be satisfied that Ned hadnt been a coward, but they didnt have the proof that would convince anyone else. Plenty of folks would be unhappy at Miz Callies plan to dedicate the nature preserve she planned for a small barrier island to a man they considered a disgrace to Charlestons proud patriotic tradition. She had a vision of scores of military veterans marching down Meeting Street in protest. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guardtheyd all had a presence here at one time or another.
I reckon we can live down a scandal if we have to. Miz Callie wiped away a tear with the back of her hand. I just want to get this done.
I know. But a little more time wont hurt, will it?
Please. Theyd present a brave face to the world if it came to that. The family was agreed. But Miz Callie would be so hurt if folks shed known all her life turned against her.
A fierce love burned in Amanda. She couldnt let that happen.
Ill work on it. I promise. She was the reporter in the family, after all. Finding out things was her job. At least it was more important than covering pet shows. Youll wait, right? She looked pleadingly at her grandmother.
Miz Callie nodded. I will. Dont worry so much, darlin. God will show us the way.
She let out a relieved breath. She believed God would guide them, but she couldnt help wanting to chart this course herself. Good. Ill
The sound of movement behind her stopped her words. She turned. Ross stood in the doorway. How long had he been there?
I dont want to take you away from your party, but I do need to get back to the office.
Thats all right, she said quickly. Ill just get my things.
Had he heard her conversation with Miz Callie or hadnt he? It worried at her as she gathered her things. She had to say goodbye to everyone, had to endure all the teasing about being a year older and exchange a special hug with Annabel, aware all the time that her boss stood waiting.
Finally, she got out the door, walking to the car with Ross on her heels.
The air between them sizzled with more than the summer heat as she started the car and turned the air-conditioning on high. And that was her answer. Hed heard something of what Miz Callie said. She wasnt sure how she knew, but she did. It was just there, in his concentrated expression.
They passed the islands park, the small collection of shops and restaurants, the old Gullah cemetery. Finally, as they approached the drawbridge that would take them off the island, she could stand it no longer.
You heard what my grandmother said, didnt you?
If that sounded like an accusationwell, she guessed it was. She spared a fleeting thought for her fired colleagues. Maybe shed soon be joining them.
Silence for a moment. She saw the movement of his head at the edge of her vision as he turned to look at her.
I wasnt eavesdropping, if thats what youre implying. His tone was surprisingly even. I realized that your grandmother was upset, so I didnt come in. Im not in the habit of listening in on the worries of elderly ladies.
She wasnt sure that she believed him. Still
Youd best not let her hear you call her elderly. She managed an apologetic smile. Im sorry. I hate it when she gets upset.
It was none of his business what Miz Callie had been upset about. Amanda had the sudden sense that the family skeleton had grown to an unmanageable size and was about to burst from its closet.
You have a good heart. He sounded almost surprised.
I love her, she said. Im sure you felt the same about your grandmother.
He nodded, staring out the window at the marsh grasses and pluff mud.
There didnt seem anywhere else to go with that conversation. She cleared her throat. I hope meeting my people was helpful to you. For the articles, I mean.
Very. Youll set up that appointment with your father as soon as possible.
Right. When he didnt respond, she glanced at him. Dont you want to talk to anyone else? My cousin Win is a rescue swimmer.
She held out the prospect enticingly. Win, an outgoing charmer, would be delighted to be interviewed, and surely that would be more interesting to readers than Daddys desk job.
What? Her question seemed to have recalled Ross from some deep thought. Yes, I suppose. Ill think about it and let you know.
Odd. Not her business, she guessed, how he approached the series of articles he said he was writing, but odd all the same.
She stole a sideways glance at him. His lean face seemed closed against the world, his eyes hooded and secretive.
Why? What made him so forbidding? The professional scandal theyd all heard of, or something more?
She gave herself a mental shake. This was the man who kept the entire news staff dangling over the abyss of unemployment. Maybe she felt a bit easier in his presence since this little expedition, but that didnt mean she knew him.
Or that she could trust him any farther than she could throw him.
He was going to have to tread carefully with Amanda, Ross decided. Something had made her suspicious of him after that family party the previous day.
He stood back to let the high school student intern precede him into the newsroom, assessing the young woman as he did. Cyrus Mayhew had chosen the recipient of his journalism internship on the basis of her writing, not her personality.