WARD
Iwoke before sunrise.
Old habits.
The yacht was quiet.
The only sound was the steady rhythm of water sliding along Sea Whisper's hull.
For a moment...
I couldn't remember where I was.
Then I smelled coffee.
Fresh bread.
And cinnamon.
I smiled.
Willow.
Of course.
The galley lights glowed softly.
Willow was already moving around the kitchen with practiced ease.
She looked up.
"I was wondering which one of you would show up first."
"I wasn't trying to interrupt."
"You aren't."
She pointed toward the coffee pot.
"Help yourself."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"You looked like you needed it yesterday."
"I probably still do."
She laughed.
"So does Storm."
Almost on cue...
Storm walked into the galley.
Her hair was still damp from a shower.
No makeup.
Navy Sinclair jacket.
Coffee mug already in her hand.
She stopped.
"You two are awake early."
Ward shrugged.
"Navy."
Willow smiled.
"Captain."
Storm laughed.
"Fair enough."
Willow slid a pan into the oven.
"What are we having?"
"Cinnamon rolls."
Ward looked toward the oven.
"Again?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're complaining?"
"I absolutely am not."
"I didn't think so."
Storm leaned against the counter.
"You'll spoil them."
Willow smiled.
"They're on vacation."
Storm looked at Ward.
"So are you."
That one sentence lingered.
Ward quietly answered,
"I'm trying."
Storm nodded.
"I know."
A few minutes later...
Scott wandered into the galley.
His hair stuck up in every direction.
He stopped.
Sniffed.
Then pointed dramatically toward the oven.
"I knew it."
Willow folded her arms.
"You smelled cinnamon from your cabin?"
"I have gifts."
Storm laughed.
"You have a stomach."
"They work together."
Scott opened a cabinet.
"No."
Another cabinet.
"No."
Then the pantry.
"There you are."
Willow blinked.
"Were you looking for something?"
"My emergency snacks."
"You've hidden snacks?"
"They're emergency snacks."
Storm sighed.
"You've been aboard two days."
"I prepare quickly."
Ben walked in just in time to hear the last sentence.
"You hid snacks?"
Scott looked offended.
"I was protecting them."
"From whom?"
"You."
"I don't eat your snacks."
"You think about it."
"I don't."
Scott looked at Willow.
"See?"
Willow smiled.
"I see why you're friends."
Storm shook her head.
"I need to check the bridge."
She turned toward the door.
Ward surprised himself.
"I'll come with you."
She looked back.
"Why?"
He smiled.
"I'd like another lesson."
For just a second...
Storm forgot about the coffee in her hand.
No guest had ever asked for a second lesson.
Most people were happy taking pictures.
Swimming.
Relaxing.
Ward wanted to learn.
"I'd like that."
The bridge was peaceful.
The first streaks of dawn painted the eastern sky.
Storm handed Ward the binoculars.
"What do you see?"
He slowly scanned the horizon.
Clouds.
Ocean.
Birds.
A fishing boat.
Then...
He smiled.
"A darker line."
Storm looked at him.
"Where?"
He pointed.
"There."
She raised her binoculars.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"You found the current."
"I did?"
"You did."
She looked genuinely proud.
Ward laughed.
"I think I just passed a test."
"You did."
"What do I win?"
Storm pretended to think.
"Another lesson."
"I was hoping for a cinnamon roll."
She laughed.
"I'll see what I can do."
Ward found himself laughing with her.
It felt...
Easy.
Too easy.
The smile slowly faded.
Storm noticed immediately.
"What happened?"
He looked back toward the horizon.
"Nothing."
She didn't believe him.
But she also didn't ask.
Grandpa had always said:
"People tell you the truth when they're ready.
Never before."
Storm simply stood beside him.
Watching the sunrise.
Giving him the silence he needed.
Ward looked at her from the corner of his eye.
She wasn't trying to fix him.
She wasn't trying to impress him.
She wasn't asking questions he wasn't ready to answer.
She was simply...
There.
And somehow...
That made it harder not to tell her everything.
Far beyond the reach of the morning light...
A gray fishing trawler altered course again.
A man lowered a pair of binoculars.
"They're settling in."
Another man nodded.
"Good."
"What about the SEALs?"
The first man looked back toward the distant white yacht.
"They don't know we're here."
He smiled coldly.
"They're still on vacation."