Page 19 of Hidden Depths

I smiled.

"How'd you know?"

"You keep looking back."

"I've spent my whole career crossing oceans on gray ships."

She nodded toward Sea Whisper.

"This one's a little different."

"A little?"

She laughed.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is."

She rested her forearms on the rail.

"The ocean changes once you lose sight of land."

"How?"

"You stop thinking about where you came from."

"And?"

"You start thinking about where you're going."

I looked out over the endless blue water.

For some reason...

That felt like the most honest thing anyone had said to me in weeks.

Then...

Lunch.

Willow announces,

"Lunch is served!"

Everyone heads to the aft deck.

Scott sits down.

Looks at the table.

Then looks back at Willow.

"This isn't lunch."

She smiles.

"No?"