Page 262 of Hidden Depths

Thomas nodded.

"Every day after he uncovered Ashford's operation..."

"...James believed he'd put his family in danger."

"He wanted to walk away."

"So why didn't he?" Ward asked.

Thomas looked out toward Sea Whisper, resting quietly against the dock.

"Because James said..."

"...'If I stay silent, someone else's grandchildren will die instead of mine.'"

No one breathed.

Thomas's voice cracked.

"He couldn't live with that."

I opened Grandpa's journal again.

A folded page slipped free and drifted to the floor.

Ward picked it up before I could.

"It's addressed to you."

My pulse quickened.

"To me?"

He handed it over.

Written across the top were just two words.

My Storm

I unfolded the page carefully.

Storm,

If Thomas has given you this letter, then I wasn't there to finish teaching you.

I'm sorry for that.

There was still so much I wanted to show you.

How to read the tide without looking at a chart.

How to know a storm by the smell of the wind.

How to forgive yourself when life doesn't go the way you planned.

You think being the oldest means carrying everyone.

It doesn't.