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“It could’ve been worse,” Viv said as she cut the boat’s engine, grabbed a couple of cages, and hopped onto the dock, too. “From what I can tell, we’ve finished going through all the floating cages, and the majority are in great shape. The only ones left to tend to are the ones in the boat now and the ones we can’t account for.”
“And Cal and I are going to start looking for those as soon as Beau and I finish inspecting these cages and taking pictures of the damaged ones.” Nate pointed at the pile of damaged cages at the end of the dock. “Insurance rep said she had to have pictures or video of all the damaged ones. I figured it’s best we give her both, so that all our bases are covered. The better payoff we receive, the faster we’ll be able to drop a new crop in the creek.”
“You mind if I give you a hand instead of Nate?” Viv asked, eyeing Beau. “I’d like to discuss something with you, and that way he and Cal can get a head start on locating those missing cages.”
Beau took the cages from her and hefted them, along with the one he’d taken from Cal, on one shoulder, trying not to show his concern. He may have been in his own world of missing Kit, but it hadn’t escaped his notice that Viv had grown quiet lately, as well. “Sure,” he said quietly. “That’d be fine.”
Cal, sweaty from working hours on the water under the hot sun, took his cap off and ran a hand through his damp hair. “Can I grab a soda before we start, Pop? I’m dying of thirst.”
“Yep.” Nate draped his arm over Cal’s shoulders and hugged him as they headed up the dock and walked toward the house. “We’ll rest a few minutes in the kitchen before we traipse out there. Then we can start over by the . . .”
Beau watched Nate and Cal amble away, then smiled. “Cal’s really taken to the water lately, hasn’t he?”
“Sure has.” Viv smiled, her gaze following Cal and Nate, too, as they entered the house. “And he wouldn’t have wanted to come in just now, other than the fact that he was thirsty and ready to tackle the next job.” Her attention returned to Beau, and warm approval shone in her eyes. “You’ve done it, Beau. You’ve got him to love Hope Creek as much as you do. He’s really happy here.”
“Yeah,” Beau said. “But you had something to do with that, too. Showing him the ropes and teaching him the trade. You helped him feel at home here.”
Viv studied his face, her smile dimming. “That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.” She motioned toward the cages stacked on his shoulder. “You want to put those down while I grab the rest? We can inspect them while we talk. Knock two birds out with one stone?”
Beau nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
Five minutes later, they were settled at the culling table and had established a steady rhythm of inspecting and sorting cages.
“So what is it you want to talk about?” Beau asked, glancing at Viv as he flipped a cage over and tested the bent wires on the other side.
“You and Kit.” Her hands stilled on the cage in front of her, and she eyed him from the opposite side of the culling table. “You miss her, don’t you?”
Beau slid his gloved hand slowly along the frame of the cage he was inspecting, deciding honesty was best. “Yeah.”
“A lot?” She tapped her fingers against the cage she held. “It’s okay to be straightforward with me. I promise this isn’t what you think it is.”
Beau sighed, his hands stilling on the cage in front of him. “Yes, I miss her, Viv. A lot.”
She held his gaze and managed a small smile, but shadows still lingered in her eyes. “I figured as much. And who wouldn’t? Even I think my sister’s pretty fantastic . . . well, once I stopped being mad at her.”
Beau grinned, a soft breath of surprised relief leaving him. “Then why’d you ask?”
“Because I needed to hear you say it.” Her voice faltered. “That and one other thing, too.”
Beau placed both hands flat on the cage and faced her, giving her his full attention. “And what’s that?”
“Well, I’ve made a decision, see? And I want to be sure that I’m right before I follow through with it.” She hesitated, a sheepish expression crossing her face. “It means I have to pry a little, but I promise you it’s for a good reason.”
“Pry away.”
She bit her lip. “Do you love her?”
He noted the slight tremble in her hands and the guarded eagerness in her expression and considered dodging the question or refusing to answer altogether. But the thing was, he’d never lied to Viv. And he missed talking to her in an open and honest way, without fear of repercussion.
“Yes,” he said quietly, the excited exhilaration he felt at acknowledging it out loud at war with the guilt surging through him at hurting Viv. “I love her.”
Viv nodded, her smile returning. “Thank you for telling me. I needed to hear that.” She blushed and waved a hand in the air. “Not that I expect you to believe that after the way I behaved the last time we had a similar conversation, but it’s the truth.” She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and ducked her head, the mannerism—one of very few—similar to Kit’s. “It’s easy for me to say that now, because I know that I don’t love you the way you love Kit. Or, if I’m guessing right”—she shrugged—“how Kit loves you.”
Beau remained quiet, a knot of tension deep inside him slowly unwinding.
“I don’t mean to offend you,” Viv said quickly. “It’s just that we’ve always been honest with each other, and I don’t want to change that. I, uh, really need it right now.”
Beau reached out, covered her hand with his. “Go on.”
