Where It Began. Kathleen Pickering
ocean view from Reefside’s terrace did little to quell the tightness in her chest over this demand she was making. Until recently, she’d been content to hole up in her studio, or indulge in sunrise and sunset walks along the beach, but no longer. Her precious twin sister, whose memory she still grieved, had begun to haunt her dreams.
Dreams, no. Nightmares. Until the nightmares began, she’d held nothing but heartfelt, wonderful memories of Carmen. Now these gruesome nightmares of her sister began tormenting her waking hours.
Why now? Carmen had died a year ago.
Maria had done some investigating. The answers didn’t please her, but she no longer had a choice. Her father would indulge her demand. He had to.
If possible, she sat even straighter in the deep-cushioned bamboo chair and continued speaking, determined to have him agree before she lost her cool and started raising her voice.
“My doctor insists that a promising antidote for retrograde amnesia is to return to the place where it began. I would like to take the Honora back to the Abacos.”
She spared a glance at Del Rio and smirked at the alarm in his eyes before continuing. “However, Poppa, I wanted to be sure you still had confidence in your captain, since the Honora is collecting barnacles at the dock.”
Del Rio’s hand stopped in midair. He opened that captivating mouth of his to speak, then frowned, changing his mind. Maria didn’t miss the quelling look Poppa sent his way.
She’d learned from her father that Daniel Murphy Del Rio was talented and fearless at the helm. Yet, since she’d become aware of him, he hadn’t taken the Honora out at all. The few times she’d questioned Poppa, he’d waved away her concern. Anytime she asked Del Rio, he merely said that Elias—her father—had no desire to go anywhere. There was no denying she had hit a raw nerve with the ship captain. His focus straight ahead, he tore the roll into small pieces and chewed them one after the other, without taking the time to add butter, even though he had already placed some on his plate.
Good. Poppa had a bad habit of treating hired help like family. It was understandable with good employees like their butler Eduardo, who had been around for years, but Del Rio was way too new to Reefside for her father to give him such honors.
At least he was too new for Maria. Poppa said Del Rio was the son of his business partner, and now like a son to him, but Maria continued to relegate him to employee status. She simply could not remember him and didn’t like the way he did little other than reside at Reefside and shadow Poppa.
She also didn’t like the physical attraction she felt toward him. Something about him intimidated her. She’d mentioned this to Poppa and he’d quelled her concerns with amusement. She had to trust her father’s judgment, as she couldn’t trust her own since her memory loss. However, she could mentally shelve the man where he belonged: on the Honora.
Del Rio was not among the earlier memories that had returned after the accident. She’d remembered Poppa. Momma. Carmen. Eduardo, who ran the house. It boggled her mind that Poppa was so generous with Del Rio, including him in intimate conversations that should be restricted to family.
Now that their family had dwindled to just her and Poppa, she had no room for Del Rio. That was a fact. With his ultrahot body, wavy hair, deceptively charming Irish looks and easy smile, she found it even more important to ignore him. When she could not, she found fault. Sadly, she couldn’t imagine why. He had been nothing but kind to her.
Elias Santiago adjusted himself in his wheelchair, his dark gaze sliding from Del Rio to her. “Querida, I do not think this is such a good undertaking. You may look like an adventurous, gypsy princess in your beautiful dress, but now you sound like one. I do not want you wandering away from me.”
“You should have no worries, Poppa. My memory may be gone, but I still conduct myself well in public.”
What she couldn’t say was that she refused to go through another day of nightmares. Afraid to go to Carmen’s bedroom for fear that her twin would appear as she did in Maria’s sleep: angry. Distorted. Lunging for her with fangs and claws until the two of them hurtled over the balcony into a dark, foul-smelling abyss and Maria’s screams jolted her awake....
She was exhausted. She needed answers.
Calming her thoughts, she summoned all her willpower to keep a smooth, even tone when she spoke. She had to know why Carmen was haunting her.
“Besides, I’m not wandering, Poppa. I’m focused on a goal—going back to the scene of the accident. My memory is missing, but I hope that will change with this trip.”
Elias’s raven eyebrows slashed into a frown. Planting both hands on the table to emphasize his lack of mobility, he said, “But I am unable to accompany you.”
“Which is why I must go now, Poppa. I want to be well quickly, so that I can be here to help you.”
“I suggest you fly over.” Del Rio’s soothing voice invaded the conversation. “Take your doctor. You’ll be there in forty-five minutes and can hire a boat.”
She turned to meet his challenge. “What? You don’t want to work, Del Rio?”
His laugh sounded mirthless. “Not any longer, Princess.”
“Hijos, stop!” Poppa’s concern drew her attention from Del Rio’s challenging blue eyes.
“We are not your children, Poppa.”
“I think Elias means we are acting like children,” Del Rio answered.
Eduardo arrived with their main course. Maria waited for everyone to be served before lobbying for her cause once more.
“Please, Poppa. This sail is vital. I have asked you for nothing else these past months.”
Elias put down his fork. “And why not? Because you stay locked in your studio, day after day.”
She winced as the accusation hit home. She’d been afraid of the darkness that shrouded her thoughts since awakening in the hospital. Not knowing answers to questions or recognizing people she should know sent her scrambling for solitude. If she were alone, she couldn’t make any social blunders or look as foolish and frightened as she felt.
Also, the devastation of learning that Momma and Carmen had perished in the accident that robbed her memory had left a hole in her so deep she didn’t think she could ever climb out. She’d behaved cowardly, immersing herself in her misery, leaving Poppa to mourn alone.
She soon discovered her best escape was her art, which seemed to be selling faster than she could create it. But now, even that could not distract her. Matters had gotten out of hand. Reefside, a private estate in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s metropolis, had become too quiet. In this beachside oasis her nightmares had become more frightening than ever. It was time to heal, especially with Poppa becoming weaker with diabetes. She had precious little time to waste, no matter how daunting this self-imposed task might seem. Poppa needed her. She was all he had left.
By some odd quirk of fate, she had decided that having Del Rio take her to the Abacos in the Bahamas on her father’s ship was the answer. The doctor said retracing the steps up to the accident could jar her memory. Yet, something about Del Rio chafed at her. No doubt it was his bond with Poppa. Why else would the darkness in her mind rise fast, practically buzzing through her head, whenever she was in Del Rio’s presence? She needed to conquer that silly sensation, as well.
Besides, Poppa said Del Rio was the finest sailor he’d ever known. Coming from Elias Santiago, that was high praise. Sailing on the Honora would get them to the Abacos fast enough while giving her time to adjust to the possibility of regaining her memory, of recovering all the details she suspected were so painful she’d blocked them. Here lay her dilemma. She wanted answers, but was unsure if she could handle them in one windfall. The Honora would carry her to her destination fast enough while giving her time to accept what she would learn. It was time to discover the facts behind her mother’s and sister’s deaths. It was time