“If you don’t mind. I’m not sure he’s totally clear about all that’s happened and us leaving today.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sister said.

“Me, too.” Frances chimed in.

“I’ll watch ‘Sunday Morning’ while you’re gone,” Fred said. Which is how he missed out on everything that happened.

I slipped into the bedroom and called Major Bissell. He wasn’t in, so I left word with the man who answered that I was taking Laura Stamps to Blue Bay Ranch to get her husband.

“Okay,” he said. I could hear the Roadrunner’s cackle in the background.

“This is important. Call and tell him.”

“Yes ma’am.” The man chuckled, hopefully at Wiley E. Coyote.

Going down 98, I hoped Major Bissell was already at Blue Bay Ranch, Sister said she felt like something was going to happen, and Frances admitted she wanted to see the pink house and Jason Marley again. But all of this was discussed later, well after the fact. As we turned into the Blue Bay Ranch gate, none of the three of us had the slightest idea what was going to happen. Except, of course, I knew what possibilities existed.

We came to the bay and to the lavender house. The Stampses’ car was parked in the driveway.

“Thank you so much,” Laura said, opening the door.

“We’ll make sure Eddie’s all right before we leave.” Mary Alice got out of the car. Frances and I followed her.

“Thanks. He’s probably out at the boat.”

To this day, I can see little sun-dried Laura walking hurriedly around the house and onto the pier with us following. The sun was shining and there was a sailboat regatta on the bay.

“Look at that!” Frances exclaimed. “Isn’t that beautiful?”

“Eddie!” Laura called, striding down the pier. “You on the boat?”

Eddie came from the small cabin and waved. “Hey, honey.”

Laura turned to us. “He’s fine, y’all. Thanks.”

“Come on, I’ll take all of you for a ride,” Eddie called.

“Some other day,” Sister called back.

“Berry’s here.” Eddie motioned backward to the cabin as Berry appeared on deck.

“Hey, pretty ladies,” he called. “What brings you out so early?”

“We just brought Laura over,” Mary Alice answered. “How’re you feeling?”

“Much better. Sorry about last night.”

“Don’t be. I had a good time.”

Laura was standing on the pier beside the boat. “Come on, Eddie,” she said, holding out her hand. “We’ve got to go.”

“I want to go out in the boat,” he said. “Berry wants to take a ride.”

Laura stepped onto the boat and took her husband’s arm. “Come on, sweetheart.”

Berry grinned. “You better go, old buddy.”

Just at that moment, the Florida Marine Patrol van pulled into Jason Marley’s driveway.