“Only Ruby’s quick thinking and her mastery of the Japanese language saved them. She told the soldier they were newlyweds—and he let them go.”

Rae put her hand over her heart as if it was racing. “Then what?”

“They got back to his ship and returned the United States.”

Rae sagged in disappointment. “Is that all?”

Is that all? “Both of them were so good at their jobs, the US Spy Team didn’t want either of them to quit. But in the excitement of the escape, Patrick had been wounded. Fearing for his life, Ruby begged the ship’s captain to marry them—” not that shipboard weddings were legal, but this was no time to be reasonable “—and the captain performed the ceremony.”

“That’s so romantic.” Rae sighed.

Luna smiled.

“By the time they got back to the States, she was pregnant again, and the officials realized because of his wounds, Patrick would never be able to return to active duty. So they both retired from military service and lived happily ever after.” Whew. Kellen had successfully wrapped it up.

Ruby hopped off the window seat and knelt beside Kellen. “What about Ruby’s mother?”

Luna came to join them, sat on the carpet and stared at them both.

Kellen had celebrated too soon. “She came to live with them.”

“But she died and they buried her here.” Rae remembered that tombstone in the cemetery. “What about Ruby’s mean ol’ father?”

“He died alone somewhere else—” Kellen still wondered where “—and he never returned to Isla Paraíso.”

“Good. I did not like that man.” Rae scratched Luna’s head between the ears. “Did Ruby and Patrick have a boy or a girl?”

“Twins, one of each.”

Rae’s eyes shone. “Did you make all that up?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you did. But I like it.”

Kellen hugged her. “I like it, too. And it could have happened.”

“That’s the best part.” Rae went to the window seat and snuggled into the pillows.

Luna joined her.

Kellen picked up one of the books on the shelves, stretched out on the couch, and read, while Rae watched out the window and daydreamed of a happy ending.

33

It was late afternoon when Rae said, “I hear the helicopter!”

They looked out the window, saw Max make another circuit of the island, and when he landed, Kellen and Rae were waiting, fighting against the surges of wind. The air smelled like salt; Kellen could taste it on her lips, and she wondered what news Max would bring about the storm—and everything else.