Ana and Marisa admired pretty things in every store, and Nate wished he could buy all of them for the two beautiful ladies. He couldn't buy them all, but he did take a yellow sundress for Marisa and a blue one for little Ana to the counter in one store, despite Marisa's protests.

But he had an ace in the hole, having seen the small bag Marisa had brought to town. "You have a suitable dress for dinner?"

She blushed and shook her head. "I thought we'd do something casual for dinner. We don't have a lot of money. And our clothes are fine. We washed yesterday's out last night, and we'll wash these tonight."

"You travel light, huh?"

She lifted the ugly brown canvas bag. "This is the only luggage I own."

He thought of the Pod at home stuffed with all his worldly goods. His life seemed suddenly bathed in riches. "But surely you left New York with a suitcase or something."

"My duffel bag was in rags by the time I settled."

He pulled a bag of candy Ana was staring at off the rack and snatched a pretty beach bag he'd seen Marisa admire and set them on the counter. "These, too," he said to the shopgirl. He turned to Marisa. "Now you have dresses for dinner and slightly nicer luggage."

"You really shouldn't."

He handed the girl across the counter his credit card. "I really should. And it's rude to refuse a gift."

The girl behind the counter nodded as she ran his credit card. "He's right, you know." Her accent was thick, her smile wide.

Marisa seemed to consider it before she smiled. "Okay. I guess I can't argue with your logic."

"Can we put them on now, Mama? Please?"

"After the beach, okay?"

At the reminder of the beach, the girl couldn't get there fast enough. After a quick stop at the hotel, the three of them splashed and played and rode the waves—small as they were in the bay—until Nate and Marisa were exhausted. The girl had energy reserves Nate lacked.

After giving her daughter strict instruction, Marisa fell into the lounge chair beside his with a sigh. "She'll be okay, right?"

"Between the life jacket and the lifeguard"—he pointed to the attentive man who seemed to have his eyes everywhere at once—"and you and me watching, I think so."

"She loves it."

"What's not to love? It's wonderful."

Marisa sat back and sighed, her smile fading. "We haven't talked about the threat all day."

"I know."

"Who do you think they were? Leslie said it was a man and a woman. I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out, but I have no idea. Charles is still in prison, right?"

"Unless he busted out."

Her eyes widened.

"Just kidding. He didn't. He's still safe and sound at Sing Sing."

"Sheesh. Scare me, why don't you?"

"Sorry."