Page 42 of Pirates in Calusa Cove

“I’m not even sure what that means.” God, his head hurt. He hadn’t slept much in the last two days. Nor had he eaten. He’d fed Trinity, and he’d nibbled, but he hadn’t had a meal.

“My dad always described Uncle Oliver as old school. The kind of man who didn’t believe women belonged in the kitchen but liked that his wife didn’t work. That her career was raising her kids, and he’s super proud that your sister is doing the same thing.”

Keaton chuckled. “Yeah, he says some stupid stuff sometimes around my little brother’s wife. It’s not bad, but it comes out sideways about their kids being in daycare or her career. She makes more money than Joe. I don’t know what difference it makes. I won’t deny I enjoyed having my mom home, but it didn’t make or break me. Joe’s kids won’t be any better or worse than Tilly’s. I don’t think your argument works here,” Keaton said. “I’ve always believed women can do anything a man can, that her gender shouldn’t be what holds her back, and you know I hate it when people treat women that way.”

“I know, and I get that,” Foster said. “But I’ve seen how you flip. You did it with Petra anytime she got hurt.Or with Tilly when she broke her leg. Even with your mom. That protective instinct in you would be strong without your dad telling you that it’s your job to take care of the women in your life, and I want to state for the record, this isn’t about women not being able to do something. It’s about you coming in full throttle and taking over once something bad happens.”

Keaton opened his mouth to protest. But what was he going to say to that? He could hear his father’s words. See his old man’s face when he’d lecture him on how important it was to care for his little sister and mother. He never came out and said women were weak, but it was implied that he was strong physically and that his role was different than his sisters.

The difference between his father and Petra’s father was that when Tilly had wanted to play a sport, his father hadn’t said no, and he’d supported his child. It wasn’t about girls not being able to do the same things. It all came down to roles in marriage, roles in the family, and roles when raising children.

“Add in the military training, and you’re one bark away from being an asshole,” Foster said.

“I’m not that bad,” he said for the second or third time that day.

“If you’re calling me for advice about a woman I don’t even know, yeah, you are,” Foster said with a laugh, but he quickly cleared his throat. “Is it the fact she has a free spirit that reminds you of Petra, or is it that you find yourself being vulnerable again for the first time since Petra died?”

“How about it’s a little bit of both of those things,and that I don’t feel guilty about it. Not one freaking bit, and I should. I loved—still love—Petra. She meant everything to me. A piece of me died with her.”

“I know that, cuz. Any woman who happens to fall in love with you now will have to understand that about you,” Foster said. “Does this Trinity know about Petra?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

Keaton closed his eyes, remembering how Trinity had told him not to cover up his past. Not with her and what that had done to his heart. “It’s like she understands me. All of me. Every broken piece of me.”

“That’s not a bad thing, man.”

“That’s easier for you to say since it’s me we’re talking about.”

That made Foster burst out laughing. “Because that’s never going to happen. Now, why don’t you enjoy living for a change? You’ve been half-dead for too long.”

He wanted to tell his cousin it was like the kettle calling the pot black, but he wouldn’t dare. Things were just too…raw. “I’d like to do that, but now I have to figure out who’s trying to kill her. I know the why. But I don’t know the who, and there are way too many possibilities.”

“Send me the file. My buddies and I will look it over and give you our thoughts, if your buddy Dawson doesn’t mind.”

“He’ll be glad for the help.” Keaton’s computer lit up. Two vehicles. One was Dawson’s patrol car. The other was Monty.

“Talk to you later, and I promise, when this is all over, I’ll be out there to visit.”

“You better, and bring this Trinity. I’d like to meet her.”

“We’ll see.” He hung up the phone and made his way back into the house, locking the doors. He set the computer on the small table in the kitchen before racing to open the front door before anyone rang the bell and woke up Trinity.

“Brought you dinner since I know you probably haven’t eaten.” Dawson held up a bag full of something that smelled like burgers, bacon, and onion rings.

He had never liked onion rings until he’d met Audra.

Now, he loved them. The big ones from Massey’s. They were fried and crunchy on the outside, and he smelled like an onion for days after, but he didn’t care. They were so freaking good.

Hayes stood behind him, sucking on a straw. The man had become addicted to milkshakes. Chocolate. Vanilla. Oreo. It didn’t matter. He loved them. He drank at least one day, sometimes two. Everyone was starting to call him Ken since he loved the things, but Audra and Baily got ornery about the comment, so they’d stopped. But still, Hayes had never even been an ice cream kind of man, so they had no idea where this had come from.

“I’m not going to say no to food from Massey’s.” He choked on the last word. “Someone needs to change the name of that pub. I know his wife still owns it, but it’s on the market, and whoever buys it needs to change the name. I can’t say it without wanting to vomit.”

“You and the rest of this town.” Monty slapped himon the shoulder. “But some people blow through town just to stop there because it’s kind of famous thanks to Paul and his drug and arms business that landed him in prison.”

“Some of that food in there is for the rest of us.” Hayes waved his beverage. “I ordered tots and a burger, and we brought that wrap that Trinity loves.”

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