“Sometimes Mr. Grumpy forgot that the world wasn’t his responsibility. Lots of times, the world became too heavy for Mr. Grumpy, so he was tired and crabby and hurt the angel Phoebe’s feelings. When Goddess Molly Kate appeared on the boat, Mr. Grumpy wasn’t too happy about it. Worse yet, Molly Kate didn’t like him at first. Then she played her harp, creating music so beautiful that it enchanted Mr. Grumpy. After that, he was much more agreeable and pleasant. The angel Phoebe was so grateful for the change in her father that she became Molly Kate’s good friend.”
“Let me tell it,” said Phoebe, sitting up straight.
“Okay,” Eric said.
Phoebe’s eyes sparkled as she continued the story. “The angel Phoebe loved Molly Kate very much and hoped that she would become her new mommy. Phoebe tried to cast a spell on Mr. Grumpy and Molly Kate, but sometimes it didn’t seem like it was working. The angel Phoebe sent messages, many messages, to the gods and goddesses of the ocean, asking them to help her. She made sand wishes, hoping that something, anything would help Goddess Molly and her father fall in love. Then, just when the angel Phoebe thought that the two of them really loved each other, Mr. Grumpy and Molly Kate had a big fight—it sounded like maybe they were throwing thunderbolts at each other across the deck of the magic boat. So the angel Phoebe ran away. She wanted to find another kingdom where everyone was happy.”
“Now it’s my turn,” Molly said.
Phoebe clapped her hands and regarded Molly raptly.
“When Mr. Grumpy and Molly Kate realized that the angel Phoebe had flown away, they were very frightened. They didn’t want anything to happen to the dear, sweet angel that they both loved so much. So they searched everywhere, knowing that they would never stop looking until they found her. When they did, they were so happy, and after they took Phoebe back to the magic boat, they realized that the three of them should never be apart again.”
“Never,” said Phoebe.
“Never,” echoed Eric. All was silent for a moment as Fiona rocked between the water and the sky, the stars twinkling above and below.
“And that, my girl,” Eric said after a time, “is our story.”
Pheobe regarded him solemnly. “We’ll never be apart again? Honest?”
“Honest,” chorused Molly and Eric.
“I think this calls for a celebratory dish of Chunky Monkey,” Eric suggested.
“I’ll go get it,” Molly said. “You two wait here.”
She hurried below, and Phoebe treated Eric to an expansive grin. “Our story didn’t say anything about getting our dog back. Or buying a house.”
“Cookie will be here as soon as I can arrange it. I was thinking that we might want to find a place right here in Greensea Springs.”
“What about Molly’s job?” Phoebe asked, as Molly reappeared carrying a tray with three dishes of ice cream.
“I’m going to find work I like better. I’m pretty sure it’s going to have something to do with music and puppet shows,” Molly said. “My boss will manage very well with the marvelous Mrs. Brinkle to take over my job. She’s fully capable, and Frank will feel relieved that he won’t have to promote her to the Legal Department.”
As Molly handed around the dishes of ice cream, Phoebe frowned. “Okay, so you don’t have to go back to your old job. But music and puppet shows all at the same time?”
“I’ll make music at the Blossom Cabaret, and maybe there’s still a seat available on the board of directors of the new Emmett McBryde Puppet Theater.”
Eric listened to them chatter excitedly about the future, and he smiled to himself. Finally he, too, had something to anticipate, that would make his life happier. The three of them had many details to discuss, but he had no doubt that it would all work out. His eyes sought Molly’s, and as they exchanged smiles over Phoebe’s head, he thought he must be the luckiest guy in the world.
He reached for Molly’s hand, the one that wasn’t holding the ice-cream spoon, and squeezed it. She squeezed back.
She loved him. He had come close to losing her, and that made what they had—and what they would have in the future—all the more precious. Sitting out here on deck, making plans, telling stories and discussing dreams, the three of them were a family, and had been, in fact, since he and Molly had learned to work as a team. The thought warmed him, and out of curiosity, he glanced up at Heather’s star again, occupying its own special place in the universe. As did he. As did all of them.
The star still shone brightly, but it imparted no special message. Then again, he hadn’t expected that. He already knew that he had made the right choice.
“MAIL CALL!” Micki said. “Eric, you have an overnight letter.”
Molly opened her eyes, sat up and stretched. Eric pulled aside the curtain at the porthole in Molly’s stateroom to reveal Micki’s stocky figure firmly planted on the dock beside Fiona.
“You stay in bed,” Eric said after dropping a swift kiss on her forehead. “Anyway, if we hope to preserve the fiction that we’re not sleeping together, Phoebe shouldn’t find me here.”
“We’re getting married soon,” she said, though she still couldn’t believe her good fortune. “Maybe it’s okay to sleep together if we’re engaged?”
“I’ll leave figuring that out to you. For now, I’m outta here.” He yanked on his shorts and went into the salon.
She heard him climbing the ladder and, afterward, exchanging short pleasantries with Micki.
She jumped into the shower and was out again in a matter of minutes. After throwing on a pair of shorts and a shirt, she checked on Phoebe, who was sprawled across her bunk and snoring slightly, then hurried up to the cockpit. Eric was seated on one of the long benches and staring at a letter in his hand.
“You won’t believe this,” he said. His voice was hoarse, his tone unbelieving.
She sat beside him, leaned forward to read the letterhead.
“‘Graham, Segars, St. Bernard and Pyne’? Those are Grandpa’s attorneys.”
“I know,” he said. “Read it.” He passed the letter to her, and she leaned back to study it.
“This is about my grandfather’s will?” she asked, darting a glance in Eric’s direction. He still looked stunned.
“Keep reading,” he said.
“‘Dear Mr. Norvald,
“‘This is to inform you that according to the stipulation of the last will and testament of our client, Emmett C. McBryde, you are entitled to $1,000,000, payable in a—”
She stopped reading, unable to comprehend for a moment. She knew that Emmett had left the bulk of his fortune to her and her brother and sister, and she had been informed long ago that he would make bequests to friends and others that he considered worthy, but she had never suspected that Eric was one of those.
“Eric?” she said, her voice no more than a croak. She cleared her throat. “Were you aware of this?”
He shook his head. “Of course not. It’s a complete surprise. Keep reading.”
“‘…the sum of $1,000,000, payable in a lump sum. Enclosed is a letter that Mr. McBryde asked to be forwarded to you in the event of his death.’”
There was more, mostly legal jargon, and Molly skipped it.
“Here’s the letter,” Eric said, passing her the envelope. “I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Go ahead,” Molly said. “If you want to read it in private, that’s okay.”
“You’re part of everything I do from now on, Molly. We’ll read this together.”
He opened the envelope, removed the paper within and draped an arm around Molly’s shoulders:
Dear Eric,
I’m glad we became friends, and if you are reading this, you know I am gone. I had a wonderful life, a caring family and good times, some of which were with you as we sat on the deck of Fiona and talked. I admire you, Eric, for following your own path and for being such a terrific father. Phoebe is a lucky little girl to have you for a dad.
When I first decided to leave you a million dollars in my will, I
wanted to put restrictions on it. In other words, you would inherit it only if you and my granddaughter, Molly Kate McBryde, pursued a relationship ending in marriage. From talking with you, I had an idea that the two of you would be well suited. Then I decided that to do such a thing would be unfair. Molly Kate has a mind of her own. Furthermore, you deserve to inherit this money because my bequeathing of it isn’t based on whether she likes you or you like her. I am giving it to you so that you can pursue your dreams. If they happen to include my granddaughter, that’s even better.
Wherever the voyage takes you, whoever your companion on the journey, Godspeed.
With all best wishes,
Emmett.
“Oh, Eric,” Molly said, resting her head on his shoulder. “I had no idea he was doing this.”
“Nor did I,” Eric said. “I still don’t believe it.”
Molly dried her eyes. “Does this windfall make you feel any better? Does it put us on a more equal footing?”
“It provides an opportunity, Molly. Instead of a job, I can have my own business. What would you say if I bought this marina? As Micki said, it’s for sale. Greensea Springs is growing, and as more people discover that this is a great place to live, the marina will expand. I’ll be working around boats, and the marina will provide a steady and ever-expanding income.” He looked excited, happy, energized.
“I like it!” Molly said.
Phoebe emerged from the companionway and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “What are you two talking about? What do you like, Molly?”
Molly drew her close and hugged her. “Your father and I were talking about living in Greensea Springs.”
Eric picked up his baseball cap and twirled it on one finger before jamming it down on his head. “You’d better get dressed, Peanut. We’re going shopping for a house as soon as we’ve finished eating breakfast.”
“Can it have a red door and an azalea bush? And—”
Eric laughed. “Whoa, kiddo! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Hurry and get dressed, we’ve got a lot of things to do.”
“A red door and an azalea bush sound great to me,” Molly interjected.
“Our new house should have lots of bedrooms, so I can have brothers and sisters. And we need a doghouse.” Phoebe clambered down the ladder, and they could hear her clattering around below.
Eric took Molly into his arms. “Is that okay with you, Goddess Molly? Lots of brothers and sisters for Phoebe?”
“First a girl, then a boy. What do you think?”
“Names?”
“Phoebe likes the name Thoth for a boy,” she warned him.
He made a face. “And how about you?”
“Nicholas for a son, Emma Kate for a daughter.”
“Hey, I think it’s a plan,” he said, and then he tried to kiss her. The bill of his cap got in the way, and she laughingly turned it around so that the back of the hat was in the front.
He did kiss her then, and it was a kiss full of hope and happiness and the promise of even better things to come. A promise of life lived to the fullest with the one person in the world who could make it all beautiful. And fun. And worthwhile.
“Dad? I’m ready. Can we go shopping for our house right now?” Phoebe climbed up the ladder and presented herself on deck.
“We sure can,” Eric assured his daughter, and Molly’s heart expanded with joy when she saw the delight that sprang into the little girl’s eyes.
“My mommy wish worked,” Phoebe said. “It really worked!”
“I guess it did,” Eric said, gazing at Molly as though he never wanted to stop.
Molly was so happy that she couldn’t speak. All she could do was look from Eric’s dear face to Phoebe’s. This pristine moment would become part of their collective history, as much as Emmett’s bequest to Eric, or the story of Nut the giant blue goddess, or finding Phoebe curled up sleeping beside a vacuum cleaner. This was their family circle. They were meant to be together, through thick and thin, through sick and sin.
“I love you both so much,” she said unsteadily. Then they were all hugging, and laughing, and crying, and she knew that now that they had found one another, they would never let go.
Epilogue
One Year Later
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
DEAR WHOEVER,
THIS WILL BE MY LAST MESSAGE TO YOU. I THINK. I AM VERY BUSY EVERY DAY PLAYING WITH MY NEW SISTER EMMA KATE. SHE IS TINNY TINY AND SHE HAS RED HAIR! I GO TO SCHOOL WITH CORDUROY AND LEXIE AND I AM TAKING TAP LESSONS! ART LESSONS TOO. SO YOU SEE THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT FOR MESSAGES.
I AM SENDING A PICTURE I DREW OF OUR NEW HOUSE. IT HAS A RED DOOR AND A BUNCH OF AZALIA BUSHES. AND A BACK YARD WITH A SWIMMING POOL! I SWIM ALMOST EVERY DAY! THAT IS DAD AND MOMMY HOLDING HANDS. EMMA KATE IS IN THE STROLLER. I AM HUGGING COOKIE THE DOG, SHE IS HAPPY TO BE BACK WITH US.
WELL THATS ALL. GUESS WHAT, THE SAND WISHES WORKED. I HAVE THE BEST MOMMY IN THE WHOLE WORLD. SOMETIMES I FORGET AND CALL HER MOLLY BUT SHE SAYS THATS O.K.
LUV FROM YOUR FRIEND,
PHOEBE ANNE NORVALD
P.S. I GOT RID OF MY PRETEND VACUUM CLEANER.
WE HAVE A REAL ONE NOW.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-6937-1
THE MOMMY WISH
Copyright © 2005 by Pamela Browning.
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