8. Saul

Chapter eight

Saul

" W hich islands?" Chris asked immediately.

"The problem started in Cuba and spread north. There's been no sighting of anyone this far north though, and the Coast Guard has increased their patrols as best they can."

"And the last one? With the murder?" Chris pressed.

"One of the exclusive resorts near Key West," Daniel said. "They have no idea if it's the same group because they are using small, innocent-looking pleasure crafts, and that wouldn't get them the hundred or so miles from the previous sighting, or it's copycats. There has been no loss of life before, but they could easily be escalating."

I shot a look at Chris. "How many of us are here?" I meant the team.

"Four, including us two," Chris bit out.

I looked at Daniel. "And how many have you got that can handle a gun?"

Daniel leaned back, alarmed. "Look—"

"I'm not saying for one moment it will be necessary, but we need to know. We also need to know what emergency evacuation plan is in place." I eyed Chris. "Assuming we're staying?" Chris would never back down from anything, but he was a Daddy, and… so are you . And the thought of Calvin being in any sort of danger made me want to hurl.

"No-one that I'm aware of, apart from our regular three security personnel," Daniel said. "But the Coast Guard has just informed us they'll be stepping up patrols until this group has been caught. I can also get some more security staff from Sunset if I need to, but—" He winced.

"But having guards walking around isn't exactly a wedding esthetic," I finished for him. He shook his head.

"Are all the staff here living on the island?" I asked, suddenly curious.

"Usually, but because we're at capacity this weekend, I've used the agency we've used before. The Davisons were originally just coming for a vacation. They decided at the last moment to make it a celebration of their union and asked if we could accommodate them, as you know." He glanced at Chris.

"Daniel called me and asked if that was okay," Chris explained. "They normally limit large groups to just one at a time. Of course, it wasn't a problem for us."

"It also meant I had to use the agency, but we've used them before for Sunset, and their vetting process is excellent. I don't want to cause a panic, but I feel this is something my guests should be informed about," Daniel said.

I nodded, thinking of the old lady I'd seen, and pretty sure Daniel meant her for one. "Matt looks like he can handle himself," I commented thinking of the boat driver.

"Matt isn't allowed to carry," Chris said, and I nodded once in understanding. So, he'd been inside? Didn't surprise me with some of his tatts. But as long as Chris knew and was happy with it, then that was good enough for me.

"I'm about to talk to Joshua, my husband, and the rest of my staff. But basically, anyone that wants to leave will, of course, be offered a full refund." He paused. "Would you like me to see if we can offer an alternative location?"

That was generous of him, and my respect for the man rose.

"Let's go talk to Ricky and Calvin," Chris said. "We'll come and find you." I stood and shook Daniel's hand. I couldn't imagine what an awful position the guy was in.

"What do you want to do?" I asked Chris as soon as we left Daniel's office.

"What I want to do and what Ricky will want are two different things. He's spent eight months planning this."

"He offered to relocate us," I pointed out.

"Yeah," Chris said, "and while Florida hosts a number of gay weddings, can you imagine what strangers might say if they see Ricky running around in a diaper and holding a stuffy, or curling up on my lap with his binkie?"

I blinked at the cute image, and realized just how much of an about-face I'd done from my first impression. I hadn't ever seen Ricky in a diaper, but then I hadn't looked either. Chris sighed. "He only wears them if he gets stressed. A comfort thing."

I nodded. Possible bad guys with guns would certainly do that.

We walked back out to the pool and luckily spotted Calvin trying to blow up a little boat to sit on in the large pool. Ricky had hold of a tube and foot pump, but Calvin was trying to do it with lung power alone. I chuckled and headed over to them. "Calvin," Chris took the tube. "We need to talk to you and Ricky." Not giving them a moment to protest, Chris led them back inside, got some juice, and sat them at a corner table. Ricky's chin wobbled. "Something's wrong."

"Is it the license?" Calvin asked.

Chris shook his head. "No, you know Daniel is a notary and he will perform the ceremony."

I butted in and explained quickly because I could see Ricky was getting worked up. "There's no reason to imagine they would come this far north. The Coast Guard is stepping up patrols."

"And Daniel offered to relocate us all," Chris added, taking hold of Ricky and pulling him onto his lap. I glanced at Calvin, who didn't look particularly upset or panicky.

"At a Sunset," Calvin worked out. "One of Daniel's hotels."

Then Ricky burst into tears. "But it won't be the same. Everything will be ruined ."

Chris hushed him, rocking him close. "No, baby."

"Now then, young man, I'm sure it can't be as bad as all that."

We both turned to see the old lady from the TV room leaning on a stick. "Ma'am," I said and rose politely. She took that as an invitation to take my seat and peered at the four of us.

"Now tell me what's wrong." She patted Ricky's knee with gnarled fingers. "You may call me Nana May. All the Little ones do."

Ricky was so astonished he stopped crying, and I must admit to being surprised myself, both at her immediate assumption and her immediate acceptance. "Binkie," Ricky turned to Chris, and Chris looked torn. I knew he didn't want to put Ricky in a bad situation because we didn't know this woman. "Daddy?" Ricky begged, and Chris sighed, taking one out of his pocket. It wasn't a child's one. He dipped it in the juice and then handed it over. Ricky immediately opened his mouth because Chris obviously gave it to him himself, and Chris obliged.

"No," the woman scolded immediately and both Chris and I stiffened, ready for whatever offensive remark she was likely to spew. "You should have dipped that in cooled boiled water. Dipping it in sugary juice will rot his teeth."

Even Calvin gaped that time.

She opened a huge purse and got out a bottle of water, passing it to Calvin. "Do you need your binkie?"

Calvin shook his head, and I took his hand and squeezed onto the seat next to him. I didn't know how Calvin would feel about me dragging him onto my lap, like Chris had done to Ricky. I knew he liked it in private, but I wasn't sure about here.

She looked over at Chris. "What's the problem?"

Chris smiled evenly. "Just some last-minute snags."

She nodded. "Well, of course. But Joshua is marvelous at last minute snags." I so hoped that was true, but just agreed politely. Then she looked up. "Joshua, come and help solve this."

I saw the now harried-looking man from the TV room earlier, and assumed this was Daniel's husband. He'd clearly been looking for her.

"May-belle," Joshua started. "I was looking for you."

She sighed. "Please don't tell me that useless daughter of mine has sent another doctor to write me off." May-belle tutted and patted Calvin's hand this time.

Joshua sounded indignant. "Of course not. You know Matt wouldn't let her on the island."

And in the middle of everything, Calvin giggled. "Is Matt like a guard dog?"

May-belle sent Calvin a fond glance. "Every year she tries another way to get my money, but Seth always manages to prove I still have all my marbles," I had no idea who Seth was. Joshua looked at Ricky, who was still sniffing.

"Daniel has established that we have room for your entire party at Sunset Royale in Orlando, and—"

"No," Ricky nearly shouted after yanking his binkie out. "I wanna stay here."

"So do I," Calvin whispered, and Ricky reached over to fist bump him.

"Daddy will look after you, Nana May," he declared, then put his binkie back in. Joshua rubbed his forehead like it was aching.

"That's very kind of you, sweetie," she beamed, then looked at Joshua. "Now, why do I need looking after?"

Daniel appeared in the middle of Joshua's lengthy explanation. "May-belle, I can relocate—"

She shook her head. "Absolutely not."

Joshua sighed. "But—"

"Let me see if I understand this correctly. There are a group of marauders targeting islands over two hundred miles away as the crow flies, and the Coast Guard is patrolling, hoping to catch them?"

Daniel nodded. "Well, yes, but—"

"And," she continued, ignoring them both, "they are targeting wealthy resorts?"

Joshua sent Daniel a more hopeful glance. "They are," Daniel confirmed, "but they have no way of knowing if this is one."

Joshua wrinkled his nose. "But it makes it unlikely, surely."

"They're also likely to target the ones with the least security," I pointed out.

"Look," Daniel said. "Talk it over. I'm going to speak to the other large party we have this week, then the individual guests. We also have three trainees."

"What about Skye and Lizzie?" May-belle asked.

"Our daughter," Joshua explained. "Lizzie is Ben's sister, and they're both off the island with my mom. She's taken them to see Mickey Mouse." He looked at Daniel. "Maybe they can stay a few more days while we decide?"

"On it," Daniel agreed.

"And your staff?" I asked, because if they were going, no one could stay.

"Oh, they're just as stubborn as a certain other person I know ," Joshua answered, looking at May-belle pointedly.

"Well, it was very nice meeting you all, but my show starts in five minutes and Geraldine has tried to poison Mark, so I don't want to miss it."

We all watched Joshua help her back to her TV.

"I wish she was my Nana," Calvin said wistfully.

"Yeah," I agreed and lifted Calvin onto my knee, unable to watch him sitting on his own. He let out a started eep, but I silenced it with a kiss, and he relaxed.

Chris met my gaze. "We need to let our guests know. That they have a choice."

I agreed, so giving Calvin a squeeze, I set him on his feet and took his hand. Ricky also looked a lot better and took out his binkie, stuffing it in Chris's pocket. When we got outside, it was to see Matt had blown up all the inflatables and tossed them in the kids' pool and added a huge inflatable swan to the main one. Ricky took Calvin's hand, and they headed that way. I walked over to the first group, which included Chris's stepbrother Steven and his boyfriend Emile, who immediately panicked and demanded Steven take them home.

Steven started protesting and said he was Chris's best man and of course he would stay, then glanced at Calvin but he wasn't looking at him. Chris bent and whispered something to Steven and he nodded. Not that I was sorry as I watched Emile drag a clearly reluctant Steven inside to pack.

Chris sent me an amused glance. Another couple with young children took up Daniel's offer, as did an older man. Matt confirmed Ryder had the boat ready, but he would stay here and find out if they needed the second one.

Daniel came back out in a few minutes and said all the other party were leaving so they would need the other boat. He also said that someone called Rocket was on his way to help Sammi with the bar, and gestured to the bar area that a young man was just opening. "The lunch buffet will be set up at one p.m. but if anyone needs anything before that just ask one of the staff." Daniel smiled and dropped a kiss on Joshua's cheek as he went back in.

It was nice. Easy. And I could see a lot of repeat visits in my future. I glanced at Calvin, who was watching Ricky sit on some sort of inflatable swan and keep falling off. He laughed but shook his head when Ricky tried to get him to go in. It looked like fun. Why didn't Calvin want to go in?

Calvin turned and when he saw me, he smiled. I returned it immediately, remembering the expression on his face this morning in the shower. I wanted a future with Calvin. I just needed to concentrate on getting through this weekend first.