Chapter Twenty

The following day, Taylor was acutely aware that it was Thanksgiving.

"I love it," she said. "At least, I want to. I always dreamed of having a big family and a big traditional turkey dinner and all that. So, it was both a magical day for me and a tough one. It held lots of potential but also disappointment."

They were walking along the deck, the brilliant sun blazing overhead, the air warm and salty. They were far enough south that the frigid November temperatures had been replaced by balmy tropical breezes.

But something didn't fit. There was something present that…shouldn't have been. She stopped walking and sniffed the air.

"What's wrong?" Ireneo asked, a knowing glean in his eyes as he smirked at his baby girl.

"Do you smell that?"

Ireneo just sort of shrugged. Taylor laughed. "Seriously, Daddy. Do you smell that?"

"What does it remind you of?"

"Like, a turkey dinner."

"Hmm. Perhaps we should go into the dining hall."

Taylor hurried after Daddy when he started walking again. She still wasn't sure if it was all in her head because she'd been thinking about the holiday, or if a meal had truly been prepared.

When she arrived in the luxurious dining space, she realized there was nothing imaginary about it. A Thanksgiving feast was spread upon the buffet tables, piping hot and waiting.

The place was decorated in golden fall leaves, mums, pumpkins, and turkey centerpieces.

"Surprise!" Daisy said.

Taylor hugged her. "Did you do all this?"

"Not the meal. The ship's chefs did that. But I did the decorations. I made them! That's what I've been working on these past couple of days."

The other Littles, Bigs, security guards, and ship employees who were still aboard, flooded into the room, eager to share a holiday meal with one another.

"This is amazing!" Levi said. He hurried toward the dessert table, but his Mommy called to him, causing him to stop dead in his tracks.

"After dinner," she snapped.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please," Captain Regan said, pointing to the tables that had been strung together in the center of the room, making one long sitting area. "Have a seat. Let's have a quick word before we eat."

Everyone found their spots. The chefs had changed from their traditional white uniforms and were even among the gathered. No one on the ship was left out.

At the head of the table, Captain Reagan was standing. "I just wanted to say, before we dig in, that I am thankful for each and every one of you. And for this ship. It's a blessing to get to do what I love. Captaining the Little Star has been a dream come true. Of course, it's made even more wonderful that I get to do it with my darling wife at my side. Nelly, I love you and I'm thankful for you." He looked at the rest of the group. "Would anyone else like to say anything?"

A silence fell over them before Taylor cleared her throat and stood. She wiped a tear from her cheek as she said, "I'm so thankful to be here. A week ago, I never would have dreamed! I don't have much family—just some foster siblings whom I love dearly—but I don't get to see them much.

"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is…I know we just met days earlier. But you all have taken me in and, well…I already think of you as that family I always dreamed of. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Everyone applauded and cheered, calling out well wishes.

"And I'm also thankful for my Daddy," she said, once the celebration had died down. "My forever Daddy."

Ireneo stood and hugged her while everyone cheered again.

"Well, if there's nothing more to add," Captain Reagan said, "let's grab our plates and dig in! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!"

Taylor was all smiles as she held Daddy's hand and followed him to the buffet. Steam arose from the turkey. The stuffing and cranberry sauce looked amazing. The green beans and corn did, too.

But it wasn't the food that Taylor was the most grateful for.

It was her new family. And Daddy.

***

Later that night, the Littles had gathered in the ship's daycare.

"Slumber party!" Nelly yelled in delight.

"I'm so glad our Daddies are letting us do this," Taylor said.

"Don't forget the Mommy representation," Levi said, as he plopped his sleeping bag onto the floor.

The other Littles laughed.

"And your Mommy," Taylor corrected herself. "This is going to be so much fun!"

"Look what I brought," Daisy said, pointing to a small table against the wall. "All the leftover cakes, pies, and cookies from Thanksgiving dinner. We can have all the sweets we want!"

"I brought some soda," Ella announced. "And my leftover Halloween candy. This is going to be junk food heaven."

The Littles were giggling with glee as they settled on the floor, before the TV that hung on the wall, eager to watch cartoons. It was then that Taylor realized she was the only one without a stuffie.

"Rashawn!" she yelled.

"Huh?" Levi asked, cocking his head to one side as he studied her.

"Sorry. He's my stuffie. I bought him back in New York the night I met my Daddy. I need to go grab him. Be right back," she told them as she hurried from the daycare.

She left that wing of the ship, made her way to the deck, and hurried toward the portion that held the cabins. It was kind of eerie but also beautiful to be the only one out there at nighttime. There were plenty of lights on the Little Star, but the ocean before her still looked endless and black, causing a sense of awe to grip her. She was also slightly afraid. The vastness of it seemed overwhelming, but she was thankful to be on the safety of the large vessel. Plus, Daddy was close by. Nothing could get her when Daddy was near.

She stopped walking and stared out, seeing something that didn't quite belong. It was coming toward the Little Star quickly. A second later, she noticed another one. She squinted. It was hard to make out any details, but the moon was bright enough to cast off a bit of light.

Were those sharks?

A chill traced her spine. She knew they couldn't get to her way up there, but they still gave her the creeps!

They seemed to be coming awfully fast, though. How quickly could sharks swim? She didn't know much about the animals.

She forced her feet to trudge closer to the railing, where she'd have a better view. Once there, she gripped it and craned her neck over. It was a long way down, but she could see…jet skis? What? They were in the middle of the ocean! How could jet skis be—

Something rocketed up toward her, hitting the railing and wrapping around it. She gasped, her eyes going wide in shock, and it took her brain a few seconds to compute what she was seeing.

A grappling hook on the end of a sturdy nylon rope. Another one appeared, and then a third. Someone had ridden jet skis right up to the Little Star!

Before she knew it, three people were ascending up the ship's wall, bounding over the railing, and coming onboard.

And she was trapped.