The Pirate Queen by Patricia Hickman Read Free Book Online Page A

where we’re staying,” said Eddie. “My grandpa’s house is right on the water. Look, it’s up South.” He pointed to the house. It had a pretty green roof and a porch with nothing on it. Saphora would dig around the garage for porch chairs.
    “It’s an old house, but I have my own room,” said Tobias. There was a sense of isolation about Tobias as if he had learned to live on his own for most of his life.
    “Eddie would love to have you over,” said Saphora. She walked Eddie and Tobias back up to the Lexus, where Bender finished up his call with Gwennie.
    She got out a pen and took down Tobias’s telephone number. Eddie needed a diversion, a playmate. “Can I meet your folks?” she asked.
    “They’ve gone for a walk,” said Tobias. “They said they needed grownup time. I’m good with that.”
    “I’m tired,” said Eddie. He handed Tobias his shovel. He got into the backseat without saying good-bye to the boy. He was likely still drugged from the cold medicine.
    “I’ll be sure he calls you, Tobias,” said Saphora. “He’s shy, but he’ll get over it.”
    Tobias was just walking away when he turned and said, “Sometimes I’m sick. But I take medication.”
    “This is my husband, Bender. He’s sick too,” said Saphora.
    Tobias shook Bender’s hand. “Be sure to call,” he told Saphora.
    When he was gone, Saphora asked, “How did Gwennie sound? Turner told her your circumstances already, so she did know.”
    “Fine,” was all Bender said. He followed Eddie back to the car.
    Saphora looked up and down South trying to catch sight of Tobias’s parents. Tobias was walking straight through the sand castle. The delicate turrets collapsed around his feet. He saw her watching and yelled, “I’d rather it come down on my terms.”
    It occurred to Saphora that it was a rather adult response, but she had heard of the occasional child who was an old soul.
    It was at that point the sun finally set. The couples all along the road to the harbor stopped to watch. She had not shared, to her recollection, a single sunset walking down a beach with Bender.

    By the time Saphora drove down South Avenue, dusk was settling over the house, making it look like an old manor house in England. She had kept up the lawn service. The fence running the length of the backyard to the water was draped with flowering trees. Bender got out of the car and unlocked the padlock on the garage door. He would have a garage door opener installed soon enough and said so.
    As they drove up, it was evident the house had faded under the continual coastal sun. Saphora would buy potted plants to place near the house if it seemed Bender wanted to stay long. She doubted that, assuming he would tire of trying to die in Oriental. He would want to head back to where his friends could come and see him once he realized he could not decide just to lie down and die.
    The old garage door shimmied but then opened like a yawning old man. Saphora drove inside. Eddie jumped out onto the garage pad still holding the bag of seashells.
    Saphora told him to brush the sand off before going into the house. She unlocked the door, and just inside there was a mud room. “You can wash the grit off your hands in the mop sink in the laundry room. Look around the house for a jar or a vase. You can pour your shells into it and start your collection,” she said. “Careful you don’t drop them.” He was not accident prone like Turner, but she still sensed the need to chase after him just as she had Turner to keep him from hurting himself. She hoped Eddie would find a life faster than his father, who had gone from career to career until he found his place in nursing.
    That was still a sore spot with Bender, who had planned lavishly for all three kids to attend expensive private colleges. Once Bender had nearly blamed Saphora for Turner’s lack of drive. But she had pushed him until she was exhausted. Some boys just don’t take to their raising, as Saphora’s