“I would never. I am leaving a note for him. He left chocolates for my family, and I want to surprise him.” The maid looks her over and decides to trust her.
“You’re in luck, then. He just left, looking all pleased with himself and dressed up too! Come on, I will let you in, but I’m afraid I can only give you a few minutes.”
“Thank you!” She follows the maid swiftly down the stairs to his cabin. They look up and down the hallway before she pulls her key chain and opens the door. “I will knock twice when it’s time for you to leave. Hurry up.”
Summer ducks inside and moves through his small cabin. He has a small seating area with a porthole and a desk for writing. As she glances at the desk, she notices that everything is perfectly placed. The notebooks are stacked with a precision that speaks to obsession. A small bedroom flanks the living area. When she steps inside, she wrinkles her nose as the sweet smell of sugar that hangs in the air. His bed is made, and no wrinkles are present. Summer moves to the closet and finds his clothing arranged with the matching shoes lined up directly beneath each outfit.
“A stickler, of course.” She fights the urge to toss the contents in his room just to drive him crazy. Instead, she turns and walks toward another small table, but this one is obviously where he makes his candy. It is less clean, with molds for candy making and tools required for the job. A large tray of lollipops is lined up for his next day’s work. Summer moves on and returns to his closet. The perfectly lined clothing hide a wooden box behind them. Slowly removing it from the shelf, she opens it and finds two large syringes inside.
“What's this?” Carefully, she looks but does not touch the needles. One syringe is empty with only a little fluid left inside while the other seems to be half full. She closes the box and goes to slide it back onto the shelf. She hears paper crinkle and meets with resistance. Reaching she grabs a folder from the back before sliding the box back into place. Stepping quietly, she moves closer to the evening light coming in from the porthole and opens the file. Gasping, she reads swiftly.
A few moments later, the maid knocks and Summer stuffs the folder back behind the box. Sick to her belly, she quickly leaves being sure not to disturb anything else. They lock the door and she thanks the maid before slipping her some money. “Call me Annie, Miss. If you need anything else just ask for me.” Summer smiles and hurries off.
On the top deck of the ship, she strolls with a shawl around her shoulders, lost in thought. What to do with this information. Dr. Jung Rudolph is not his actual name. His travel papers show a different name. Dr. Alberto Hast is here under an assumed name, but why? She can hear the music below, and the laughter sifts upstairs. For a moment Summer wishes that she was dancing without a care in the world. Would she ever find that special person to spend her life with? For the first time she feels alone, and it is not a good feeling.
Summer returns to her cabin and decides to talk to her father in the morning. She unlocks the drawer and retrieves a leather-bound book. With the final copy of Protocol Two in her hand, she hides it inside Hayden’s fairytale book for safekeeping. At least until she talks to her Father. She will tell him everything, he will know what to do. Hopefully, in four days they will arrive in Boston and start their new lives and doctor whoever will just be a bad memory. Exhaustion sets in, and she retires to her room to sleep.
When her family comes in, they let her sleep. The twins rest tucked into their beds by their mother, and Natalie and Charles retire early, to enjoy the few moments of alone time they can steal.
“You look beautiful, my love,” Charles says watching her slip from her dress. Natalie smiles turning and begins to strip her clothes off slowly.
“Thank you.”
Charles moves closer with a smile on his lips and pulls his wife into his arms. “Do you know how much I love you, Natalie?” he growls.
“Show me.” They spend the next hour loving each other before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter 8
Summer dreams in color. The ship floats on a sea of silver, emerald, blue, and purple clouds. His voice calls to her, so deep and masculine that it sends chills over her body. Looking out into the misty clouds, she can make out the shape of another ship. A boom startles her as the conquering ship closes and shoots a mooring line into the side of her ship, securing them together. Male laughter echoes and she smiles at the sound. His laughter calls to her, and she steps forward and reaches for his hand…
“Summer, I need your help!” Her mother’s voice calls out from the twin’s room. Startled, she sits up, heart pounding with a hand at her throat. A hoarse cough and weeping greet her ears. Summer leaps from her bed and pulls on her wrapper before running into the twin’s room.
“What is it, what’s wrong?” Summer carries her lantern into the room and places it beside Hayley’s bed.
“They are both sick with fever and your father and I are sick too. You need to ring for Dr. Rudolph.”
Summer looks closely at both girls who are flushed red with fever. After offering Hayley some water, she turns to her mother. “What are your symptoms?” Natalie is tucking Hayden in and worrying over the cough she
