The holiday season comes upon the Fanning household and it keeps both aunt and niece busy for a while. But, day by day, Myra steps ever closer to a confronting mystery that she wishes could be avoided.

Chapter 60 – On the Island

Jason woke and heard – nothing. No rain. No wind. No flapping of sails. The deck was steady, without the normal roll of the sea. Captain Keenstone had taken four hours of sleep after they landed in the trees, and the storm had slowly abated during that time. When he came back on deck he sent Jason below to sleep, and in the next six hours the storm had ended, although looking out at the sea, the waves were still high.

Searching
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

It barely rang twice. She was waiting for his call. He was always happy to hear her voice, whatever the circumstances. She asked: “Honey where are you?”

“I’m still in the Quarter,” he said. “I haven’t found him yet, but I have some news. It’s been very … unsettling.”

“Oh,” she said. She sounded very worried, so he felt that he needed to reassure her.