Jason slowly turned his head. Ten steps away, beside a luggage cart, stood Captain Reyes in full uniform, with two port security officers behind him. A woman in a navy blazer held a clipboard beside them, and standing quietly nearby was my father, who had flown in the night before. Jason’s mistress immediately stepped away from him. “Natalie,” he whispered, staring at me, “what is this?”

I adjusted our babies in my arms. “Three weeks ago, I contacted the cruise line’s human resources office,” I told him. I’d sent them every message Jason had written from the ship and every photograph his crewmates had posted. Captain Reyes had agreed to meet him here. Then the woman with the clipboard stepped forward. “Mr. Hale, I’m from the company’s legal department. We need to discuss the guest you brought aboard.” Jason’s face suddenly went gray.

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