Page 65 of Hidden Depths

The one she showed you.

And the one she kept hidden beneath the surface.

I never forgot that.

Maybe because he'd usually say it while smiling.

As if the ocean were an old friend who enjoyed keeping secrets.

The morning sun climbed slowly above the horizon, turning the water into a blanket of shimmering gold.

Sea Whisper glided through it without effort.

Some mornings...

I forgot I was working.

This was one of them.

Almost.

Almost.

"Captain."

I turned.

Ben stood in the doorway of the bridge with two mugs of coffee.

"I think I'm stealing your routine."

I smiled.

"You'll have to ask Willow."

"I already did."

"And?"

"She said captains don't function without coffee."

I laughed.

"She's not wrong."

He handed me the mug before stepping beside me.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

We simply watched the ocean.

Ben finally broke the silence.

"You've built something special here."

I looked around the bridge.

"My grandfather did."