The Notorious Mrs. Wright. Fay Robinson

right?” the woman asked.

      “Yes, ma’am. My mom gave it to me years ago, but I wrote it down.”

      “Do you know what your father’s date of birth was or his social security number? A middle initial would be good, too.”

      “No, ma’am, I don’t, but I might be able to get them.”

      “That would help. Meanwhile, I know of a couple of databases we can check and some online sources. Let’s see what we can find.”

      An hour later, they still hadn’t come up with anything. Tom’s disappointment grew.

      “That’s odd,” the lady said. “I would’ve thought we’d at least find newspaper articles. Well, here’s what we’ll do.” She went and got a booklet and handed it to him. “In here you’ll find instructions for requesting your dad’s military records. Those may or may not have the details you want about his death, but they should give you something. One little tidbit often leads to another. Try to fill out as many of the spaces on the form as you can and indicate you want information under the Freedom of Information Act.”

      “How much will that cost?”

      “The search is free, but they’ll charge you a fee per page for photocopying. They’ll notify you of how much it is before they send the records, though.”

      “How long will all this take?”

      “Honestly, it can take months.”

      “Months?” He slumped in the chair.

      “I know that’s discouraging, but they get several million requests every year.”

      Tom nodded. Whatever it took, he’d do it.

      “Meanwhile, I suggest you talk with your mom and surviving members of your family to see what news clippings and documents they already have. That’s the best place to start with a genealogy project. What about your grandparents, your dad’s parents? Are they still alive?”

      “No, ma’am. At least I don’t think so.”

      “Did your dad have brothers or sisters?”

      “Not that I know of. My mom’s never talked too much about her people or my dad’s. She told me once that her and my dad got married real young and their families didn’t like it too much. They stopped talking to each other. I never met my grandparents. I don’t even know their names.”

      “That’s too bad. But much of this information is readily available if you know where to look.”

      Tom perked up. “Really? Tell me how.”

      EMMA WOULD REMEMBER this afternoon as close to perfect. After the boat ride, Whit retrieved his rental car from his motel and took her out to Anastasia Island. He made her climb all one hundred and ten of the circular steps of the lighthouse, and then coerced another tourist into taking a photograph of them together at the top.

      After, they visited the public pier, since he said fishing was one of his favorite pastimes. They sat on the concrete seawall and talked. She asked if he’d been out on one of the charter boats yet.

      “A few days ago.”

      “Which one?”

      “Uh…The Blue…something or other.”

      “You don’t remember?”

      “Not off the top of my head.”

      “I don’t know of one with blue in its name.”

      “I could be wrong.”

      A couple of hours later, they drove back to the mainland and parked behind the restaurant, then strolled Saint George’s pedestrian walkway, shopping for gifts for his seven nieces and nephews.

      Ignoring her pleas not to, he picked a hibiscus flower to put behind her ear and bought silly matching T-shirts with cartoon fish on them that read I’m Hooked on Saint Augustine. He insisted they both had to put them on over their clothes and have another photo taken.

      After dark he fed her ribs and took her on a carriage ride through downtown. The slow clop-clop of the horse’s hooves on the street as they rode along was as soothing as soft music.

      “You’ve asked about me,” she said, “and now it’s my turn. You’ve told me hardly anything about yourself.”

      “Not much to tell. I was born in Lansing. I work with my dad in the office. My sisters live nearby so weekends tend to be a family affair with all of us getting together at my parents’ house. I like to play golf and watch football.”

      “And fish.”

      “Yeah, and fish. I inherited that gene from my dad.”

      “Tell me about your mom. What’s she like?”

      “She’s great. She sells real estate, loves antiques and asks me at least once a day when I’m going to do my part to add to her pool of grandchildren.”

      “You’ve never been married?”

      “No, and I can’t say I’ve ever even been serious about a woman. I work long hours, and it’s hard to sustain a relationship. What about you? Why haven’t you remarried?”

      “I never met anyone I liked well enough to spend my life with. And I have a son to consider. His welfare and happiness always come first with me.”

      “He’s a lucky kid.”

      She smiled. “I’m the lucky one. Being both mother and father has been hard at times, but having a child has been the best part of my life.”

      “Can I ask how your husband died?”

      “His unit was training off the coast of California at night. The navy said his equipment must have malfunctioned, because he didn’t make the rendezvous. They never found his body.”

      “Damn, that’s rough.” He smoothly put one arm around her shoulder and reached over with the other to take her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. Emma didn’t mind.

      “How old was your son when his father died?”

      “Tom wasn’t born yet. I’d only just found out I was pregnant.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      “It was a long time ago.”

      “Tell me about your son. How old is he and what’s he like?”

      “He’s talented, smart, handsome and inquisitive, but I guess all mothers think that about their children. For a seventeen-year-old, he’s also remarkably self-sufficient. I guess he’s had to be, with me working nights most of his life. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about leaving him alone anymore, now that we live above the restaurant.”

      “His name is Tom? Isn’t that what you said?”

      “Yes, John Thomas. He’ll be a senior in high school this year.”

      “So you named him for his father?”

      The question confused her for a moment. Memories of her little brother nearly closed up her throat. She wondered if J.T. thought of her as often as she thought of him.

      “No, my husband’s name was William. I named Tom for…well, a little boy I cared very much for as a child.”

      “A relative?”

      “No, a friend.”

      “Where’s Tom tonight? Will he worry about you not being at work?”

      “No, he’s with his friend Tony Parker. I’m sure they’re off somewhere attempting to woo women. That seems to be their primary mission this summer.”

      He chuckled. “I remember those years well. Wooing women was always my goal on a Saturday night.”

      “How old are you, Whit?”