Children of the Storm

slept most of that time, recharging batteries, blissfully unaware of the concern paid them by everyone in that mansion, including Hattie.
        After that, when the weather had cleared substantially, they had been able to return to Seawatch where they were greeted like three modern Lazaruses all raised from the grave. Bess, Henry, Leroy and Helga had all been certain that they were dead, for Saine was dead and Saine was much tougher than they were.
        Since then, she had rested, could hardly get enough of rest, and of Helga's food, which tasted better than she remembered it.
        Each day, Ken came early in the morning, went on walks with her, sat with her on the porch, played cards with her, and slowly became more and more of the romantic young man which he had always had the potential but never the desire to be.
        Now, as they were commenting on the sudden fresh sea breeze, Joe Dougherty came out of the front door and took a chair next to theirs, so they were sitting around a small, white wrought iron cocktail table. He said, “Two days ago, or better, you said you wanted to resign as tutor and governess for the kids.”
        “Well-” she began.
        He held up a hand to stop her.
        “I'd be the first one to admit that you have excellent reasons for wanting to get away from the Dougherty family forever. And when I told you that I intend to remain on Distingue despite all that's happened here, I saw how you paled.” He cleared his throat. “But I've never been one to run from pain or bad memories, and I won't start the practice at this late date. Besides, because of this affair, I'm finding it more and more difficult to seriously consider going back to the crowded suburbs and polluted air of New Jersey. I'll stay- that is, if Ken here is finally willing to accept me as his neighbor.”
        Ken blushed. “I was always so sure that an industrial man like yourself, someone who always has his finger in a lot of pies, would be hell-bent on turning the island into a tourist trap.”
        “You believe I haven't any such designs?”
        “I do now. But I was always so afraid you'd ruin Distingue.”
        “I've not known it long enough to love it like you do,” Joe said, “But I'm getting there.” He looked back at Sonya. “I'm willing to accept your resignation and break your contract, but I do wish you'd change your mind about leaving.”
        “Well-” she began.
        He stopped her. “Let me finish. I find you to be one of the most valuable employees I've ever had. You're intelligent, cheerful and amazingly courageous. When a professional bodyguard couldn't protect my children and keep himself alive, you took them under your wing. When you were put into an impossible situation, you performed the impossible solution and saved both yourself and my kids. I owe you all I have.”
        “If you'd let me get a word in edgewise,” she said, a smile on her face, “I'd save you all this embarrassing repetition. I've decided not to leave you, the kids or Distingue, after all.”
        He looked blank, for a moment, then broke into an enormous Irish smile. “What changed your mind?”
        “Ken,” she said.
        He looked at the two of them, smiled and said, “Oh, it's like that, is it, now?”
        “It may be,” Ken said. “Eventually. Right now, we're just getting to know each other. For the last three days, I've learned a lot from Sonya, more than I thought anyone could teach me now that I'd grown up. She's shown me a brighter side of life, a more pleasant outlook on things than I'd ever known I could have. I've gained-I guess you'd call it perspective.”
        “And you?” Dougherty said, looking at Sonya. “I still haven't heard what he's said to you that's made you rethink your position.”
        She said, “I've always avoided people who seemed sober or serious, always opted for friends who were fun-loving and cheerful-and even giddy. I wanted to run from the bad memories associated with Distingue, but I also wanted to get away from Leroy Mills' secretiveness which I once thought sinister and now see is only his way. I wanted to get away from Henry's once-a-week grump. Now I see that it's not much to endure that in order to work with him on the days he's himself. I was the opposite of Ken, too eager to experience only the best parts of life, and I too needed balance. I think, from him, I've gotten a little of that.”
        Dougherty got to his