he tall man that had disembarked hurried down the pier and lifted Evie into his arms.

     "Uncle Rorik!" she squealed with a tight hug around his neck. 

     He chuckled and patted her back as he watched James and Mina approach. 

     “How is my precious little girl?” he asked with a hug to his niece. 

     “I’m just fine, Uncle,” she said cheerfully. 

     She pulled away to look at him and return his smile. “Do you like my new dress? Mother bought it for me for my birthday!” 

     “Did she really?” he asked as he looked it over. “You didn’t make this one, Mina?” he asked as the couple reached him. 

     “Not this time,” she answered with a smile. “James brought us shopping for an outing this morning to celebrate Evie’s birthday. She loved this little dress the moment she saw it.” 

     “She wouldn’t let the shopkeeper box it up,” James chuckled. “She wore it right out of the shop all the way here.” 

     “Mother ordered one for herself so we can dress alike for the ladies’ auxiliary luncheon,” Evie told him as he set her to her feet. 

     “Mina at a ladies’ auxiliary gathering?” wondered Rorik in awe. “You’ve tamed my wild, unabashed sister, James.” 

     James laughed with Rorik as they looked at Mina for her reaction. 

     Mina held her head up and smoothed out her lemon-colored dress in a proper manner. “I’ll have you know, brother, that I was always proper. You and Father made me learn the crude ways of men after Mother joined the angels. Being the wife of a refined gentleman like James has allowed me to return to the way a lady should behave.” 

     The men stared at her a moment as she held her chin up and glared at them as though to impress upon them her stately manner. 

     “You were climbing trees without your bloomers beneath your dress,” Rorik blurted, causing James to laugh loudly and Mina to gasp. 

     Evie gasped, as well, and stared at her mother with open-mouthed shock and widened eyes. “Mother! You said climbing trees isn’t lady like.” 

     Rorik laughed and patted Evie on the head. “She thinks nothing of you not wearing bloomers, only climbing trees!” 

     He and James laughed again and Mina huffed. 

     “I had a bit of an accident, Rorik, and you know it,” she replied with a small pout. “You and the other children blocked me from my private chambers so I couldn’t relieve myself,” she said with a lowered voice. 

     Evie gasped again. 

     “You wet yourself, Mother?” she asked with a deep blush. 

     “I was your age,” Mina answered, “and it was your uncle’s fault.” 

     “I concede to that, dear sister, but climbing that tree without bloomers was completely your decision,” he chuckled as James laughed. 

     Mina huffed and took Evie by the hand. “If you two cannot behave as gentlemen, I’ll be taking Evie home.” 

     Rorik smiled as he pulled his sister close. He held her and patted her arm as Evie smiled and hugged them both. 

     “You know I love you, Mina,” he said with a squeeze of his arms. “You’re a fine lady and you’re raising a fine daughter.” 

     He looked down at Evie, who had begun pulling them toward the boarding plank, and laughed at her eagerness.

     Mina smiled up at him and pulled his face down to kiss his cheek. 

     “Take care of her, Rory,” she said with concern. 

     He patted her back and gave her a stern nod. “I shall always protect my precious niece, Mina. She’ll be safe. The men know what I’ll do to them should they behave improperly around her.” 

     She smiled as he winked and held onto James’ arm when he wrapped it around her waist. They waved as Evie turned to wave at them while she held Rorik’s hand. 

     “They’ll be at sea for the better part of the day, Mina dear,” James said suggestively near her ear. 

     Mina blushed and giggled as he turned them around to hurry home.