Better to avoid trouble...

Brenan shook his head. Red would understand being cautious, she would not abide spying.

With that Brenan got up and started towards the shack. Red noticed him immediately. He saw he sigh...but then take a closer look.

"How have you been Red?" Brenan said when he was close enough to not have to shout.

Brenan wondered about why Red flushed a bit. It definitely wasn't like her. "Brenan..." she cleared her throat, "I've been fine."

"I must say Red I was very surprised when I heard you had given up the seaman's life." Brenan said, stopping at the foot of the porch.

"I have a reason." She said before being interrupted by the door opening and a little boy of five or so coming out.

"Mommy, I finished dinner and..." the boy said before pausing. "Who are you?"

"I'm a friend of your mother's". Brenan said, RedKs retirement making sense now. Difficult to raise a child on a ship.

"Are you my dad?"

Brenan chuckled, "No I..."

Red interrupted, "Actually..."