"You should go talk to her," Gunner said rather bluntly.
"I will. First, give me some mead."
The first mate slapped Gunner's hand away from the mead. "She will do it without liquid courage. Haven't you heard how belligerent your sister is when she is drunk?"
"All right," Serenica sighed and went outside.
To her displeasure, she found Mrs. Ingram drinking rum straight from the bottle.
"Here, want some?" the woman asked, handing the bottle to her daughter.
Serenica shook her head. "I have heard from credible sources that I am insufferable when I'm intoxicated."
"It is not always so that mistakes are unwanted." Mrs. Ingram looked at her, and she looked wonky enough that she had to be properly drunk by now. "You were an accident, but you were the best thing to happen to me. You made me less selfish."
