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His plan had gone off without a hitch, and he hoped this would be even better.
“I know. I’m just excited about it, that’s all,” he said.
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thanks, Josie. You’re a lifesaver.”
Dane went back to his office, his heart fluttering. This article was a big deal. He hoped Alissa would be pleased when he finally let the secret out.
* * *
Michael wandered around the deck of the old cruise ship. The floorboards creaked, and he winced. Getting those creaks fixed would undoubtedly be a big expense, since he had the feeling the damage went beyond the surface. He went into the interior, which still had an old smell to it despite keeping the doors open. The area had plenty of space, though he saw the flaws in it. The floors, of course, had some water stains, some rotting wood.
Then, he went into the bridge. The technology was probably modern when he was a kid. At least the general hardware was there and just needed some tuning up to work. With a boat this small, one that probably wasn’t going to go far from Blueberry Bay, it didn’t need all the bells and whistles of a modern cruise liner.
Below deck wasn’t much better. The kitchen there was big, but needed serious elbow grease to be functional and clean.
But like Caitlin had said, it had good bones. He imagined people looking out onto Blueberry Bay’s beautiful sunsets together, or enjoying a cocktail. It was big enough for a crowd that was still big, but somewhat intimate. It really did have potential.
He went upstairs again and spotted Caitlin and Pearl hand-in-hand, looking at the ship.
“Hey there,” Michael said, nodding in greeting. “What are you two up to?”
Caitlin waved in return, slightly sheepish. “Not much. Pearl was asking about the magic pirate ship, so I brought her here to check it out.”
Michael glanced over his shoulder and smiled. He could see where she was coming from—he could imagine the ship drifting slowly out of the fog on the open sea. “Magic pirate ship, huh?”
Pearl nodded, a grin spreading across her face. “Yeah!”
Her enthusiasm and earnestness was adorable. He was better with teenagers, but Pearl seemed sweet.
“Want to see the inside of the magic ship?” Michael asked.
“Yes!” Pearl practically dragged Caitlin toward the boat entrance. Caitlin laughed, but followed readily, excitement in her eyes too.
Michael helped them both on the boat. “Let me show you around.”
He led them into the main enclosure, which looked more massive with people in it. Caitlin touched the windowsill, looking up at the ceiling. Michael couldn’t read her clearly in that moment, but he could tell she was deep in thought.
“It’s a lot bigger in here than it looks on the outside,” she said.
“Yeah. That’s true of downstairs as well. Want to check it out?”
“Sure.”
Caitlin took Pearl’s hand and followed Michael out onto the deck, then downstairs again. The lower level was also big, but it was separated into various rooms. Caitlin stopped in the kitchen, looking around. Her eyes widened for a moment, like she was shocked it was there, but that surprise turned to a quiet look of happiness.
“Do pirates cook food?” Pearl asked.
“Yes, if they’re hungry.” Caitlin cracked another smile. “This kitchen isn’t in awful shape. It must have been well-maintained when it was in use.”
“I bet it was,” Michael said. “The whole thing was probably a beauty in its day.”
“Has a price been set yet?” Caitlin asked.
“Not yet, but whatever it is, it’ll be low.” Michael leaned against the door frame. “Are you interested?”
“Yeah, I think I am,” she said, looking around again. “Especially now that I’ve seen this kitchen. It would be perfect for a dinner cruise. Do you think it would do well around here? I know the tourists love the local restaurants and they love the boat tours, so why not combine them?”
