“I caught a fish!”
“You did,” Joy praised. “And a fine one at that. But now we need more.”
They spent the day casting lines and sharing laughter, Joy explaining the nuances of fishing, and Thomas learning as much as he could. It was obvious to her that he was enjoying the new endeavor. Even as he fumbled with slimy worms and slippery fish, his laughter mingled freely with hers, a sound as bright and clear as the sea itself.
Shortly before suppertime, they gathered their fishing gear and their catch for the day to take it all inside. Joy watched as Thomas held up their string of fish.
“Shall we take these to the kitchen?” he asked. He seemed excited to show off their handiwork.
“Absolutely,” she agreed.
Mrs. Dunfrey raised an eyebrow at the sight before her. “Well, well,” she commented dryly, “the master of the house has turned fisherman, has he?”
“Only with the best of teachers,” Thomas replied.
Mrs. Dunfrey set to work, cleaning and preparing the fish with skilled hands. The aroma of cooking filled the kitchen, mingling with the satisfaction that comes from a meal hard-earned.
When they sat down to eat, Thomas took his first bite, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face. “I never knew fish could taste this good,” he admitted.
“Everything tastes better when you catch it yourself,” Joy said.
“Perhaps,” Thomas mused, “but I suspect it has more to do with the company.”
*****
Joy and Thomas sat side by side in the sand, enjoying the rhythmic crash of the waves. Joy’s toes wiggled freely, a contented sigh escaped her as she rested her head on his shoulder. “You did a good job fishing today. Soon, I’ll have you gardening and hunting with me, and you’ll forget how to work on ledgers.”
“Seems to me you’re trying to turn me into the kind of man you would have married if you’d stayed in Beckham.”
Joy laughed at that. “No man in Beckham would have had me. That’s part of the problem of being part of the demon horde. No one particularly believes you can outgrow your misdeeds. That’s why my family is scattered far and wide. We couldn’t seem to outgrow our reputations.”
Thomas shook his head. “I have a hard time believing that no one would have married a woman as beautiful as you are. It makes no sense.”
“Well, would you want to marry a woman who you knew might lock you in an outhouse for no other reason than it amused her?”
He frowned. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“No, but I did as a child. And that’s what people know of me. And don’t think you’re the only man who has ever seen me running around in britches that I had no business wearing. Half of Beckham thought I would never be able to settle down and have a family. There’s only one of us left unmarried, and that’s Ida Mae. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had to go all the way to Seattle to find a husband.”
“Seattle?” he asked.
She nodded. “Elizabeth didn’t start her business. No, she took it over from a woman who went to Seattle as a mail-order bride herself. So, when I think of far away, I rarely think of other countries. I think of how far away Seattle is.”
As if on cue, the first drop of rain plopped onto the sand between them, the dark spot quickly multiplying as more drops joined. Joy turned her face upward, a giggle bursting out. She stood, holding out her hand to Thomas. “Come on, let’s enjoy this!” She wanted to dance with him in the rain, but she had a feeling he would protest.
Thomas took her hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. They strolled back toward the house, laughter mingling with the sound of the downpour. Raindrops were drenching them, but they didn’t rush. Instead, they savored the moment, the freedom, and the sheer joy of the day they had shared.
“Who would have thought a day of fishing could lead to such revelry?” Thomas quipped, shaking his head as water droplets flew from his hair.
“Life is full of surprises,” Joy replied, grinning up at him. Her dress was soaked through, clinging to her legs as they walked, but she didn’t care a bit. “Especially when you’re willing to get a little wet.”
Upon reaching the house, they found refuge under the covered back porch, settling their drenched bodies onto the porch swing. They sat and watched as the storm transformed the ocean into a wild tempest. Joy felt as if she was one with nature, the pulse of the storm moving through her body.
“There’s something about the rain,” she said after a moment. “It washes away all of yesterday’s mistakes, leaving a clean slate so I can make all new mistakes tomorrow. And we all know there will be more mistakes every single day.”
“Your optimism is infectious,” he said, chuckling lightly. “I think I’m starting to see the world through your eyes, and I must say, I like it.”
“Ah, but don’t let it fool you,” she said. “I plan on teaching you to garden next. In fact, you should build me a greenhouse in our back garden so I can start soon. Imagine how much I could grow if I had the whole year to do it.”
