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“Looks like you’ve been busy learning the ropes. Maybe later tonight, you can show me how well.” I can feel her stretch her neck out almost like a cat as my hands grope over her body, and I can’t resist nipping at her gently.
But then I let her go, not wanting to get too carried away yet. “So, Shauna, have you decided where we’re headed yet?” It’s back to regular conversation, despite the play of seduction that just occurred. I like to keep Shauna on her toes.
“Mexico, my final answer,” she replies. I told her the next stop would be up to her as I’ve set most of the course so far.
I nod and start heading over to the cockpit. Doing a preliminary check of instruments is always my habit before we set underway, and everything is as it should be.
Actually, as I look at Shauna I know everything is actually better than it should be. Without her here, I would have become even more isolated. I would be cut off from the world, lost in calculations and course corrections. I would have been sailing, but I would not have enjoyed myself nearly a fraction as much as I have with her aboard, all jokes aside.
In fact, I don’t think I’d enjoy any part of my life nearly a fraction as much as I could with her.
“Vive la Mexico,” Shauna continues. “Do you plan on doing a tour of the entire Gulf?”
“Maybe.” I shrug nonchalantly. “At the very least, I thought we could make it a bit of a cooking tour as well. You had so much fun trying the food here in Jamaica. If you want to go to Mexico, you might enjoy some real, authentic molé next, if that works for you.”
“Sounds good to me. Why? Did you think I would ever say no to food?” She jokes more easily these days as well, setting up the kit we picked up to grill on the deck.
“Geographically speaking, we’re still pretty close to the eastern seaboard.” I begin, taking a deep breath before releasing it. “Given your recent troubles, I would understand if you wanted to get as far away as possible right now. Or if you’ve changed your mind completely. If you wanted to turn around and go back into protective custody, I would understand that as well.”
Shauna looks off into the horizon for a long moment, sipping her mojito thoughtfully. The quiet between us is no longer awkward but peaceful, as she gathers her thoughts and I give her the space to answer me honestly. She is careful but open when she answers me, after taking a moment to really consider what I am silently asking.
I don’t want anything to happen to you. How much do you trust me?
“Mexico sounds like a great idea,” she reaffirms after a minute. “The fact of the matter is, we don’t know what’s in store for the future. Judge and his goons could wake up tomorrow, or they could wake up thirty years from now. Who knows?”
She sighs. “I can’t spend my life hiding and waiting for them to find me. Tried that once, and it didn’t work, and it almost got you killed in the process. More importantly, I don’t want to live like that anymore, not if it means hiding from the people I care about the most. I’m going to hope they go to jail when they wake up and that’s the end of that.”
“You deserve to have a good life, Shauna,” I agree. “One that doesn’t involve you always looking over your shoulder. I don’t see how they could track you down on the boat, anyway, so I think you’re probably safer here than most places. And you seem happier, too, and that counts for a lot. If anyone does show up, I’m prepared to deal with that.”
“You’ve taught me so much, Emile. Not just about sailing and the world, but about how to be strong and steadfast in the ways that really matter. So no, it doesn’t matter to me whether we sail to Mexico, to Iceland, or even Timbuktu. Just as long as whatever we do, we do together.”
“Oh, Shauna.” I can’t help but reach out to kiss her. She returns the affection with gladdened enthusiasm, and it’s only the sound of shells popping that breaks our reverie. I wipe some errant moisture from her eyes, and then she backs away to move the clams off the heat, even as I reply, “Timbuktu is landlocked, by the way.”
It’s her turn to shrug as she moves to mix up a few ingredients for a sauce. “That is why you’re the captain, and I’m just the lowly skipper.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll make a true sailor out of you yet. Just stick with the grunt work and leave the navigating to me. We wouldn’t want to turn this baby into a ghost ship just yet.”
“Do you think we’ll find any ghost ships around Mexico?” she asks as she sets the food up. I grab a few pillows to sit on from under the cockpit seats, and we join together behind the helm.
“They say there are plenty of them in the Gulf,” I reply. “Nothing the size of the Flying Dutchman, but there are plenty of coastlines that are rockier than people realize. Ships have run aground all over the Gulf of Mexico for centuries, due to the landscape and the weather.”
“I still can’t believe this is your hobby, of all things.” Shauna pulls some crackers from somewhere, and soon enough, the air is filled with rich aromas from the clams and sauce that are only complimented by the salty sea air. “You’re a vampire who searches out for marine legends, ghost ships, and sunken treasure.”
“Admit it, you’re having way more fun talking about flotsam and jetsam with me than working a shift at some bakery right now.”
“I believe right now they are getting their weekend rush, so yes. I absolutely would rather be playing hooky and talking about ghost ships with you while we’re sitting in the middle of the Caribbean.”
We both share a laugh. Looking at one another, we know what we’re really saying underneath our jokes and light conversation. No matter where we go or what we do, whatever adventures the future holds, we want to face them by each other's side.
30
EMILE
Here it goes. It’s the third, maybe thirteenth, time I’ve said it, but I’m still sitting in our cozy bed tucked away below deck instead of out there with Shauna. The symmetrical-ish ring I’ve made from several strands of T-shirt string braided together looks better now that the knot I tied is secure.
I never thought I’d be enjoying a pleasure cruise for two with my girlfriend instead of the solitary trip I originally planned, even if I’m too nervous to give her this ring yet. What if she doesn’t like it? What if it’s too soon?
Or what if she doesn’t want it?I roll my eyes at the thought. Of course, I’ll tell her that she can pick out the biggest, best diamond she can find on land later. This ring is more of a placeholder, a symbolic gesture.She’s way too down to Earth to be upset at you for that,I reassure myself, trying to remind myself that I know her.
