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“The police will handle this, and she will not get the chance to try that move again with anyone – and no more rope on the wrists on ‘Walk the Plank’day, guys. I about had heart failure,” he admitted, squeezing her slightly in a hug. “I appreciate history and trying to drive home what a scary moment that might have been, but we need to tweak that experience…now.”
“Already on it,” Marie volunteered grimly, causing the other three men to look chagrined in that moment… as Calista realized whose idea it was to begin with.
“Good,” Will began, and hesitated. “We’ll be pulling into port a little earlier than planned – and we need to process a small refund to each account. I’m done with this week’s adventure.”
Not surprisingly, no one argued.
“Break out the rum this evening instead of tomorrow,” he instructed, holding her close to him. “We’re heading back to Block Island, near Rhode Island. We’ll port somewhere near there.”
Her heart skipped a beat, recognizing the names… and that Will was taking her home. Just as she was about to ask him a question, he spoke.
“If you’ll excuse us – I think we both need to rest and change.”
“I will bring you something to eat later,” Marie volunteered.
“I’ll fetch something to warm you both…” Shepherd said quietly, surprising Calista at the easy acceptance from everyone – and their help.
“Give us some time to talk, but we could use some warm water to wash up. Bo, could you put a kettle on, and I’ll come get it?”
“I’ll bring it to you, captain. I don’t mind,” the young man replied easily.
Nodding, they walked off towards the steps that would lead them down into the hold. She felt Will adjust the blanket around her shoulders once more, trying to keep her warm, and felt her heart curl in happiness at the attention he was lavishing on her.
… Only to hear a tearful voice.
Purple.
“I didn’t know you couldn’t swim,” the goth girl saidquietly from her cell. The door for privacy was cracked open, yet the bars remained in place for all of them.
If Kendra, the goth-girl known as Purple, had no filter and no comprehension of when ‘far’ became ‘too far’? It was best for everyone that there was a safe space provided for them all. None of them were psychiatrists, counselors, lawyers, judges, to decide on what needed to happen next.
That was out of their hands, but Calista was grateful to have some reassurance that she wasn’t going to get shoved into the ocean again or have some other catastrophe befall her for the sake of entertainment.
“I’m so sorry,” Purple continued. “Can’t you even dog-paddle in the water? I never intended to drown you. I just thought it would be funny if we all ended up going swimming when I saw the dolphin down in the water with Blue-boy.”
“I understand,” Calista said evasively, not wanting to share her innermost thoughts with anyone for fear of angering someone – or regretting her words once spoken aloud. “I’m sure you’ll have a chance to speak with the authorities regarding your intentions…”
“But that’s not fair,” Purple snarled, grabbing the bars hotly and shoving a hand through them, reaching for them as they stood in front of the captain’s cabin door. Will was not pressing her nor saying a thing; he remained quiet, steady at her back.
He was giving her the floor to say her piece and waiting.
“It’s not fair!” she screamed angrily. “You hear me? Everybody can swim unless you’re just stupid or lazy. That’s not my problem. It’s yours. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun…”
“Except when the ‘fun’ puts people at risk,” Willinterjected in a firm voice, finally speaking up. “They’ll bring you dinner, Purple.”
“I hate you people!” the girl screamed angrily several times – and Will opened the door to the cabin, holding it for Calista, so they could escape the verbal abuse that was now flowing acidly.
Calista stepped inside and Will shut the door, muffling the words and giving them some semblance of peace. He immediately moved towards the dresser against the wall – pulling out t-shirts, loose pants, socks, before withdrawing what looked like a small tote from inside the top drawer.
“There’s a brush, comb, Q-tips, and anything you might need in here,” he began softly. “I’m going to fetch the hot water for you and…”
“I can go back to my room,” she offered.
“I would rather we spent time together and talked. You’ll have your privacy, I promise you… just don’t leave me,” he said in a quiet voice, not looking at her. “I could have lost my chance with you today - and it’s just…”
Calista dropped the blanket from her shoulders and moved into his arms, hugging him closely. He didn’t have to explain, because that understanding was visceral, vibrant, and horrifyingly alive in her own head right now.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she breathed, inhaling the scent of salt water and something that was just him.
