Our Love Is Like A Ship On The Ocean
Mary leaned on the bumper of Alvin's Subaru in the pick up area of the Portland Jetport. The clouds that had brought morning showers had parted to reveal a bright spring sky. Just let it stay sunny for the next three days, she thought. Her phone buzzed and she looked at the screen. It was a text from her brother, Robby. It read, simply, "disembarking".
She stood up, brushed the shoulders of her blue blazer and used her reflection in the terminal window to check her hair. She was a grown woman about to be married for the second time, but she still fretted about her mother approving of her appearance.
She called Alvin. When she got no answer, she left a message. "Hello, love. Their plane has landed, so we'll be on our way soon. It's cleared up here, the sky is blue. It looks like we'll have good weather Saturday after all. Love you, baby, see you in a couple of hours."
The doors slid open and her mother walked out, followed closely by her brother Robby and his girlfriend, Carmella. Mary rushed forward, into her mother's arms. They stood on the sidewalk, hugging each other tightly. When they finally broke apart, she turned to hug Robby and Carmella, but both were so laden with luggage that she had to settle for kisses.
She popped open the back of the car, and they stashed the luggage inside.
"I'm glad I brought Alvin's car," she said as they all climbed in, "Those bags would not have all fit in mine."
"You still have your Jetta?" Robby asked.
"Yep, but let me tell you, it's not the greatest car for a Maine winter."
"Did Dan and Beth and the kids get here yet?" Jean asked.
"Yeah, they got here this morning," Mary answered.
"Jesus," Robby said, "I can't imagine driving all the way across the country with eight kids in a Winnebago. I don't know how Steve talked them into bringing all the kids."
Jean rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I still remember driving to the Grand Canyon with the four of you."
"What about Steve and Cindy?" Robby asked.
"They flew into Boston, so they won't get here until late this afternoon," Mary said.
Mary went through the Dunkin Donuts drive thru for coffee, then she made her way to the turnpike. Before long, they were clear of the city and cruising down the tree lined freeway.
"It's so green, everywhere," Carmella said, gazing out the window.
"That made such an impression on me when I first got here," Mary nodded, "I was amazed that there could be so much green."
"And all those pink and purple flowers."
"Lupines," Mary told her.
"So is Alvin working today?" Jean asked.
"He went to the wharf for a while this morning, but there's not that much to do until Memorial Day. But he's got a lot of errands to run today."
"Have you worked out the sleeping arrangements?"
Mary sighed, "Yes, we got it straightened out." She counted off names while she explained. "There are three bedrooms in Alvin's house."
"Your house," her mother interjected.
"So, you will sleep in Charlotte's room, and Steve and Cindy will get Jennifer's old room. Dan and Beth have the Winnebago, and Alvin is putting up a tent for the kids."
"I'm sure Dan will like that," Robby chuckled.
"Robby and Carmella, you guys will sleep in the guest room in Jennifer and Danni's house."
"How far away is that?"
"Oh, it's just across the field. So, that leaves Charlotte. We still don't know if she's bringing a guest. If she does, they can have my apartment. If not, she said she's okay with the couch."
"You aren't moved out of your apartment already?" Jean asked.
"Just about, but the bed and some furniture are still there."
They got off the turnpike at Augusta and headed east towards Londonderry. As they drove the scenic, hilly route Mary took pride in the beautiful landscape.
"I don't know where they could put another tree," her mother said.
When they reached Londonderry, Mary pointed out landmarks; the bank, the town hall, the cemetery.
"You've hit the big time here, I guess, you've got a McDonald's," Robby quipped.
"We tell people we have a Wendy's too, but it's a local joke. It's a diner that's been called Wendy's since about 1930."
She showed them where her apartment was, and she turned into Faulkner's Wharf.
"There's Alvin's cousin," she said, rolling to a stop near the boathouse.
Laura came over to the car. Mary rolled down the window and introduced her to her family members.
"Alvin was here a while back with your brother and his wife and a whole passel of kids," Laura said, "They went out to home."
"Okay, thanks," Mary said, "We will see you on Saturday, I guess."
"I guess you will." Laura waved, and walked back to the boathouse while Mary turned the car around and headed out of town toward the farm.
***
Alvin took his checklist from his shirt pocket and unfolded it. As soon as Mary had left for Portland, he'd showered, gotten dressed and headed for town. After going to the wharf and conferring with Laura, he made the rounds, talking care of most of the items on the list. At ten o'clock, when he got a text message from Beth that she and Dan had reached the outskirts of town, he had already been to the barbershop, the florist and the grocery store.
Coming into town via the Augusta Road, the most prominent landmark was what Alvin would always think of as the "new" high school. Mary had arranged for Alvin to rendezvous with her brother there. He headed to it as soon as he got the message, and was going over his list when the giant recreational vehicle pulled into the parking lot.
Dan hopped out and shook Alvin's hand.
"That's quite a land yacht you've got there," Alvin said, "Must cost you a few dollars for gas."
"True, but you save as much not paying for motel rooms."
The kid's stomachs were stuck on California time, so even though it was still morning, they were clamoring for lunch. Alvin instructed Dan to follow him down to the wharf. While Dan maneuvered the Winnebago into the boatyard, Alvin went into the diner and asked Audrey if she could throw some burgers and hot dogs on the grill.