This story follows Shannon from a Tale for the Middle Ages. This is the universe of Rob, Joanne and their young friend Shannon.
*****
The cab arrived in Falmouth Harbour, dropping me off beside what looked like a multi-unit building set out on a wharf. I could see a coffee shop and a sign pointing to a restaurant and bar on the second floor. Out on the water, mostly tied up to the dock, was a selection of really large boats, some with very tall masts and some obviously power only. The array of what was clearly significant wealth was spread out before me. What I had seen of Antigua on the ride in from the airport didn't look particularly well to do but clearly English Bay was a different story.
I pulled up my phone and texted the number I was given to contact upon arrival. Within a minute I received a reply asking me where I was and I texted back the coffee shop name. While waiting for my contact I watched a bunch of small zodiacs come in and jostle for position on the crowded dock. Being a girl from the Canadian Prairies, this scene was a fairly novel experience.
Sitting on a bench looking out over the water I was startled when a voice behind me asked in a very English accent, "Hello there, Doctor Lawrence, I presume?" Turning as the man moved around the bench, I smiled and replied, "That's me but I'm still getting used to the doctor part. Please call me Shannon."
"Welcome to Antigua Shannon. And may I say that your photo does not begin to do you justice."
The comment about my photo seemed a bit inappropriate but I responded, "Thank you... I think. And you are..."
"Pardon me, yes, my name is Martin. I'm the first lieutenant on the Azure Cloud and I will be happy to escort you to the ship. Let me take your bags and please follow."
I did just that. While following Martin I couldn't help but notice his crisp uniform of white shorts and blue polo shirt with the name of the ship on the breast pocket. But more of interest was how well his rear looked in the well tailored shorts. And his toned and tanned legs looked okay as well. I wondered how the rest of the crew measured up to the first lieutenant.
These thoughts led me wistfully to think of my current relationship situation, or really the relationship I was leaving, if you could really describe the connection I had with Rob and Joanne a 'relationship'. My two dearest friends while I was struggling through the rigours and torments of medical school and then internship and residency, were a big part of how I got through it all. They took care of all my emotional needs while I was at school and beyond.
And to be fully truthful, they took care of all my sexual needs during those difficult years. At first I felt like a needy child when they brought me into their bed and took care of me in all sorts of ways. And then, as our relationship deepened, I came to accept that the three way sex with my mature friends was enjoyed equally by Rob and Joanne.
I will never forget the generosity of Joanne in sharing her beautiful boyfriend with me. She would lay on her side, a small conspiratorial smile on her face while watching Rob and I fuck ourselves silly. And then when Rob, who was now well over fifty crashed out beside us I would try to make it up to Joanne by loving her and her body to the best of my ability. Neither of us were particularly into women but we formed a sexual bond that surprised and delighted both of us. I loved tasting her, kissing her, wrapping my body around her, massaging her breasts and vagina and bringing her to earth moving orgasms. And she did the same to me. I took as much sex from them as they would give me and I loved every minute of it.
It was now only a few days since we last spent an exhausting night fucking and loving each other and I missed them already. I made a note to text them as soon as possible that I had arrived safely. I would then text my parents the same info.
And in case you're wondering, no, my parents had no idea about the true nature of my relationship with my beloved middle aged friends. I had only shared the barest details with my closest girl friend back in Calgary. There was no point because, as Rob and Joanne sometimes reminded me, there was no future for us beyond friendship. I knew this to be true but it didn't lessen my love for them.
Martin led me out a long pier and we stopped beside a gorgeous blue hulled ship.
"Doctor Shannon, its a pleasure to welcome you aboard the Azure Cloud. Please step onto the ship." I walked the few steps up a ramp and stepped onto the spectacular sailboat. Everything gleamed in gold, teak or blue paint. I knew little about large ships outside of Rob's sailboat, but I certainly could recognize wealth when I saw it and this was crazy rich.
I knew almost nothing about the owners of the Azure Cloud. When I asked the interviewers they simply said the owners were three siblings involved in running the family business that was a holding company for an assortment of industrial, energy, technology and hotel businesses. Any further probing was met with deflections that it wasn't really important who they were. As physician on the boat I was told that I would probably not have much interaction with the owners even when they chose to sail on the ship, which I was told was infrequent. Lifestyles of the rich and famous I surmised when hearing this.
I was led around and introduced to the other staff members who, if I remember correctly, were a marine engineer, a chef, an assistant to the chef, two security personnel who doubled as deck hands when required, two domestic and cleaning staff, a masseuse and yoga instructor and a Captain, of course. More details on all of these crew members later.
The crew seemed surprised when I was introduced as the physician. Frankly, I was used to this. Firstly I was quite young, only twenty seven and I have always been told I look younger than my years. This is partially due to my height I believe. I am really quite short, or, as I prefer, the more polite term of 'diminutive' - ha ha! And not to blow my own horn, people, primarily men but not always, find me attractive. I don't consider myself vain but I do have long honey blonde hair, a curvy body and what I'm told are very pretty features. I found my beauty both an asset and a liability. The liability part is the fact that people don't always take me seriously as a physician. I see that attitude as sexist and unfair. I can't help the way I look.
My cabin, although quite small, was comfortable. It was also attached to a small examination, treatment and recovery room. After accepting the position, I listed the supplies and medicines I would require. I even researched sea sickness treatments for crew, owners, their guests and of course, myself. My quarters and the medical room was located mid ship for the comfort of patients I later found out. There were only a few days when the sea state was such that I felt a slight discomfort from the awkward motion of the boat. It was fairly stable, particularly when under sail.
Dinner that night and following days was spent in the company of the Captain, named Rolph, the Lieutenant Martin, the Marine Engineer, an Aussie named Brent and Brianna, the masseuse. I was a little bit surprised by the presence of Brianna, as I surmised the pecking order of the crew would normally place her with the lower orders of the hierarchy. But perhaps her tall, lithe figure, flowing chestnut hair and beautiful features moved her up to the head table, so to speak.
I found her a bit cool, to say the least. I put my antenna up figuratively speaking to catch any whiff of sexual tension. I detected some sideways glances at Brianna from Martin and Brent but she seemed aloof even from them. Dinner was followed by a tour of the boat and cocktails in the ship's lounge. I noticed the assistant chef, a young red head named Maeve watching with interest the interactions as she helped serving dinner and then cocktails. I was curious about her after she smiled warmly in my direction. Maeve looked friendly and I decided to track her down soon to find out some more info on the crew.
***
I got my chance late the next afternoon. The boat left for Guadeloupe in the morning where we were to meet one or more of the owners. Standing up at the bow of the ship, which was now under full sail, I was enjoying the beautiful Caribbean waves and water when a loudspeaker summoned me to the infirmary. Hurrying back, Maeve was sitting in the room holding a towel wrapped around her hand.
She sheepishly looked at me and said in a delightful Irish accent, "Sorry to trouble you Doctor Shannon, but I sliced my hand cutting up some vegetables."
"No worries, that's what I'm here for. And please, its Shannon," I said while unwrapping the towel off her hand. "Oh yes, you did indeed cut yourself. I'll clean it up a bit and lets try some steri strips first to hold the cut together. If necessary I'll sew you up if I have to."
As I worked I took in the red headed girl. She really was quite pretty in a natural sort of way. I was a bit bemused by my assessment of her. For so long I had my lovers and I didn't often think of other people. But now, without Rob and Joanne to take care of me, was I becoming needy again? And whats with taking in the woman in front of me?
In any event I was out to get some info from Maeve. I asked, "So Maeve, how long have you worked on the Azure Cloud?"
