New Beginnings - 003

Before I did anything else, I looked down at the sandals Priscilla was wearing.

"You should take those off and put them down below. Those leather soles will be slipper and the salt water will not be good on that fancy leather."

She nodded, kicked off the sandals and dropped them through the companionway. I looked at her and rolled my eyes.

"Go below, pick them up, and put them in your cabin where they belong. Not on the deck, not on the bed, but in the place where they will stay, out of the way, and secure."

She looked at me strangely, but climbed down the companion way, retrieved the sandals, and disappeared down the corridor. She came back a few minutes later and climbed back into the cockpit. I handed her a self-inflating life vest and showed her how to put it on.

"Everyone wears one anytime they are on deck."

"But I am an excellent swimmer."

"That may be, but 500 miles from the nearest land, not something to be attempted. When we get underway and have things in place, I will go through the overboard drill with you. There are things you have to learn on this boat to be safe. I would rather not get to the Virgin Islands and have to make the report that I lost you somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico."

Her face suddenly got serious.

"This is dangerous, isn't it."

"No, it's not dangerous as long as you respect the boat, the ocean, and the weather."

She tried to smile, but I saw a glimmer of fear in her eyes.

"Look. My, my kids, and your dad sailed this boat around the world. We went through some of the most dangerous oceans that you can find. We sailed through hurricanes, tropical storms, and cyclones. Not only that, but we didn't lose anyone, get anyone injured, or have any serious mishaps. That was because your dad had rules and ways of doing things. I like to think I was his best student."

I saw her eyes sparkle at the mention of her dad.

"Will you teach me?"

"Hell yes. I expect you to do your share of sailing on this boat, so I have a chance to relax a little."

"What do I do?"

"Go up on the foredeck. There is a line, a rope, tied to a cleat on the pier. Unwrap it from the cleat on the boat and when I tell you to, fling the rope up on the pier. It will stay here for the next person who docks."

I watched as she scampered forward and found the mooring rope. I started the Yanmar diesel, put it in reverse and as the boat started to move I yelled at her to let go the rope. She slung the rope back up on the pier and then looked at me. I grinned, gave her a thumbs up, and maneuvered the boat into the channel, slipped the gearbox in to forward and pushed the throttle ahead.

Two hours later, we were clear of the breakwater and in the open ocean. We had a good following breeze. It was time to set the mainsail. I engaged the autopilot and made sure we were on course and there were no obstructions or other boats in our path.

"Come on. It's time to set the sails."

She followed me up on deck and I showed her, much like her father had shown me, how to engage the winch, set the line, open the locker and then raise the sail. I didn't use the power winch. I wanted her to feel the sail as it filled with air and the reaction of the boat. When the wind caused the sail to billow over the side and the boom swung out, I heard her gasp. Then the boat reacted, lurching forward as the power of the sail took hold. I left her winding the winch and hurried back to the cockpit. I trimmed the sail just as Priscilla made the last turns on the winch. As she did that, I shut the diesel down and it went silent. The only sound was the water as it coursed along the hull and the sounds of the tail tales slapping happily on the main sail.

I watched her as she realized what had happened. I knew she could feel the vibration in her feet as the boat responded to the sails. She could feel the power and the smooth way the boat slipped through the waves, rather than reacting to each swell as the motor worked to push us through the water. The boat was now alive, and it could be felt.

She hung onto the side stays of the mast, alternately looking forward at the open ocean and back at me. I couldn't help but admire her. Suddenly, she turned and hurried back to the cockpit.

"That was astonishing. I never understood what it was all about."

She rested her hand on the wheel and looked at me.

"You can feel it. You can sense that this is what should be happening. My god. This is so powerful and emotional. Now I understand why dad always got a tear in his eye when he talked about this boat."

We were making a good cruising speed and the autopilot was doing a fantastic job. I sat down and motioned for Priscilla to do the same. Over the course of the next hour, I explained to her the procedures for a man overboard drill. Just as Jeff had done with us, I tossed a bright red buoy overboard and we did a drill. I showed Patricia how to bring the boat around safely while keeping her eye on the buoy. I taught her how to make a position on the GPS with a touch of a button, and then I showed her how to approach someone in the water safely.

When I did it once, we repeated it with me guiding her. She made some mistakes. That was to be expected. The second time, she made fewer mistakes. Before we started the third drill, she asked me why she had to learn to do this.

"What if it is me who goes overboard. Don't you want to come back and pick me up?"

That sobered her up, and then the third attempt was almost flawless. We stowed the practice buoy and got the boat back on our intended tack and let the navigation system take over. We then talked about the routine. She was a little put off when I explained that she would have to stand a watch. But after I explained, she understood.

Priscilla learned quickly. By the end of our second day underway, she had her sea legs. I was encouraged that she showed little or no signs of seasickness. I spent a lot of time watching her.

The third morning I was at the navigation station in the salon when she came out of her cabin. I didn't pay a lot of attention until I felt his standing beside me. I looked around with a smile to tell her that there was coffee on the stove. As my brain registered what she was wearing, I got out less than one word before my all of my brain cells shut down.

She was wearing a dark green bikini top and a wrap around cover at her waist. Now, I have to be blunt. Priscilla is mature and has had kids. She doesn't have a model's figure or a cover girl face. She has some wrinkles and some folds here and there. As I said. MY brain melted, my heart stopped, and all the blood seemed to flow out of my head and to a point just south of my waist. Thank god, I was sitting at the navigation table with my legs underneath.

Her breasts were full, and the bikini top was struggling to keep them in place. She may have been a few pounds overweight, but she still had a definite waist that emphasized the swell of her ass. I was overwhelmed, to say the least. I stuttered as I tried to speak.

"Ugh... You look... I mean... Holy Shit!"

She laughed and it set me off laughing.

"It amazed me that a mature man can still act like a teenager on his first date."

" Is this appropriate for the boat."

"Absolutely. Remember, we are 400 miles from land. Anything is appropriate out here. We never participated in nudity because of the kids, but that is your thing, then certainly indulge it. But I'm not going to promise that I won't look and enjoy."

I saw the smile change. There was something else in her eyes, and I almost missed her comment.

"Is looking all you promise to do?"

She didn't give me a chance to answer, but spun around to find coffee. I had stocked the pantry with protein bars and as I watched, she took one from the cabinet, opened it, and slid it between her lips slowly. Her eyes were on mine as she caressed the protein bar with her tongue before taking a bite.

That night, I let her stand her first watch. I decided to sleep on the cushions in the salon where I would be close if anything happened. The ocean can get dark. It was a fingernail moon that night and as I lay on the cushion, covered by a thin lap blanket, I could barely see her profile sitting on the cushion. I wasn't sleeping. Hell. MY brain was now firing on all cylinders. I wondered about her intentions. That afternoon, she had pulled off the wrap around her waist and laid down on the deck to sunbather. I was busy working on a mooring line that needed a new loop. I am not the best at rope work under the greatest conditions. Today I couldn't tie shoelaces. I kept looking on the deck. I know she was playing to me. Maybe I am just naive, but after so many years without dealing with women, I am taking the position that I was unprepared.

Finally, I managed to get a few hours sleep. When I woke, I raised and called to her. It was still dark as sin outside, but her shift was over.

"Priscilla. I'm up. If you want to go get some sleep, I can take the boat."

She stood up, spread her legs slightly, raised her arms over her head and stretched luxuriously. My mouth went dry, and I had to pull the lap robe over myself.

"Ok. Do you mind if I just slip in there where you were and borrow your blanket."

I stepped into the cockpit and looked down to watch as she curled up on the banquette, covered in the lap robe. Before I could look away, she seemed to be asleep. I settled into the cockpit cushion, checked the condition of the boat and the GPS. I looked up and found Orion, and let my thoughts drift away. The ocean, in the middle of the night, while under sail, is a great place to just think.

&&&&&

It was early in the afternoon on the fourth day when we motored into the mooring of the marina in the Virgin Islands. I was at the helm and Priscilla had the mooring stick. She missed her first two attempts, but made the connection on the third. The memory of my first time trying that same maneuver came back to me. I shouted out to her.

"Well done!"

She looked at me and gleamed.

"Now, tidy off the deck and stow the stick."

He nodded and went to work. I shut down the diesel and let the wind push the boat back against the mooring line. It had been a long time since I had been here. Nonetheless, it all looked basically the same. Priscilla came back to the cockpit as I was finishing up, securing the nav station.

"What now?"

"I guess we go ashore and get this started."

I turned and lowered the inflatable from the davits on the stern of the boat, and in minutes we were racing across the water toward the pier at the marina. Everyone there had seen us pull into the harbor, and they were coming down the path from the marina. As we climbed from the dinghy, there was pandemonium on the dock.

Most of the workers who I had known 7 years ago when we had left were still there. A little older, some a little fatter, and a few new faces who had heard the stories about Jeff. The other two partners in the marina were there with their kids and grandkids. It was a reunion of sorts.

Over the next two days, my activities centered around dealing with the inheritance. The two other partners in the marina took me aside shortly after we arrived. They had been apprised about me owning Jeff's quarter interest and had no problem with that. They did have another proposal so they wanted to retire. Their kids had no interest in owning or running the marina. They were both ex-pats like me and Jeff, and their kids had gone back to the states to college and onto careers. What I was presented with was one hell of an offer to buy them out. It was almost too good of a deal to pass up. I immediately accepted, and we started the legal wheels turning.

So, it seems that now I own a boat, a bungalow on the island, and a fairly successful marina. Things on the boat had changed a bit as well. The night after my partners proposed the buyout, I was sleeping in one of the cabins. Priscilla was occupying that master cabin. I was in a deep sleep when something roused me. I immediately came awake. If you have ever been responsible for a boat, you know the situation. Something changed suddenly, and you come awake, trying to make out what had happened, fearful that the boat and anyone on it might be in danger.

It only took me a few seconds to realize that what had changed was in my cabin. There was now a warm body snuggled up close to my, a hand on my chest, and someone softly breathing beside me. Even in the dark, I knew who it was. I smiled, closed my eyes, and went back to sleep.

The next morning, not much was said. I was busy getting things together to meet with my partners and the attorney. Priscilla was cleaning up after breakfast. I had found a pair of my best trousers and a shirt, had my small portfolio in my hand, and was about to leave when Priscilla stepped in front of me and slid her hands around my waist.

"That little bed in that cabin you are using is not very comfortable. I think you should move into the master cabin with me."

The past two days have been filled with surprises. I must admit that this was one of the best. I grinned.

"Of course. Would you like to go into town with me."

"No. You go ahead and take care of business. I am going shopping. By the way. All of my brothers and their families will be here tomorrow. We need to talk about what to do after that."

"How about I take you into town for dinner tonight."

"That sounds marvelous. Now go. Don't be late."

I got back to the boat middle of that afternoon and Priscilla was still gone shopping. I took the time to send emails to the twins letting them know that I was back on the island and that I had completed the circumnavigation we had started years ago. I promised to let them know about the plans to scatter Jeff's ashes.

My phone chimed with a text message from Priscilla. She was at the marina and needed a ride to the boat. I jumped into the inflatable and as I started in, I could see her on the pier, with a massive stack of bags piled at her feet. We managed to get her treasures in the inflatable and get them back to the boat with any mishaps. I was curious what she had purchased, but she refused to let me see. She wanted to take a shower and get ready for our evening ashore. I took the time to update the logs and make some notes about a few repairs I had made since we had been back.

I heard her speak to me from the Master Cabin through the closed door.

"There are some packages for you in the first cabin. I think you should look at them."

I found a couple of bags sitting on the birth. Opening them revealed a new pair of casual island pants. Looking at the label, I saw they were my size and were made from bamboo fibers. The second package contained a silk shirt. It wasn't as garish as my usual Hawaiian shirts, but it did fit the island theme perfectly. The last thing I saw was a beautiful panama hat. I tried it on and found it fit perfectly. I glanced at the mirror, then adjusted the hat to a rakish angle on my head. With my deeply tanned face and the almost completely gray beard, I was surprised at how striking it looked. I hurried to the shower and back, donning the new apparel hurriedly.

When I left the cabin, headed back to the main salon, I found Priscilla waiting. She stood and looked at me. Again, I stopped and stared at her. I know my mouth was working like a fish out of water. She stood there in a pure white wrap around sun dress. I could tell that there was no bra beneath it. Priscilla had become beautifully tanned in the last week, and the white dress highlighted that change. Her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. She wore no makeup. She didn't need any. I was gobsmacked.

"Don't you like it?"

"Like it. Hell. I don't know if I want to take you out in that. I will have to fight off every island Lothario that sees you. My god. You are gorgeous."

She smiled, her eyes twinkled and she dropped a quick curtsy.

"Thank you. That was the effect I was hoping for."

I had chosen a restaurant at one of the many resorts that dotted the island. It was well known for its menu and the service, as well as the dance band that played in the club after nine PM. We enjoyed a fantastic meal and then adjourned to the club. We found a table near the dance floor, ordered our first round of drinks, which arrived just as the band started. I looked at her and stood.

"May I have this dance?"

She smiled demurely and put her hand in mind.

"This one and everyone for the rest of the night."

I woke the next morning, looking at the cabin roof. I was in the big bed in the master cabin. A soft arm rested across my chest, a shapely leg was laying over one of my legs, and I could feel a soft breath on my neck where a gorgeous face was pressed into my neck.

The night before was, to say the least, magical. It has been more than 7 years since I had been with a woman. I surprised myself. I suppose all that pent-up passion, need, and energy tried to expend itself in that one night. I'm also sure that if anyone was up and walking along the beach, they got an earful. Sounds travel a long way over the water. As I lay there basking in the glow I was feeling, my mind, ever busy, began to try to digest what this might mean for my immediate and long-term future.

As I lay there, I realized that for the first time in more than 7 years, I had genuine feelings for a woman. I also came to the sudden understanding that I was no longer the carefree vagabond that I was a few weeks before. I was again tied to a place by responsibilities. The other partners in the marina had plans to repatriate back to the states to be close to their families. That meant that I would have to step up and actually take responsibility for the marina and the dozen other families that depended on it for their support. I now owned property again in the form of the bungalow and the boat, both of which would need regular care. How the hell did I get myself back into this position?

A week later, Priscilla's brothers arrived with their families. Well. All but her youngest brother. The one that didn't seem to fit into the mold. He decided to forego the informal ceremony that was planned. Some of them stayed in the bungalow. Others booked rooms at a nearby resort. We met regularly to go out to eat, to take them on sightseeing tours around the island, and to spend time together as family. All in all, it was fun.

Priscilla and I had talked at length about where and how to spread Jeff's ashes. I finally told her about the small lagoon on the island Jeff had taken us too on our first voyage. Over the course of the five years we sailed together, I learned that small islands and lagoons were one of Jeff's favorite places. This was where he would retreat when he needed to think and be alone. She listened to the stories and almost immediately decided that was where Jeff would want to spend his eternity.

So, on a bright, clear Tuesday, the bunch of us got on the boat. I don't think I have ever mentioned the name of that 65 foot MacGregor sailboat. Emblazoned on the bow in shapely script letters was "New Beginnings." As I cast off, I saw Priscilla watching me handle the boat. We cleared the entrance to the harbor and I pointed the bow into the right direction. The mainsail went up, and I felt that beautiful boat leap forward as if she were excited to be free of her mooring and again doing what she was meant to do.

We arrived at the cove just before lunch. The local restaurant had packed a massive meal that was stowed in several large coolers. I pulled the New Beginnings in close to the sandy beach and nestled her bow onto the sand, dropped an anchor off her stern, and told everyone that the best way inland was to jump overboard and swim. That's just what they did. Priscilla's brothers helped me unload the coolers, wading them to shore as they floated in the crystal clear water. We found a shady spot and spread a feast.