19. Sail

sail

. . .

A fter leaving Galvin to finish her shift, Sail drove back to his parent’s house. Seashells crunched under his tires as he pulled into the driveway. He parked near the barn and took a long look at Dune’s tiny house. Putting a house on their parent’s land was a brilliant idea, and now that Dune was building a home for him and Caroline, Sail wondered what his brother planned to do with the existing space.

Sail shook his head at the thought of living in it, although by next summer he’d be home for good unless he found a job in Florida. Like he’d told Galvin, he had no idea what he wanted to do but was expected to work for the family. Resentment boiled. No one ever asked Sail what he wanted to do.

If they did now, he’d shrug and avoid the question.

He liked the idea of being a professional sailor. Finding sponsors would be easy and maybe he’d be the one to put together a winning team. A team that could bring the Americas Cup back to New England.

Sailing came easy to Sail, which was perfect since it was his name. When he was younger, kids use to tease him. That was until they saw him on a boat. The teasing turned into healthy competition. Everyone tried to beat him, but no one ever could.

“Hey, what are you doing out here?” Crew asked as he came up the drive.

Sail shrugged. “Just thinking.”

Crew motioned toward the tiny house. “Are you going to build one too?”

“Nah.”

“You’re coming back, right? After graduation?”

Sail looked at his baby brother. All four of the Carter boys were tall, within inches of each other, and all with dark hair. There was no mistaking them for siblings.

With the smallest of head shakes, he said, “I don’t know.”

“Oh,” Crew said as he ran his hand through his hair. “That would suck.”

Sail laughed. “Why because you’d have to work sooner?”

“No, because I like having you home.”

Any other time, Sail would’ve gone to his little brother, put him in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles over his scalp until Crew cried out for their parents. Instead, Sail went to Crew and gave him a hug.

At first, it was awkward, but Crew relaxed and hugged Sail back.

“What was that for?”

“No reason,” Sail said. “You’re a good kid.”

“Have you met our father?”

Sail nodded. Each boy had a bonafide fear of their father, but it stemmed from not wanting to disappoint him. Jack Carter raised his voice, never his hand, and had the deadly look when he was unhappy with one of his kids. Sail felt it often.

Until this morning.

“How’d practice go?” Crew asked as they made their way up the steps to the porch.

“Really well. Obviously, I have a lot of work to do, but I’ll get there.”

“Are you going out again in the morning?”

“Yep, first thing. Wanna join us? We can race.”

“Not tomorrow but dad asked me to sail on Saturday. I’ll happily race you.” Crew smirked and Sail accepted the challenge. Sail taught him everything he knew. The question was, what had Crew learned while Sail was away at school.

They walked into the house, with Crew heading upstairs and Sail into the kitchen. Their mom, Pearl, stood at the window above the sink, looking out.

“It’s a nice sunset,” Sail said as he went to the refrigerator for something to drink. Only to shut it again when all he saw was milk, chocolate milk and orange juice. “What’s wrong?”

Pearl sighed. “Oh, nothing. Just . . . watching.”

Sail stood next to her and looked out over the property and toward the horizon. He loved his parent’s property. It was right on the water, with magnificent views of the ocean. They had a small area where they could relax, but also had a dock for them to park their boat for the day. They always docked overnight at the marina. The weather could be unpredictable, and the bay provided some shelter from the other open waters.

“What’s on your mind, Mom?”

Pearl sighed again. “Are you dating Galvin Winters?” She turned slowly and looked at Sail. Her expression was indescribable. “Your aunt said you brought her by the Clam Shack, and I know you’ve spent a lot of time at the diner.” She took a deep breath. “And you haven’t been home the past two nights.”

Sail groaned and gripped the edge of the sink while he continued to stare out the window. He loved his mom, but this was one of the reasons why he didn’t come home last summer—she was overbearing—or was she just the type of mother who needed to know everything.

“Mom . . .”

“Sail, I know you’re an adult, but she’s the daughter of a man your father respects.”

“I know. She told me.”

“And she doesn’t know anyone here.”

“She knows me,” he said. “She knows Dune and tonight she’s meeting Caroline. I’m introducing her to everyone I can. Galvin’s also met Margaux. I’m trying to show her Seaport. The island we love so much so she’ll feel at home.”

Pearl looked at Sail. Her eyes were full of love and worry. She caressed his cheek lovingly. “Please be careful. Not only for her sake, but yours as well.”

“We will be.”

She smiled. “And think about bringing her home, officially. I’d love to cook for her and meet her away from the diner. Invite her over as a guest and not an employee.”

Sail nodded. “I’ll ask her, but this is one of those don’t hold your breath moments.”

“Oh?”

“She’s afraid you’ll fire her because of me.”

Pearl’s eyes widened in what Sail would consider horror. “We would never!”

He threw his hands up. “That’s what I keep telling her, but she’s worried.”

“Well, find a way to unworry her, and bring her over.”

“I don’t believe unworry is a word.”

Pearl’s eyes sharpened and Sail shrunk to two feet tall. “Yes, ma’am.”

Seaport always had traffic, unless it was before the birds were awake or long after they’ve nested for the night. However, traffic was dependent upon the season. During the summer months, it could take you an hour to get from one point of the island to the next. But to get from the Carter’s to the diner—ten minutes tops.

Tonight, the drive pushed the twenty-minute mark, and Sail was officially late for his date with Galvin. The respectable thing would be to call or text her, but no, he still didn’t have her number.

Sail had expected her to at least text him once during the day. He would’ve happily opened a thread, just for the chance to talk to her while he worked on his dinghy.

They’d have to change that he thought to himself. He wanted a chance to send her sweet messages. Mostly things, if he said aloud, would make her blush. At least if she read them, she wouldn’t be embarrassed and could go back and reread them when time allowed.

After, what Sail deemed, the long drive in the history of long drives, he parked in front of the diner. Leaving his car running, he sped walked to the gate, unlatched the lock, and then took the stairs two at a time. Praying along the way that Galvin would understand. He already had his mom upset with him he didn’t want Galvin to be as well.

“Galvin,” he said as he knocked again and then muttered, “fuck.”

The door swung open, and Galvin stood there, with her coat in her hand.

“I’m so sorry.” He handed her his phone. “Put your number in here.”

“What? Why? What’s going on?”

“I’m late,” he said, exhaling. “And I couldn’t call or text you because I don’t have your number.”

Galvin typed her number in and gave him his phone back.

“Please tell me you’re not mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

“Phew.” He sagged against the doorway. “I really thought?—”

“That what? I’d be pissed because you’re a few minutes late?”

He nodded.

“I’m not like that, Sail. Things happen?—”

“Traffic happens.”

“Right. If I was worried you weren’t going to show up, I would’ve texted you.”

“I wish you would’ve the second I was late.”

Galvin smiled softly. “Next time, I will.”

Sail beamed. He most definitely like that she said next time because he planned for many next times. They linked hands and then walked down the stairs, with Sail one step ahead of Galvin. He opened the gate with his freehand, and then led them down the street.

“We’re not driving?”

“It’s an easy walk. Plus, it’s beautiful out,” he said as he looked at her when he spoke the last part. She was the only thing that mattered to him.

Galvin blushed, which only made him grin wider. He loved the natural rosy hue her cheeks took on when he complimented her.

They held hands as they walked, and each time someone came toward them, Sail would step in front, shielding her. No one would ever say he wasn’t protective or a gentleman. While Seaport was safe and you could walk around at night without many worries, he was still on alert. It was something he picked up from living in Miami. Always know your surroundings.

At Diego’s, Sail recognized the woman at the hostess stand and it hit him square in the chest how people never leave their hometown. This wasn’t a dig at his brother, Dune. Way back in high school Dune said he would never leave. Running the family business was something he’d always wanted to do.

With Sail, it was expected.

Even though Sail couldn’t remember the hostesses name, he smiled and asked her she was doing. Galvin squeezed his hand when the former classmate smiled a bit too much and batted her eyelashes at him.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Sail whispered.

Galvin eyed him and Sail smirked. She could pretend all she wanted. Sail understood the subtlety when she squeezed his hand.

Sail spotted Dune and told the hostess as such. He directed Galvin toward his brother and soon to be sister-in-law. With his hand on her back, they reached the table, much to the delight of Dune and Caroline. Sail held the chair out for Galvin while he made introductions.

“Galvin, you already know Dune. This is his soon-to-be-wife, Caroline.”

“And my baby mama,” Dune barked out.

“You’re pregnant!” Galvin covered her mouth at her outburst. “Sorry, that totally came out wrong.” She extended her hand and shook Caroline’s. “It’s nice to meet you and congratulations.”

“Thank you. Dune’s told me a lot about you.”

Galvin’s eyes went right to Dune and then to Sail. They laughed and shook their heads.

“Just that you’re working at the diner and enjoying it. Honestly, Sail keeps everything to himself.”

“I’m sure there isn’t anything to tell,” Galvin said as she looked at Sail. He smiled brightly and motioned for her to look at the menu. She eyed him suspiciously and then relaxed when his hand touched her leg.

“I’d never spill our secrets,” he said under his breath. The last thing Sail was, was a kiss and tell.

“How do you like Seaport?” Caroline asked.

“I love, actually. A lot. I wasn’t sure I would, but it has such a feel to it. I don’t know it’s hard to describe.”

“You felt like it was home right away?” Dune asked.

Galvin nodded. “Yes. Of course, it doesn’t help that your dad is so great and welcoming.”

“Jack is pretty nice,” Caroline added. “Are you coming to family dinner on Sunday?”

Galvin opened her mouth to reply when Sail interjected. “I haven’t asked her yet,” he said. “I planned to do that later when she wasn’t on the spot for answering.” He winked at her hoping it would ease the anxiety he suspected she felt.

“Oh. Um . . .”

“We can talk about it later,” he said to her.

“Okay.” She nodded. She set the menu down and looked around. “This place is pretty cool.”

Sail smiled. “This is a local hangout.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning most of the people in here, live here,” Dune added.

“And the tourists go to the Sea Shanty,” Caroline said. She reached across the table and put her hand on Galvin’s. “If you love pina coladas, go to the Sea Shanty.”

“Bite your tongue, woman,” Dune said.

“Okay, Captain Blue Balls.”

Everyone, except for Dune, bust out laughing.

“Anyway,” Sail said, getting Galvin’s attention. “As legend had it, some pirates built Diego’s and the Sea Shanty in the early 1700s as places to meet and conduct business. Seaport had its fair share of pirates back in the day.” Sail pointed to the thatched roof. “This thing is a bitch when it rains and can take days to dry out.”

“Why don’t they layer it with something else?”

Sail and Dune shrugged.

“Saturday night, we’ll go to the Sea Shanty, and I’ll sit at the bar and watch you drink a pina colada,” Caroline said to Galvin, with a sigh.

“Deal,” Galvin said faster than Sail cared for.

“I don’t want to get into a fight on Saturday night,” Dune said, exasperated.

“Same,” Sail added.

“Wait, why are you fighting?” Galvin asked, her eyes going from brother to brother.

Caroline sighed heavily. “Because they’re macho and the guys at the Sea Shanty aren’t from here. The Carter men have egos.”

Galvin nodded in understanding.

“I’m beginning to regret this,” Sail said to his brother.

Dune laughed and leaned forward. “Tell me, Galvin, how do you feel about sailing?”

This time, Sail sighed and shook his head. He motioned for the waiter to come to the table, and thought about getting a rum and Coke, but opted for water and along with Caroline, encouraged Galvin to try one of the daiquiris.

He’d yet to see Galvin let loose but was very much looking forward to it. She glanced at the menu and then ordered some fruity concoction with blue curacao in it.

Sail leaned over and whispered, “I wonder if your tongue will turn blue?”

Galvin giggled. “I guess we’ll find out.”

“Yeah, we will,” he growled.