26. Galvin

galvin

. . .

T here was a benefit to dating a Carter, especially when the one you were dating happened to be racing in the regatta taking place in town. Galvin didn’t ask for anytime off from the diner. She planned to work whatever schedule Penny gave her, but Pearl was adamant Galvin have the day off while Sail raced, and for the celebration party the Carter’s intended to have whether Sail won or not.

After having dinner with Sail’s family, pretty much two nights in a row, Galvin couldn’t tell Pearl no when the invite to sit with her and the rest of the Carters at the regatta had been extended. It’d been a long time since Galvin felt like she belonged with someone who wasn’t her family, and she was drawn to Pearl. Maybe it was because Pearl had known Galvin’s mother.

Or maybe because Pearl was so motherly, you couldn’t help but fall under her spell.

Galvin had researched what people wear to regattas and had walked downtown to buy some preppie clothes. This was something she never thought she’d do, dress to fit the event. She didn’t want to embarrass Pearl, and wearing yoga pants or jeans might send the wrong message.

For the first day of races, she opted for a long, flowy skirt, button down shirt, and ballet flats. She packed a wide-brim hat and a blanket to sit on. Although something told her Pearl probably brought everything she would need.

Galvin opted to use the gate to leave instead of going through the diner. It was busy. The line to get in extended around the corner and Galvin figured Penny would ask her to work if she saw her. The thing is, Galvin wouldn’t tell her no. She’d feel obligated.

Once she was away from the overhanging trees, she looked up at the sun and took in the rays. It was beautiful day, and the morning had started perfectly. Sail had taken her down to the marina and showed her around. She watched him study his boat. The way his hand skimmed parts of it reminded her of the way he touched her when they were alone. He cared for his craft, the way he cared for her. It was an interesting concept, and something she could appreciate. Seeing him in his zone like this made her smile.

Galvin walked toward the park and stopped to peruse a couple of the vendors near the entrance. The cotton candy truck interested her, but also, she liked the idea of having fried dough. And she still had the caramel apple in her refrigerator.

She walked through the park, toward the rock wall where Pearl said she’d be sitting. She approached the group, with a tentative step. Pearl, she felt comfortable with. The others with the group, she didn’t know. And Caroline wasn’t with them.

“Galvin!” Pearl pulled her into a hug right away. “Come meet everyone.”

Before she could protest—as if she’d even try—Pearl pulled her toward the group of women. She introduced each of them. When she came to Margaux, she smiled.

“Oh, we met,” Galvin said as they shook hands. “How are you?”

“Just lovely. How are you enjoying Seaport?”

“I love it. It’s really such a beautiful place. I’m so happy I moved here.”

“So are we,” Pearl said as she squeezed Galvin’s hand. “Come on, we’re right over here.”

They left the group of ladies and walked a little way down the sidewalk. Pearl had three chairs in a semi-circle, with a table in the middle.

“This is us,” she said as she sat down. “Caroline will be here shortly, and the cooler is full of different drinks and snacks. I think the guys will be by after Sail’s first race.”

“Sail said he used to do this in high school?”

“He did,” Pearl said. “He and Jack would travel all over for the competitions. He was very good. And now Crew does it. Next season, I’ll travel with him and Jack because Caroline is taking over most of the day-to-day operations for our business. I’ll still put in time but won’t be so afraid to leave.”

“That’ll be great for Crew. My dad said hiring his foreman was the best thing he’d ever done. It gave him freedom.”

“It’s important, especially when you have kids.”

Galvin smiled. Eventually, she wanted to get married and have a family. Even though she saw herself as a career woman, a luxury of her the field she planned to go into, allowed for her to work from home.

She smiled at a few people who walked by. She’d recognized them from the diner. When there was a gap in the crowd, Galvin glanced toward the pier. The usually full docks had been cleared of all boats. Now, judges or race officials stood there or sat a table at the end of the docks.

“I think Sail’s nervous.”

“It’s good to be nervous. Jack says it’ll keep Sail aware.”

Pearl handed Galvin a can of soda. “Thank you.” She opened it and took a drink. “How does this all work? I didn’t ask Sail because I wanted him to focus on his training.”

“I don’t know how many are in the field, but they’ll race twice today. If he wins, he gets one point, second place gets two points, and so on. The sailor with the lowest points wins.”

“So, the scoring is like golf?”

Pearl nodded. “Exactly. But they will have tiebreakers as well if needed.”

“How many races in total?”

“I believe the minimum is five, but there can be up to twelve. It’ll all depend on the standings.”

Galvin nodded in understand. She turned her attention to the bay, the place where Sail took her yesterday and smiled. Everything they’d done—everything he’d shown her—made her love the area she was in. She didn’t feel like an outsider or someone just bidding her time. Sail had made Seaport her home.

Of course, he was a huge part of why she felt the way she did. He was the difference maker in her life. And for the better.

Yesterday, at family dinner, the Carters had made her feel like she’d always been a part of their family. They didn’t bombard her with too many questions, and when it was time to set the table, Pearl handed her plates as if she’d been there a million times over.

During dinner, they laughed, told jokes, and shared something about their day that made it special. When it was Pearl’s turn, she said, “Having Galvin at our table.”

This warmed Galvin. She didn’t remember much of her mom, just faded memories that she lost more and more of each year.

Caroline arrived, in all her glitz and glam. Her oversized bag was bigger than Galvin’s suitcase. But she didn’t look out of place. In fact, she blended in well with the other women who were in town.

“How’s the baby?” Pearl asked as she gave Caroline a hug.

“Reminding me that it’s there every morning.” Caroline sat down. “I love this little pea though, puke and all.”

“I only had morning sickness with Dune,” Pearl said.

Caroline rolled her eyes. “Of course, it was Dune.”

Galvin tried not to laugh, but Caroline’s exaggeration was . . . well very exaggerated.

“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Is there something I can get you?” Galvin didn’t want Caroline to think she was making fun of her.

Caroline waved Galvin’s comment away. “I’m just complaining. Everything I need is in that big bag of mine.”

“Is your ultrasound scheduled?” Pearl asked.

“I think they’ll give me the date at my next appointment. It should be soon.”

“Are you going to find out what you’re having?” Galvin asked.

Caroline shrugged. “Dune and I go back and forth on whether we want to know. Obviously, knowing means we can pick a name, decorate, and buy all the things. But also, I think there’s something special about finding out after you’ve given birth. You know the whole, it’s a boy or girl thing.”

Galvin didn’t know, but it made sense.

A horn sounded in the distance and people began clapping. Excitement grew within Galvin. She couldn’t wait to watch Sail race.

“Five minutes,” Pearl said.

“This is nerve racking,” Caroline said. “I have nothing at stake and I’m freaking nervous.”

“I know what you mean.”

Another horn sounded and Pearl reached for Galvin and Caroline’s hands.

And then the boats appeared. People cheered. They hooted, hollered, and screamed as loud as they could.

Including Pearl. Who stood up and shouted at her son, and the racers near him. She fist pumped, leaned, and paced until Sail’s boat came back around. And then swore when he didn’t finish in first.

“It’s okay,” Caroline said when Pearl sat back down. “Dune said the first race can be a throw away.”

“I know. He’s just . . .”

“A perfectionist,” Galvin added. Pearl looked at her. Galvin shrugged. “It’s something I’ve noticed. Especially after working with him the other day. One of my orders came up and it wasn’t plated correctly. He sent it back. I don’t know if I would’ve noticed the issue if he hadn’t pointed it out.”

“He’s his father’s son, through and through,” Pearl said. “But yes, he likes everything to be perfect.”

“Dune said the wind is in Sail’s favor too,” Caroline added.

“That’s good,” Galvin said. “Sail said he loves racing the wind.”

“Yes, yes he does.” Pearl smiled brightly.

In between races, Pearl expected her boys to show up, but with Sail not finishing where they wanted likely kept them, making sure the dinghy was ready for the next race.

When the horn sounds, anxiety filled Galvin. She began biting the inside of her cheek and picking at her cuticles. She hated feeling this way.

At the next horn, the three of them stood. Caroline shocked her when she started shouting and her New York accent emerged. Together, they cheered, clapped, and jumped up and down when Sail crossed the finish line in first place.

Pearl wiped tears from her eyes before hugging Galvin. “He did it.”

“He did,” Galvin agreed.

They waited a few before deciding to pack up. Galvin told Pearl she could show her where the guys were set up, but they didn’t have to.

“Sail.” His name came out of her mouth in a breathless whisper. He rushed to Galvin and scooped her up into his arms. “You did it.”

He kissed her hard as he spun her around.

“I’m so proud of you.”

“I haven’t won yet.”

“You’ve won here,” she said as she placed her hand over his heart. It may have sounded cheesy, but she meant it. He’d set out to do something and was on the path to success.

Sail held her hand as he went to see him mom. He gave her a one arm hug, seemingly not ready to let Galvin go yet.

“Great job, Sail.”

“Thanks, Mom. I still have more races, so we’ll see.”

“You’re going to do amazing.”

Sail nodded and then looked at Galvin, who rested her hand on his chest. “What did you think of your first regatta?”

“It’s very interesting, but definitely something I’m looking forward to attending again.”

“Tomorrow,” Sail said, smiling. “I gotta do it all over again tomorrow.”

“And he’s going to win,” Jack said, and he razzed Sail. Everyone laughed and cheered.

Crew and Tidal took off with their friends while Dune, Sail, and Jack helped pick up the area, carrying the chairs, cooler and bags back to the diner.

“We’ll be eating in,” Jack told Penny as they made their way to the biggest table in the diner. Thankfully, it was open, but something told Galvin Jack had made sure of it.

Penny brought menus but Jack said they were celebrating and having ice cream. She took everyone’s orders and brought drinks back right away.

Jack raised his glass. “To Sail, watching you out there on the water, doing what you once loved brought a lot of joy to me?—”

“Me, too,” Pearl interrupted.

“Hell, me three,” Dune said, and everyone at the table laughed.

“Well, shit,” Sail added as he held his glass up. “Me, four!”