Chapter Thirty-Three
When Brooks and I roll into my parents’ driveway, I’m astounded to see The Sea Hag being trailered off the property by someone I don’t recognize as being a local. A ‘for sale’ sign flutters into the ditch, as the dually hauling it roars off down the road.
“That’s a big boat,” Brooks notes, slipping off his helmet as I set the kickstand into the gravel.
“That was my lobster boat,” I note, confused. Wagner’s outside on the porch when we get off the bike. “What’s that all about?” I ask him, hiking my thumb back over my shoulder.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Dad notes. “She sold a lot quicker’n I imagined, given the state she was in.”
“Why?”
“Come on in, have a drink with me first,” Dad offers.
He ushers us inside, and we find Mom in the kitchen, setting out the fixings for subs. When Dad sits, she places an already-made sandwich in front of him, and then offers to fix Brooks and I each one. We decline her offer, instead choosing to make our own.
“Mutha, take a load off,” Dad tells her, and as per her usual, she obeys. She sits down next to him. “This was mostly your idea, anyhow,” he adds cryptically.
“Why does this seem so serious?” I quiz them, taking my seat after pulling out a chair for Brooks. When I sit, I widen my legs, brushing my thigh against his under the table.
“Colt dropped in a while ago when you sent him and his friend out this way to grab some old sails for some project you were working on,” Dad starts telling me.
“Oh yeah?” I cock an eyebrow up, abandoning my bite.
I wait for that familiar feeling of ‘oh great, and what’d he do this time?
’ to come, but to my relief, it just doesn’t.
The change in him lately, in us, has been far too profound for me to keep thinking like that.
Instead, I’m just kind of stunned and confused about why Colt came here, and why he didn’t mention it to me.
We’ve had such free-flowing communication these days.
“Mentioned that the camp he’s working at might be struggling a bit financially,” Dad replies to me, but gives Brooks a pointed look.
I reach over, resting my hand on Brooks’ knee and give it a reassuring squeeze.
“Oh-uh… that’s something I’m working on,” Brooks starts to protest, but Dad holds up a hand.
“Now, don’t be gettin’ all defensive. I haven’t had a chance to say our piece yet,” Dad interjects, like he’s the spokesperson for both of them.
“Colton told me all about why it exists, says his friend—Morgan, is that her name?— is really worried that it’ll have to get sold off.
It’s become apparent to us that this place holds some mighty special significance to both Colton and Evan, too.
When Evan came out here to keep me comp’ny over ta the hospital, all he kept yammering about was how great your place is.
“That, and I seen the way you helped Gordy out here yesterday, Brooks. I’ll be honest with ya, I was a little flummoxed at first about Evan wantin’ to up and leave here—to leave me without a sternman—to go chase some summer job out there.
But it’s become obvious to me this is more than a seasonal thing, he’s invested in your mission,” Dad explains, looking to me for my reaction.
I nod in agreement. I am invested, more than I ever thought possible.
I don’t know jack shit about running a summer camp, but over the past few weeks, I’ve come to enjoy it.
More than just because it’s what Brooks wants—it’s what I’m seeing happening.
The more time I’ve spent with those kids, the more I see just how much having a camp like this is beneficial to children who are struggling with pain and grief.
Also, on the days that Morgan was up recovering in the house and Brooks was working, she and I brainstormed some ways to improve upon the business side of things, wanting to take more off Brooks’ plate.
It’s clear that she has a plan to go to college for business, and I think she’d be excellent at it.
At the end of the season, she’s going to propose some of these ideas to Brooks.
For starters, having shorter sessions, because two months away from home is hard for some kids.
This would also allow for broader, more targeted, age-focused sessions.
Lastly, she would like to see Brooks implement more family camping sessions—she herself benefitted from having her father figure there with her as she learned how to cope with growing up without her mother.
She wasn’t the only one to bring ideas to the table, however.
I proposed that, in the off seasons, the venue could be used for other things.
It doesn’t have to sit dormant. Work retreats, weddings, and perhaps even winter family sessions.
I think that her ideas, along with the improvements to the facilities I’ve made, could make Camp Healing Waters competitive in the market again.
“Evan,” Dad sighs, “you’ve made it loud and clear that you have little interest in carrying on the family business, and while I’m struggling to make my peace with that, I ultimately know that I want you to be happy.
When you were together, Walt told me Miranda struggled to get you to see that you weren’t fulfilled, so I know this has been an ongoing thing with you.
I just figured you’d come around eventually.
That’s why Roger let you go. I asked him to, so that you’d be forced to join me back on the boat.
Little did I know, you’d be swept away by Brooks here.
” He chuckles. “I guess that makes me a bit of a matchmaker, now don’t it? ”
I smirk, nodding. “I don’t mind the work itself, but it’s not my entire identity, like it is for you and Gan,” I agree.
Dad slides a check to me from across the table. “So, I sold the boat. No use hangin’ on to her. I hope this helps ya make your decision about what does fulfill ya, son.”
I hold it up, studying the amount in awe. Surely The Sea Hag wasn’t worth this much…
“Plus, we added a little too,” Mom beams. “We had some money just sitting around that was set aside for you and Gannett, in case you ever wanted to go to college…”
“And I know I’m already too fuckin’ smart for my own good, so you can have my half of the college fund,” Gannett adds snarkily, sliding in from the living room suddenly, heading to the counter and assembling a sandwich of his own.
Mom tsks. “Hush you, you got your half when your dad and I saw you were serious about wanting your own boat, to expand the family business. You chose to contribute to this.”
Stunned, I ask my brother, “You’ve been here this whole fucking time?” That certainly would explain Dad's sudden ability to text.
“Sorry, I’ve been here listening, I promise. It’s just that the Sox are on, and you all decided to have this friggin’ heart-to-heart, you know? Friggin’ a, I swear the older I get the more fascinating baseball is…”
I roll my eyes. “What the hell, man? You always said it was too boring.”
“Yeah, but that’s just because you were playing it, dumbass.
At the time, making out with cute chicks behind the dugout was more interesting…
” He shrugs. “Anyway, bro, maybe just accept the gift and put it towards something, I dunno, you think might be worthwhile. Like, for instance, a summer camp for grieving kids or something.”
The profound gesture causes my eyes to sting and my throat to clog up.
I stand and give my brother and parents a hug, taking them by complete surprise.
Then I turn and crouch in front of Brooks, who has just been sitting here in stunned silence.
I slide the check in front of him, then take his hands in mine.
“Babe,” I rasp, my voice thick with emotion, “business partners? You want to run Camp Healing Waters together?”
Brooks bites his lip, tears welling in his eyes.
He nods emphatically. “Thank you,” he whispers to me first, then turns to my family.
“Thank you, all. This is seriously unbelievable. You just met me, but already you’re giving me such a huge gift.
Not just financially, but a partner who is actively invested in helping me run the place.
You’ve raised exceptional men,” he tells my parents.
Mom gushes, and Gan suddenly seems to find something interesting on the ceiling. Dad sniffs, then sucks his teeth, before scrubbing a hand through his white beard. “Then I guess there’s just one problem left…”
“And what’s that, Dad?” I ask.
“Just how much I’m going to miss you…”
My brows furrow. Miss me? It’s not like I’m not going to be a few hours drive from here. Does he think I’ll never come back? Hell, I have to come back. Colton still has a year left of school. What the heck has gotten into him?
Gannett starts cackling. “Fuckin’ A, Wagner, you did not just King Triton Evan,” he heaves between jags of laughter. “He’s not friggin’ Ariel, for Christ’s sake. You did not just wave your magic trident and give him legs!”
Dad chuckles. “I fuckin’ did. Look at those saps, almost had me shedding a little tear there for a minute.”
“Seriously?” I grumble, seeing even Mom shuddering with silent laughter.
“Oh, Evan,” she coos, “you know your father doesn’t do well with these things.
His humor is what attracted me to him in the first place.
” She pats his chest. “We do just want to see you happy, though. I’m just tickled you’re finally finding yourself.
I suppose we have you to thank for that, Brooks. ”
“Oh, I didn’t really—I mean, he’s the one that’s put in all the work…” Brooks protests.
“That’s horseshit,” my mother balks. “My sons are both stubborn as goats—which they get from their father, by the way. I know my Evan, and he never would have dared to do any of this if it weren’t for you. Whatever spell you’ve cast on him, Brooks, it’s a good one.”