Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Sam glanced at the clock. 4:13 pm. Almost time to start closing up. Five o’clock couldn’t come soon enough. She was looking forward to getting out of the shop today. The sun was shining, and Manny was practically begging her to head down and work on him in the last few hours of daylight.
Luckily, a few parts had come in today for the boat, so Sam was already mentally planning what she was going to do in her head. One of the perks of working at the marine shop was not only could she order her own stuff, she could also get them at cost price and save herself a few dollars along the way.
The front door opened and in came another regular.
“Hey Peter, haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?”
“Sam,” Peter acknowledged as he walked past the counter. “Been all right. Sold my boat though.”
“Oh? What are you doing in here then?” Sam joked.
“Bought another one,” Peter said with a smirk. “A smaller boat this time.”
“Well, hopefully a smaller boat means smaller problems.”
“Maybe.” He paused for effect. “But I keep hitting my head,” he said with a wink and a laugh.
“Ha, good one,” she humoured him. Dad jokes were very popular amongst her particular boating clientele.
“Sold anything?” he enquired.
“I’ll check your file while you have a look around. After anything in particular?”
“A few bits, but I’ll wander around and grab them meself.”
“No problem. Dad’s around by the anchors if you need anything else.”
“Cheers Sam.”
Some of their regulars, like Peter, had items on consignment in the second-hand section. So whatever sold, they could either be paid in cash or take the amount off their next purchase at the shop. It was great, as it brought regulars back to check in on their sales, and new customers were obsessed with finding “treasure” in the overfilled back corner. To Sam, most of it seemed like junk. She swore there were still bits in that section from when she was little, but try telling her dad to get rid of anything. “Someone might need that!” he’d say. She shook her head, thinking about it. Luckily for Peter, a few of his things had actually sold.
Sam looked up as someone came up to the counter, thinking it was Peter. Instead, she was greeted with a bright smile and green eyes lit up from the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows behind her.
“Oh, Taylor, hi. Didn’t expect to see you again so soon. Although, maybe I should have with the amount we’ve seen each other recently,” Sam said. “I almost feel like you’re one of our regulars now.”
Taylor grinned back. “Maybe I will be. This place stocks so many things I need all the time for work. How in the hell I’d never heard of this place is beyond me.”
“We are kind of tucked out of the way. Though I’m super happy you found us, even if it was by accident. So what can I help you with today?”
“I believe this is yours.” Taylor handed back her favourite T-shirt, washed and folded neatly. “I mainly just wanted to swing past and give it back to you before the end of the day. And, say thanks again for coming to my rescue.”
“Ah, pfft.” Sam waved her off. “It was seriously nothing. Glad I could help. And actually, speaking of help, were you serious about being able to take a look at my boat?”
She popped the T-shirt under the counter and into her bag. Standing back up, her dad came around the counter with Peter in tow, so she slid across his consignment details to make sure he got his money.
“Of course. You said you were having trouble with the wiring?” Taylor asked.
“Yep, well, that’s one of the many things.” Sam laughed. “The wiring is my priority at the moment, but a few other pieces came in today. I might get you to quote those too, if you have the time?”
“Easy done, happy to have a look and see what I can do. I’m pretty good with my hands,” Taylor said, holding them up for good measure.
“That’s what she said.” Sam chuckled as Taylor’s face blushed pink, her hands dropping quickly to her sides. “Sorry, can’t help myself.”
“Ah, you got me there.” Taylor smiled shyly, rubbing the back of her neck, her cheeks darkening further.
“So, I’m not sure if you’re still around for the rest of the day, but I was going to head down to the boat after work if you wanted to have a look today?”
“That suits me actually. I was just finishing up today’s job and packing up the van. When and where do you want to meet?”
“How about back here just after five? Bring your van around to the front carpark and we can walk down together if you like? It’s not far from here down to the marina.”
“Done.”
Taylor and Peter headed out one after the other. Her dad popped the sales receipt on their daily stack and turned around to face her.
“She seems nice. Been in the shop a bit lately.”
“Yeah, I think she’s taken a liking to the ol’ place,” Sam said, patting the counter. “Nice to find someone to take a look at Manny for me too.”
“We know plenty of people who can help you with that boat.” He gestured around the shop.
“I know that. She just seems… I dunno. Nice. Like she cares more than just getting the job done you know? But we’ll see what she says once she sees the nest of wires I’ve got hanging everywhere below deck,” she finished with a wince.
Her dad pretended to shiver. “I’m glad those days are behind me and I can just enjoy Carol.”
If Manny was Sam’s love of her life, her dad’s was Carol—a classic Passport yacht he’d named after her mum. It had been just the two of them since she was six, after they’d lost her mum to cancer. While those days were starting to get blurry, Sam and her dad would often talk about her, feeling her presence with them more often than not. Her mum loved the water as much as Sam and her dad did, so it seemed fitting to call the boat after her.
Her dad lived on the boat full-time, preferring the water over traditional house and land. It was in a different marina that allowed liveaboards (hers didn’t) and suited him perfectly. He loved the simple life and had spent three years doing her up until he’d got it, in his words, “perfect, just like your mum.” A couple of times a year they’d take it for a multi-day sail to their favourite small towns for a quick getaway, squeezing in a fish or two if they had the time and energy.
“Me too. Carol is a truly stunning boat. I’m jealous.” She wished more than anything Manny was finished already. Soon…
“You’ll get there Sammy. Look at the progress you’ve already made and imagine where you’ll be in another couple of months. Maybe running the business for your old man and a finished boat.”
“Keep dreaming, old man ,” she teased, then tried to change the subject. “Oh, it’s almost five. I gotta go pack up and get ready to show Taylor the boat to quote up. Can you lock up tonight? Pretty please?”
Her dad waved her off. “Go, and have a good night. I got this covered. Hope it goes well.”
“Thanks Dad!” she said as she dashed off to the kitchen to pack up.
She knew she needed to talk to her dad soon, but when was the right time to crush someone’s dreams? He had his heart set on Garner Marine living on through her so he could retire— and take advantage of family rate boat parts, let’s be honest —but it was his dream, not hers. And it was time to let him know… somehow. But not today. She had a date with Taylor. Well. Not a date date. Ha. She was getting delirious. Time to get out of here, grab her bag and hopefully get this boat in some sort of order.