Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
This was it.
Today was the day.
They were going to hop on that boat and literally sail off into the sunset together.
Because Taylor still didn’t have many nautical miles under her belt, they were taking the first leg nice and slow. They’d keep close to the coast and make their way around the peninsula first as a practice in more protected waters. That way, they could ease into boat life and make sure this really was what both of them wanted. Then, they’d begin their main leg to Melbourne.
Things had ramped up so much in the lead-up to this day, Taylor had only just realised she hadn’t thought about Liz at all lately. Her fingers no longer twitched to check her Instagram, and she felt so free— like she was finally letting go, living her life and not letting Liz or her past dictate her choices or haunt her thoughts any longer. The future was looking bright, especially with a certain blonde alongside her.
She took two large backpacks out of the van, closing the doors and making sure everything was locked. Thankfully, Taylor was able to keep her car in the storage yard while they were on their trip.
“I thought I saw a familiar van in the yard,” Sam said, waltzing over.
She looked up, the sight still taking her breath away. Sam had her hands shoved in her cut-offs, her hair lightly blowing in the breeze as she walked over, the beatific smile on her lips making Taylor light up in return.
Sam slipped her arms around Taylor and looked at her seriously. “Are you one hundred percent sure about this? It’s not too late to hop in that van and drive away.”
“I drove away once, and I learned my lesson. I’m not going anywhere. Am I certain about this trip? Definitely not. But you?”—she pressed her lips to Sam’s—“Positive. Our trip is scary and exciting, but I’m so ready to try this together. And I’ve loved every minute of what I’ve learned so far. Doing the real thing is going to be the biggest test, but I think I’ve got a pretty good crew.” Taylor winked, giving her a lopsided smile.
“I mean, Belle could learn to be a little more useful on deck,” Sam said with a straight face.
“She is very proficient in cuddling and dolphin whispering, at least.”
“This is true.” Sam chuckled, then nudged the backpacks with her toe. “What are these?”
“Uhh, I may have bought a couple of things to put on the boat.”
“Babe! We don’t have the space.”
Taylor held up her hands. “Wait, wait, wait. I know exactly where we can store them out of the way. And don’t you want to know what’s in them?”
“More tools?” Sam shrugged.
Taylor barked out a laugh. “No! Although don’t tempt me…”
Sam stood, hand on her hip, lips quirked.
“I’m kidding!” Taylor added. “I got us inflatable paddleboards.”
Sam’s eyes lit up. “Seriously? But those bags look too small.” She studied the packs as if not quite believing what she was seeing.
“Exactly. They take up way less space than my rigid board, AND we can have one each.”
“How decadent,” Sam said, moving to the bag to unzip it. “Wow, they really are just all rolled up in there.”
“Yup. Wanna walk them down to the boat together? Maybe along the marina?” she paused. “If we have time, that is?”
Sam checked her phone, then picked up a backpack. “Oof, they’re heavy. We’ve got time, let’s go,” she replied, hoisting it onto her shoulders with a little help from Taylor.
The packs were heavier than they looked, and Taylor was regretting her suggestion with every step. They’d passed the marina and were coming up to the spot overlooking the ocean where they’d chatted on her first walk with Sam. How her life had changed since then.
“I have to say, our new home has a much bigger backyard.” Taylor swept her arm out to the open ocean. Sam looked puzzled before realisation dawned on her face.
“You’re so stupid. I love—” Sam coughed, cutting herself off, her eyes blowing wide. Taylor did the same, stunned on the spot, as Sam cleared her throat and continued, “—that about you,” she finished weakly.
Did she almost say I love you? Warmth bloomed deep in her chest. Did Sam love her already? Taylor knew she hadn’t felt like this before. She thought she’d loved Liz, but knowing how she felt now with Sam changed everything. It still scared her. It was all still so early, so new and so exciting. She wasn’t sure she was ready to say it just yet, but soon. Very soon.
“The last time we stood here on the way to meet Manny, I certainly couldn’t have expected to be back here right now, about to leave together on said boat.” Her mind was a whirl of all the study and training she’d been doing recently. She hoped she was ready.
“I remember talking about the lightning from my bedroom window, and I couldn’t have expected you to completely turn my life upside down and inside out—especially during that last storm. I feel like thunder is going to turn me on every time I hear it now.” Sam laughed, giving her a wicked grin.
“Me too.” Taylor grinned back, leaning in for a kiss, but the weight of the bag overbalanced her, making her crash into Sam.
Sam caught her arms and straightened them up, giggling. “Let’s hurry and get these off already so I can kiss you properly.”
“Please.” Taylor grimaced, trying to rearrange the bag on her shoulders properly as she hefted it back into place.
An excited bark sounded from outside the cabin. Taylor scrambled up onto the deck in time to see Jess and Adam coming along the pontoon alongside Matt.
“They’re here!” she called back down to Sam. “Hey, Bel Bel!”
Jess let go of the leash as Belle raced along the wooden planks, screeching to a halt at the edge of the boat with her tail waving frantically and tongue lolling out to the side. Taylor bent over and helped lift her onto the boat.
“There ya go buddy. Missed you.” She wrangled her into a cuddle. “Aww, I love you too,” she cooed as Belle smothered her in kisses.
“C’mon loser, it’s only been a few hours since you left the house.” Jess stood with her arms folded by the edge of the boat.
Taylor grabbed the dog's face and smooshed it against her own. “But look at this face! Look how much she missed me.”
Belle wriggled free and ran straight to the cabin door to greet Sam instead.
“Careful, Belle might have a new favourite soon enough.” Jess smirked.
Taylor scrunched up her face in mock disgust before launching herself off the boat to give Jess and everyone else a hug. She held on extra-long with Jess. “Thanks for coming to see us off and for looking after the pup while we finished up this morning.”
“Pfft, it was nothing. Now show us this boat!”
“Ooh, shall I undo these ropes?” said Adam with a grin, pretending to fiddle with the mooring lines.
“Adam, don’t touch anything.” Jess swatted at his arm.
“Nah, I wouldn’t,” he said, straightening up. “Wow. This is a really nice boat, Sam. It looks amazing in real life; the photos don’t do it justice.”
“Thank you!” she called out, bent over with Matt as she showed him all the new ropes Taylor had set up for the sails.
Matt turned around then. “This is impressive, Taylor. There won’t be any confusion between them now.”
“Thanks, Matt.” Taylor beamed with pride.
Taylor gave Jess and Adam a full tour of the boat while Sam and her dad went over all the final checks together to make sure they had everything correct and ready to go. Before she knew it, everyone was back on the pontoon and it was time to leave.
“Adam! You wanna undo that rope for real now?” Taylor asked.
“Uhh, I can try.”
“I’ll get the other one,” said Matt, heading to the back of the boat.
“Wait, one last hug!” Sam cried, launching herself off the side of the boat to wrap her arms around her dad one final time.
She turned to see Sam’s eyes watering as she moved back to the helm. “Okay, let’s do this,” Sam nodded, seemingly gathering herself.
Taylor slid her arm around her. “Hey, you okay?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, just… overwhelmed.”
“Look at me.” Sam turned to face her. “You can do this. You are living out your dream, and today’s the day, baby! It’s finally happening. Start that motor up, and let’s get out of here!”
There was a whoop from Jess as she fist-pumped the air. Matt stood proud, a sparkle in his eyes that said he was getting a little emotional—just like his daughter.
She realised in the moment what a huge milestone this was for him and Sam. This was the first time Sam would be truly leaving her dad. Just like Taylor had freed herself from her past and from Liz, Sam was doing the same thing. The irony wasn’t lost on her now as Matt walked around to the other side of the boat to undo the final rope—the last tie binding them to the land, to their past. Matt set the boat free. Set Sam free. Telling her without words to go and live her life beyond the shop, beyond the marina and?—
“Remember, Sam, follow the brightest star. I’ll see you on the seas soon!” Matt called out as they reversed the boat out.
Sam choked out a laugh. “You’ll have some catching up to do, old man! ”
They waved to their friends, family, and life as they knew it.
No matter what the sea threw at them, they were ready to take on this new adventure—together.