Epilogue
Twelve months later…
“Hands above the table where we can see ‘em!” said Marie on the screen in front of them.
They wiggled their hands in front of the camera, laughing.
“It’s a little rough out here today, Marie. It’s not our fault if we have to grab random things to steady ourselves,” said Sam with a wink.
“Sure, sure. Well there’ll be no cheating under my roof and no funny business.”
“Yes, ma’am. All hands above deck!” Taylor shouted, making Sam crack up beside her.
“Ha. Ha,” said Marie dryly, as she took her defensive roll in Dice Throne . Taylor had stashed their own set on the boat so they could play along. With more time on their hands to practice, they were both getting extremely good at it, which Sam was very happy about. She was now, well and truly part of the games crew.
Time had flown by, and boat life was everything Sam could’ve hoped for and more. Taylor had developed a knack for freediving, and some days they ate like queens with a successful catch—like a huge one-clawed crayfish she’d hauled up the other week.
Belle had grown an even bigger affinity for the water over time, and they were afraid that one day she wouldn’t want to get back in the boat.
The days Sam loved most though, were the slow days. The light streaming in through the hatch, warm on their faces, her limbs intertwined with Taylor’s, a puppy snoring softly at their feet and no plans for the entire day. Just the water lapping lazily at the hull, a soft tinking from the mast above, the salty sea air filling her lungs. Those days were bliss. She cherished every minute of them.
The storms, wind and towering swells? Not so much.
They were heart-poundingly chaotic.
They’d both get tossed about the boat ending up battered, bruised and exhausted (Belle was safely harnessed). Thankfully, they’d only been through a few extreme weather events so far. Taking their time had its bonuses, and they only sailed when they absolutely had to through bad weather.
As for their relationship, they had certainly thrown themselves into a pressure cooker by living together so quickly, and on a boat with a dog, no less. They’d made sure to give themselves options if it blew up in their faces… but it never had. Sure, they’d bicker like an old married couple on occasion, but they were a team. Their skill sets ended up being very complementary to each other.
Sam was impressed she’d picked up a few maintenance tricks from Taylor, while Taylor could now steer the boat happily without worrying she was going to make them sink.
They’d made it all around the east coast of Australia and were now in the tropics of Far North Queensland, heading to Port Douglas to spend a couple of weeks with Alex and Will, who’d made good on their promise to meet up and Sam couldn’t wait.
“Sam?” Hayley said.
“Yeah?”
“Your turn.”
“Right!” Sam replied, adding a card to her hand before picking up her dice. Marie had just lost her remaining health and was officially out of this round, joining Adam, Jess and Heath, so it was down to Taylor, Hayley and Sam.
She rolled her dice once, twice and—“ Ultimate !” Sam squealed, jumping up and down on the couch as she landed the unavoidable dice attack that could obliterate. Yes !
Hayley tried covering the webcam with her hands.
“I can still hear you, Hayley. How many health points has your character got?” Sam asked.
“ Kertschhhhhh —oh, Sam, shhhhht —you’re breaking up— shhhhhht —we can’t hear you.”
“Wow, that grin is evil,” came Adam’s voice in the background.
“I choose Hayley to attack.” Sam smirked.
“ Noooooo ,” Hayley wailed.
“You can still defend,” Sam offered.
“Nah, she’s out,” said Heath as their screen came back into view with a defeated-looking Hayley.
“You all suck.” She slumped back on the couch as everyone laughed.
“Man, you girls are literally unbeatable now,” said Jess.
“Way too much time on their hands—unlike us suckers living our boring lives on land.” Marie agreed as Sam let out an evil laugh and Taylor began her turn.
Taylor ended up whomping her butt, probably a lesson for Sam for showing off earlier against Hayley.
They said their goodbyes to everyone and sat back on the couch as Taylor popped an arm around her.
With Taylor declared the winner, it was another successful games night done.
“I love our life.” Taylor beamed.
“Me too.”
“I thought my van life days were an adventure, but this has been something else entirely. It does help to have some pretty amazing company on this trip though,” Taylor said, nuzzling into Sam’s shoulder.
Sam hummed. “So you’re not sick of me yet?”
“Pfft, never.” She traced Sam’s face with her free hand. “You’re so beautiful. I love you.”
“Love you too, babe.” Sam turned, crushing her lips to Taylor’s. She’d never get sick of those lips.
Taylor broke away first to check the time on her phone. “Hey, aren’t we meant to be video calling Jase tonight too?”
“Nope. Jase is away with Andre this week, remember?”
“Oh yeah, their first official holiday together. I can’t believe Andre is taking him on a surprise road trip. Could they get any more swoonworthy as a couple?”
“Nope. They’re the swooniest. I want to hear where they end up already!”
“Maybe I’ll have to organise a road trip for you one time?”
“Van trip around Australia next?” Sam suggested, only half-joking.
Jase and Andre had hit it off on their first date, but unlike Taylor and Sam, they were taking things much slower. They’d been seeing each other casually for the better part of the year, and things had only just started to turn into more serious territory. So the road trip would be a good test for them both. Sam had a good feeling though.
Belle stood at the front of Sam’s paddleboard, her preferred spot now—much to Taylor’s dismay—while Taylor paddled alongside them. They’d moored for the day at the local marina in Port Douglas and were making their way around to the famous Four Mile Beach to hopefully meet up with Alex and Will.
The sun was out, the water a rich blue on the horizon and clear all the way down to the bottom beneath the boards. Sam could tell Belle was itching to jump in the water, but they’d trained her now to wait until she was told so she was always in a safe doggy paddling area and away from the marine stingers.
Once they were closer to shore within the flagged swimming zone, she yelled, “Okay, girl!”
Belle gleefully bounced—yes, bounced —off into the water, using the SUP as a springboard and almost toppling Sam off. She steadied herself with her paddle.
“We’ve created a monster,” Sam muttered, mainly to herself.
Taylor shook her head at the dog’s antics, watching on while Belle paddled around them as they inched closer to the beach.
Sam dragged her board onto the shore and looked around, spotting one of her favourite people on the bench nearby. She cupped her hands and called out.
“Alex!”
Alex launched out of the seat, pulling Will up with her, and raced over to Sam.
Alex latched onto her—or maybe it was the other way round. Sam didn’t know. Didn’t care. Sam had missed Alex like crazy, and it was so good to see her in person (and Will too, of course). Sam pulled back to take a good look at her friend.
“Girl, you are looking radiant right now! Eee! I’m so happy to see you both for real!”
Alex stood in a flowing maxi dress and sandals, looking like she’d been lapping up the sun for a week rather than the single day they’d been in the tropics.
“You too, I can’t believe how tanned you are from living on the boat. I’m jealous!” Alex replied.
Sam jumped over to Will next, giving him a big squeeze too.
“How was it getting over here? How was your flight? No dramas?” she asked, looking between them.
Alex shook her head, making her curls fly every which way. “Nope. Excuse the pun, but it was all smooth sailing .”
“Same! Funny that.” Sam chuckled, then paused, realising Taylor hadn’t come up to greet her friends yet. She was probably trying to get Belle out of the water—silly dog!
Sam turned to call out, but the words died on her lips.
Taylor knelt behind her on one knee, a ring in her hand and a sopping wet Belle sitting beside her, proudly wearing a pink bow which read “Marry My Mum!”
Taylor beamed up at her, silent laughter on her lips.
Sam gasped and hiccupped at the same time in complete shock. People began to stop and gather along the beach to watch. Then Taylor cleared her throat.
Oh wow, this was actually happening.
“A year ago, I walked into a shop angry, embarrassed and feeling like a complete fool. The last thing I expected was to meet the love of my life. I was so swept up in you.
“Since then, we’ve thrown everything at this relationship, and while it may seem quick, I want you to know—I’m all in. I want all the adventures with you, no matter where we go next. I would follow you to the moon and back if you asked me.
“Samantha Garner, you are my brightest star. Will you marry me, Ham?”
Belle barked and wagged her tail, flicking sand everywhere and making everyone laugh.
“I mean, I have to now.” Sam laughed through tears. “The dog’s requested it. Plus, how can I say no to those faces?”
She bent down to kiss Taylor on the lips, then pulled her up into a hug. Taylor pulled back.
“So just to clarify… is that a yes?”
“Yes! Yes to us, to the adventures and to marrying you.”
Taylor took Sam’s hand between them and slid on the ring to a chorus of cheers from onlookers. Sam felt like she was on cloud nine, her cheeks hurting from the grin as she stared at the most beautiful diamond ring on her finger.
“What did I miss?”
What?! Her heart leapt in her chest. It couldn’t be…
She broke away from Taylor, turning to see her dad smiling from ear to ear right next to Alex.
“But… Wh—How? You were?—”
“In Brisbane? Yeah, I lied.” He looked at Taylor and winked.
“Have you two been conspiring together?”
Taylor tried to look innocent while Belle barked again.
“Yeah, you tell me girl. You were in on it too, weren’t you?” Sam gave the dog a scratch behind the ears, then turned to look at her friends. “What about you both?”
They held up their hands.
“Guilty as charged,” Alex said, Will nodding along, both not looking the least bit remorseful.
“Well, you got me good. All of you.” She looked around. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world. Come here, fiancée.” She smiled, pulling Taylor in for one more kiss as the gathered crowd erupted into whoops, whistles and hollers around them.
Later that night, they all sat around at a local restaurant to celebrate. It stood out over the water, where they watched passing boats heading out for twilight sails. It already had Sam itching to be back on Manny.
She looked around the table and felt so full—so full of love and life, sitting here with the people who meant the most to her.
She thought back to those conversations she’d been fretting over, again and again and again… now months in the past. How, at the time, each one had seemed so insurmountable. Yet she got through them—one talk at a time.
Now, she had those hard moments to thank for getting her where she was today: achieving her dreams living on Manny, falling in love with the best, most beautiful woman she could ask for and truly feeling free.
She said she was lucky, but she’d made this luck. She’d faced her fears, had the hard conversations and finally laid that second arrow to bed. Taylor was right. She wasn’t hurting herself anymore.
She caught Taylor’s eye as she sat next to her. Taylor gave her the small side smile she knew drove Sam crazy and all she could think was how happy she was to be able to call Taylor hers… and wish they were back in the privacy of their cabin…
A hot chip whizzed past between them.
“Get a room you two,” said Alex, gearing up to throw another before Will covered her hand, trying to stop her.
“No food fights,” Will chided. “We’re in a refined establishment.”
They looked down at their sandy legs and thongs and all cracked up. A seagull snapped up the errant chip before Sam could pick it up.
“Uh-oh. Look what you’ve done,” she said as a flock of seagulls, who looked to be on a hungry warpath, landed behind their table on the railing, squawking loudly for more food.
Amusement played on her dad’s face as he watched everything unfold. He looked so relaxed, still dishevelled as always, but there were a few less worry lines on his face and a relaxed set to his shoulders.
Knowing he was sailing on Carol felt right, like he was finally taking the trip he was always meant to, the trip her mum always wanted to. She knew even though her mum wasn’t there physically, she was with him at heart, guiding him through the seas.
Guiding both of them.
She looked up to the sky above, where one extra-bright twinkle stood out amongst the rest, and she smiled.