24. Three Wise Women
THREE WISE WOMEN
ROSALIND
“ H ark! We have a boat speeding over!” Niall joked.
Indeed, a powerboat was headed in our direction, lapping through the water. This was a good sign. At the very least, we were in the top five. But given I’d not heard any celebration yet, I figured we might have won. I held onto Lars’s arm excitedly.
“Three wise… women?” Mac said. Three women appeared, lit only by the low lights on our cruiser, slowing as they approached.
Lars snickered.
“What’s the news?” My father called down as they approached.
We all hung over the railing, excited to hear the results. Like a kid on Christmas, I waited with bated breath for the three women in the boat to speak.
“I’d like to thank you for your entry. It was spectacular. However, you came just short in the vote. The judges would like to give you a celebratory bottle of rum to consume when you are back on dry land. You placed second.”
My heart sank, but I tried not to telegraph my genuine disappointment. We’d come so close!
Mum squeezed my arm. “Next year, sweetie. Next year, we are doing it up even grander.”
I rested my head on her shoulder for a moment.
“Thank you,” Papa called down. “We appreciate it.”
We had to slowly negotiate to get the bottle of rum from the organiser boat.
“And who placed first?” Lars asked.
“The Lucinda ,” one woman answered. “A big cruiser—a 60-footer.”
I recalled the boat.
“Professionals,” Lars groaned as they sped away. “Cheating.”
Lars was invested, too. I was worried he might laugh at me for my disappointment, but he wanted the same.
“Hey, we beat your mum’s boat,” I said, trying to cheer him up.
“True. That is very satisfying.”
“You’ll have to return next year and help us, Lars. If you don’t mind?” Mum asked.
“I would be honoured. It will be good for us.”
“Can we go home now?” Jack called from below.
“We shall,” I answered. “To drink this shitty rum—well, the grown-ups, anyway.”
Returning to port, I tried to think about only the good parts of this experience. When we returned to the dock, I had a monster task ahead. I’d have to prove I could park this damn thing. It was far from straightforward, and I worried Lars would take the piss if I did a dreadful job. I knew I could do it but also that there would be swears. To my surprise, I nailed it.
“That’s my girl,” Papa declared. “Look at you!”
“Impressive,” Lars admitted. “You did well. Better than I bet I would have done on the first try.”
“She’s no slouch, mate,” Mac gloated. “Never underestimate a Ferguson woman.”
“I never did,” Lars said with a grin. It was the type that melted me.
“I’ll leave the bottle with you,” Papa said. “You earned it—the both of you.”
“Thanks,” I said, not wanting my consolation prize.
“Get some rest. You’ve got an early morning, and we’re down two men.”
“I’d like to pitch in if it would help,” Lars offered. “I… I feel like I know this rig better than any other right now, and I could be of help.”
“Why, so Peder will want to murder me?” Papa laughed.
“Na, Pappa understands. He knows Amara is ill. He’s sympathetic. It’s only fair. There are so many people on Keir’s ship. And either way, the damn thing is lightning fast and light as a feather. It’s push button. These sails will not rig themselves,” Lars offered.
“I won’t say no to more help,” Mac said. “I’d love to try and best Keir.
“Best him we shall, then,” Lars said confidently.
“Fine, fine,” Papa said, patting Lars on the back. “You’re alright in my book, son.”
Lars smiled warmly and remained quiet. He was pleased. Papa was happy to see him care about us, even in this small way. Papa was sweet as ever—his heart immense—but he knew Lars wasn’t a man of many words. He took that offer as an attempt at what it was. Lars tried to ingratiate himself. I adored him for it.
My family departed, agreeing to return Jack to her meetup point with the grandparents. That left Lars and I conveniently alone to take down the many decorations we needed to not only collapse but stow ahead of the race tomorrow. Thankfully, Lars rarely complained. I wasn’t upset to have him alone, either. And once we finished pulling lights down from the mast, everything was more manageable.
“Fancy a drink?” I asked. “I mean, if you can?”
“I let Tomas take the tender back,” Lars said. “Trapping myself here. So, I am glad you extended the hospitality.”
“That was brave,” I giggled.
“After our late afternoon session, I figured you weren’t about to kick me off the boat.”
I blushed. Lars neatly wrapped a string of lights around the wheel they came on. I appreciated his organisation. It matched my desire to keep things neat. He was always prepared.
Still holding the string I uncoiled from the railing, I kissed him. “Thanks for staying.”
“I wasn’t going to leave you. I told Mac and Niall they didn’t have to stay to unfuck the boat,” Lars chuckled. “They wanted to go rest up.”
“And you?”
“I’d rather not sleep tonight and spend it all with you. Life is too short, Rose. I will be fine tomorrow.”
He brushed my hair behind my ear. “I think we should watch Love, Actually because I keep hearing about it, but I’ve never seen it.”
I clapped my hands. “Really?”
“Yes, Rose.”
“Find it on a streamer, and I will gladly watch it!”