CHAPTER TEN
I frowned as I pulled into the driveway. Liana’s car wasn’t there.
I parked in the garage and went to the kitchen door. I opened it and waited for Cindy to greet me.
When she didn’t appear, I knew something was very wrong… or very right!
I hurried onto the lanai and looked down at the dock. Vaughn and Robbie were there sitting on the sailboat talking, Cindy curled in Vaughn’s lap.
My heart pounding with anticipation, I dropped my purse and ran down the grassy slope to greet them.
Vaughn stepped onto the dock and wrapped his arms around me. “Thought I’d surprise you. We got through earlier than I thought.”
“It couldn’t come at a better time,” I said, lifting my face for his kiss.
“I’ve waited for this,” said Vaughn, lowering his lips to mine.
While we kissed, Cindy pranced at our feet and Robbie let out a small grunt.
Laughing, I pulled away from Vaughn. “Guess we’ll have more privacy later. But I’m so glad you’re home. Talking on the phone just isn’t the same as having you with me.”
“I sensed something has been bothering you and figured you’d tell me when you were ready,” said Vaughn, cupping my cheeks in his hands and giving me a steady look of concern.
“You’re right, but for the moment, I just want to enjoy being with you. Are we going for a sail?”
“It’s a nice evening for one with a steady, manageable breeze. Are you up for it?” Wearing a T-shirt and shorts, he looked … well, yummy.
“I’m definitely ready for some time with my family. I need to let the fresh air take away some of my stress. Just give me time to change.”
“Great.” Vaughn gave me another kiss. “Robbie and I have already put together a picnic for us for supper. Simple stuff.”
“That sounds perfect,” I said, and eagerly went into the house.
As I was changing clothes, my body felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from me.
I didn’t want Vaughn to know how threatened I’d felt by Jonny’s unreasonable reaction to our hiring Chet.
But as Bernie, Rhonda, and I had agreed, we couldn’t allow Jonny to interfere with our business.
But a part of me knew Vaughn would be upset that once more Amelia’s connection to our guests was bringing us trouble.
###
When I returned to the dock in jeans and a long-sleeved knit shirt, Vaughn and Robbie were ready to take off.
Sailing had been a way for Vaughn and Robbie to bond in their early years together.
Robbie had been only a toddler hanging onto the wheel of the boat with Vaughn when we first started sailing with him.
Now, Vaughn was sitting in the cockpit watching as Robbie skillfully steered the boat away from the dock.
We motored through the inlet, passed condos built along the water’s edge and out to the open Gulf.
While Vaughn and Robbie raised sails, I held onto the wheel and then turned it over to Robbie who steered the boat to fall off the wind and allow the sails to fill on a close reach.
Skimming silently across the water, I breathed in the fresh air and leaned back against a cushion in the cockpit. This moment was a blessing I vowed never to forget. My family enjoying time together with nature is what made the work Vaughn and I did worth it. We were so very lucky.
Vaughn moved over to sit beside me. He placed his arm around me and pulled me close. “I love you, you know,” he said softly into my ear.
I turned to him with a smile. “Me, too. You.”
We chuckled together.
“Okay, we’re going to come about,” said Robbie.
Vaughn held onto the mainsheet and allowed the sail to swing across the cockpit as the boat tacked to a different heading.
Moving in the opposite direction, we settled down to some smooth, easy sailing. With the threat of storms and hurricanes, fall could be a tricky time weatherwise. But tonight was perfect for us.
Later, we anchored the boat so we could all enjoy the picnic Vaughn and Robbie had put together.
Sitting with two of my favorite people in the cockpit, gently rocking with the waves that caressed our boat, I felt blessed beyond words.
Vaughn seemed to understand and put his arm around me. “Nice, huh?”
I smiled at him and turned to Robbie.
“You’re getting to be such a competent sailor,” I said. “I remember the first time we took you out on a boat. You were just a toddler but even then, you loved being on the water.”
“It’s a fun time,” said Robbie.
“Yes, we all miss Dad when he’s away working,” I said. “I’m thinking it’s time to get the Ts interested in learning to sail. Gabe is too young, but maybe we can work as a team to make it happen with his older siblings.”
“Short trips to begin with,” said Vaughn. “And it has to be balanced —the three of us and the three of them. Too many things can go wrong if we’re not careful. And the Ts can be trouble.
I laughed. “They are the best thing to happen to us all. They’ve brought our family even closer. And now little Gabe is here to keep Noah company dealing with his sisters.”
“I’m not going to get married for a long time,” said Robbie.
“You have years ahead of you before that should happen,” said Vaughn. “But when it’s with the right woman, you’ll know. And then you won’t want to wait.”
Vaughn was still mourning the death of his first wife when we met. But early on, we both knew we had something special, worth pursuing.
We finished eating, and while I packed up, Robbie and Vaughn prepared the boat to return to our dock.
###
Back at the house, Cindy greeted us with looks of reproach. We’d decided not to take her on this short sail, and she still was unhappy about it.
I picked her up and hugged her. “Next time, Cindy.”
She kissed my cheek and wiggled to get down to go over to Robbie for equal treatment.
Watching the two of them together, I knew we’d made the right decision to get another Dachshund, after Trudy died.
We got the food sorted out and dishes in the dishwasher, then the three of us looked at one another.
“I’m going to watch television,” said Robbie. “Night. Thanks for the sail.”
I kissed Robbie and said to Vaughn, “I’m going to bed. It’s been a hectic week.”
“I’m right behind you,” said Vaughn.
I quickly got ready for bed and had just placed my head on my pillow when Vaughn joined me.
He pulled me close. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered in my ear, sending a tingling of expectation throughout my body.
I rolled over and faced him. “It’s never the same with you gone. I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Not as happy as I am,” he said. He caressed my face and moved his hands lower.
My fatigue evaporated as we began to show one another just how special our marriage was.
###
Later, while Vaughn slept, I lay awake hoping Vaughn wouldn’t hear about Rhonda’s and my troubles with Jonny Arno. Vaughn normally didn’t interfere in my business, but he would be upset to know that anything amiss was going on.