35. Gage #2
We return to our spot and Daphne has her camera out.
It’s getting later, toward the golden hour and she asks Charli to take some shots of her and the boys for her site.
She makes Mike put his book down to take a few photos with her too.
They’re mostly staged to look natural, like the kids running in and out of the water and the family walking down the beach.
Soon, it’s time for us all to go. Charli’s joining them for dinner at the Seascape Hotel and I might have time to get a drink with them before my sunset charter.
The boys and Mike rinse off and change clothes in the cabanas before he takes them to Seal Rock Beach to watch for seals.
Daphne drives back with us to get ready at Charli’s apartment.
She sits in the back as we zip back to town. “So you two are cute together.” I notice Charli’s shoulders stiffen at her words.
Charli answers, “Thanks, we’re happy, Daph.”
I reach over to take her hand in mine.
Daphne leans back and laughs while adjusting her hat in the wind from the open windows. “Well, I’m happy for you both if you’re happy, Charli. You know we’d love to see you more.”
She inhales. “Maybe we can set up another visit.”
I glance at Charli and see her lips in a fine line. She drops me at the pier and we share a brief kiss as I stand beside her driver’s side door while Daphne moves to the now vacant front seat.
“I promise to meet you at five for a drink and maybe some appetizers before I need to work,” I tell her with a wink.
‘Can’t wait,’ she mouths to me as Daphne leans over to give me a final wave.
I shower and put on clean clothes before I check over the boat to make sure it’s prepped for the sunset cruise.
It’s a short walk to meet her family on the hotel restaurant’s porch.
The hotel has an expansive white space with wrought iron furniture.
Staff dressed in navy blue bustle about serving guests.
Mike and the boys already have a table with some drinks, bowls of chowder, and clam cakes.
I join them and Mike and I order another round of beers and I get a chowder too.
“So, Gage, tell me about your uncle’s boat,” he begins as I stir some oyster crackers into my bowl.
“It’s a Bavaria 37 Cruiser. I sailed with him for four years, before running it myself for the past three years. I’ll be taking it south in the fall to meet him in the islands.”
“I see. And will you come back here in the spring?”
He’s got me there. What am I going to do? “Yeah, I probably will.” But will Charli still want me then? I don’t want to discuss this with him since Charli and I haven’t finished talking about us. She only called me her boyfriend yesterday.
“Charli said you do research at the university, Mr. O’Brien.”
“Call me Mike, please,” he says before taking a pull on his beer. “Yes, I lead and supervise students in studying conservation of marine mammals and food-web dynamics in deep water.”
He continues to talk more about his work and the university, but my mind wanders to Charli.
Usually by midsummer, I’m beginning to think about my trip, but this year, I don’t want to.
For so many years, being single has been the best option for me since I don’t stay in one place for long enough to be in a relationship. But now, I’m not so sure.
The boys have finished their food and are arguing over who the best Marvel superhero is.
“Dad, can we get more lemonades?” Connor asks.
“No, but, you can have water or milk now.”
“But, Dad, it’s a special occasion.”
He shakes his head. “Sorry, no more.”
Finally, Charli and Daphne arrive at quarter past. Daphne looks ready for a cover shoot, but I only have eyes for Charlie. She’s got on a flowy white dress and her hair is down. Shimmery eyeshadow makes her eyes stand out and a long necklace dangles into her cleavage.
Daphne gushes, “Sorry we were running late, it was my fault. Now, we need some shots before Gage leaves for his sail.” She gets everyone into their positions and pulls out her camera.
Charli and I sneak to the side of the table, and I pull her to me for a hug and a quick kiss hello. “You look gorgeous.”
She lays her head against my chest, her vanilla scent wrapping around us. “Thanks. How was it?” She pulls back, her eyes wide.
“It was fine,” I reassure her. “We had some food and drinks.”
Daphne and Mike are busy shuffling around. Connor makes a face at us like he’s going to puke and Carter sticks his tongue out.
“Boys,” Daphne shushes them into their poses. It’s apparently work to make it look natural.
Charli takes a few dozen photos for her and I order her a drink from the server.
When Daphne’s satisfied with the shots she starts in on Charli and me and takes some pictures of us out in the front garden that’s overflowing with pink blossoms. She also takes some of the kids with Charli too, all of them beaming with bright smiles.
“I'll edit these and send them to you, Charli,” Daphne says as she flips through the thumbnails on her camera. “These look great, you two are very photogenic together.”
I wish I could stay longer now and enjoy this with her. “It was nice to meet you all, but I have to get back to work.”
Connor asks, “Can we go for a sail?”
“Yeah, let's,” Carter adds.
“Boys, Gage is working and you can’t invite yourself on a person’s boat.” Mike comes to shake my hand goodbye.
Daphne gives me another hug goodbye, her arms jangling with jewelry. “Gage, I’d be happy to take some shots of you and the boat for your site if you want. Just let Charli know.” She gives Charli a shy look, her mouth quirked.
“Thanks, that sounds cool,” I answer. I’ll have to run that by Charli first. I say my goodbyes and brush a kiss near Charli’s ear.
She whispers, “I can’t wait to see you later, baby,” before I turn to walk down the steps.