37. Gage
GAGE
A slight easterly breeze will be perfect for this afternoon’s charter.
The weather is beginning to change signifying that summer will be over soon.
The nights are slightly cooler and the air is a little bit drier.
There will still be lots of warm days left to enjoy here, but at this point I’m only taking it one day at a time.
This has been a week. It began with the high of my success with the campers from the Academy; then meeting Charli’s dad, stepmom and little brothers.
I hope it goes as well with dinner at her grandparents’ house tonight.
Cap surprised me with the invitation, but I can’t get over my nervousness at the prospect of a meal together.
Then she dropped that bomb about a trip in my lap.
I remember her mentioning something about taking a solo vacation with female travelers, but then it slipped my mind.
This month has been a whirlwind with Charli, I can’t seem to get enough.
I want to be with her all the time. Work is the only time when we’re not together.
I recall the utter panic I felt when she told me she was going away, alone to fucking Iceland.
She has to go to prove to herself that she can do it.
I have no right to ask her not to go, even though I’ll miss her like crazy.
She wants things that aren’t even on my radar. It reminds me of Tori. She and I met a few summers ago on Eden Island in New York. I thought I was finally ready to try something real again. She was crewing on a yacht for the summer and I fell hard and fast for her.
When I told her that I was developing feelings for her, she brushed me off.
I was a fun distraction for her. She had big plans for her future; returning to her private college, starting her internship, meeting her parents’ expectations, and going back to her real life.
A life that didn’t include a guy who was happy living on a boat and bumming around the islands for the winter.
I still recall the look in her eyes. She had no idea how devastated I was. We had a good time this summer, but that was it for her. Tori didn’t mean for things to get so serious and thought I understood.
Charli would never be so flippant and careless. But her dreams are big and she deserves to chase them. I don’t want to be the reason she doesn’t go after what she wants.
We had our ‘talk,’ but it didn’t get us anywhere.
If I did stay in Seascape, I don’t know what kind of job I could get to earn enough money to live here.
I can’t just assume I can move in with her.
Even if we did live together, I don’t want her paying the bulk of the bills.
I still have to get the boat to Bill somehow too.
Even though I’m happy with her, I’m not sure how to solve these problems.
When we were together this weekend, things felt different, still hot and intense, but there was a tenderness, a vulnerability to it.
The intimacy was on another level the other night, the way she looked in my eyes while I was deep inside her.
That was not just sex. We made love. We didn’t even speak, neither one of us said a damn thing afterwards.
All those sappy love songs make sense to me now.
* * *
After docking and securing the boat, I take a quick shower and change into a collared shirt and clean chino shorts before dinner. On my way there, I stop to buy flowers, then hit the liquor store to get some wine to bring. I haven’t met Mrs. Armstrong yet, and I want to make a good impression.
The house is a big classic New England-looking place with a huge wraparound porch. The grass has been freshly cut and the sweet scent of flowers hangs in the still evening air. Cap is out on the porch in a rocking chair. He stands to greet me as I approach the steps.
“Hi there.” Cap extends his weathered hand to take the wine from me. He chuckles softly. “Good manners, eh?”
“Thanks for having me,” I say stiffly. Wow. The view from here is phenomenal.
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about me. How was your last charter?”
The tension slips from my shoulders. This will be fine tonight. “It was easy. Two couples and a few kids.”
“Good. Come on inside.” He glances at me in her periphery. “You can meet my wife.”
I follow him through the double doors into the front room. There’s a big stone fireplace and comfortable furniture. Charli’s laugh filters through the space, from what must be the kitchen. Cap disappears down the hallway past a large open staircase.
I wander the room to look at all the framed photographs and see Charli as she grew up through the ages.
There’s some with a boy, probably her brother, and several with two other little girls, maybe her cousins.
By the bookcase, there’s a black and white picture of a young woman, who looks eerily like Charli, looking out into the distance as a boy and girl sit on her lap hugging her.
That must be her mother. My jaw clenches as footsteps come down the hallway.
I turn as a bright voice says, “Hello, dear, you must be Gage, whom I’ve heard so much about.
” A slim older lady with bobbed white hair walks toward me, with Charli right behind her, grinning.
She’s got on a floral sundress that ties around her neck, and she looks beautiful.
Her grandmother wraps me in a big hug and pats my back.
“I’m Margaret Armstrong, thank you so much for coming to dinner with us.
” She is the epitome of class. I can see why Charli is so close to her grandparents.
We head to the porch to have some hors d'oeuvres with the wine I brought.
Charli has a tray of food with her and Cap is behind her with some glasses.
Margaret thanks me for the flowers and Charli goes to get a vase.
The conversation is light, putting me at ease.
Plus, the food is really good. They have steamed little necks and butter and stuffed quahogs.
Next, we have clam chowder with oyster crackers in little crock pot bowls.
I volunteer to help Charli clear the round of dishes and we fill the trays and bring them back to the kitchen. The space is all black and white, not really updated but very classic. Something smells good in here.
As soon as we get behind the door, we set the dishes on the counter. I pull her close to me and seal my mouth to hers. She tastes like white wine as I dip my tongue into her mouth and let my hands roam her backside. Her body melts into mine as she wraps herself around me.
Pulling back, she pats my chest, “We have to go back out there.”
I sigh. “I know. I just had to get my hands on you. I can’t stop thinking about last night.”
We separate just as Margaret comes through the door, the corner of her mouth turned up as she catches us. “Okay kids, let's get the lobster rolls next.” A stove timer starts to beep. She chimes in, “Good, the fries are done.”
I help them build up our plates of lobster salad in toasted rolls and crispy homemade French fries. “These look amazing, Mrs. Armstrong.”
“Please call me Margaret,” she says as she waves her hand at me.
During our meal, Cap starts in with a light interrogation. “So, Gage, when are you set to sail south?”
Shit. He said not to worry about him earlier. I don’t want to discuss this tonight. “Right at the beginning of October, depending on the weather and tides.”
He clears his throat as I dip another fry. “Of course. Who will be sailing with you?”
Charli’s body stills next to me and she looks intently at her plate. “I’m not sure yet. I have a friend on another boat that might go.”
Margaret clears the air by saying, “I hope you have an easy time of it.”
“Well this one here would be an excellent first mate.” He nods at Charli and she starts coughing.
After taking a huge gulp of her wine, she says, “Excuse me, that went down the wrong way.”
Damn. That was one thing that never came up when we talked. I wonder if Cap brought this up with her before; but based on her reaction, probably not. My mind races and my heart pounds. Would she be willing to leave her life behind and come with me? And now I can’t stop thinking about it.
Margaret steers the conversation in a new direction and my nerves dissipate.
By the time we’re done eating, I’m stuffed.
This time, her grandparents take the dishes to the back.
When they’re gone, I lean over to brush her hair from her face and kiss her gently.
“I can see why you love being here with them. They’re great, and so is this place. ”
She swallows and reaches for my hand, her green eyes telling a story. Footsteps hit on the porch deck and Cap’s voice echoes, “Charli, Mimi wants your help with dessert, honey.”
She scoots out of her seat and returns to the kitchen, leaving me with Cap. “I really appreciate you and your deckhands checking over my boat while I’ve been laid up here.”
“Of course, it's no problem.”
“You're a good kid. I’m glad she picked you.”
I look at him surprised. “Thanks?” I mumble.
He steeples his hands on the table. “The boat show in Port City is coming up and I can get us some industry tickets if you want to go with me.”
Stunned, I’m not sure what to say. “Yeah, Cap. That’d be amazing.”
Charli and Margaret return with a plate of brownies.
I’m already full, but I eat one anyway. I have a mouthful when Margaret asks Charli about her trip to Iceland, and my gut turns to lead.
I swallow the sweet chocolate and take a long drink of water.
I listen as Charli chatters on about the excursions she will go on: visiting the Golden Circle, Volcano Crater, and Blue Lagoon.
It does sound cool and I try not to look too disappointed that I can’t be with her for this.
They nod and listen before Cap says, “Honey, we just want you to be safe while you’re doing all of these adventures.”
Charli reassures him. “Pop, I’ll be with other female travelers and we have guides to take us there.”
He pats her hand and Margaret asks, “What about the airport?”
Charli’s brow furrows. “I guess I’ll just park my Jeep at Logan.”
Cap grunts and drums the table. “I think someone should take you and pick you up.”
I blurt out, “I can drive you if you want.”
She turns, looks at me, then Cap and lifts her eyebrows. “Sure, that’d be great.”
I’m relieved when we leave her grandparents’ house, but still feel good about the night. We lie in her bed, naked and satisfied, she’s tucked next to me with an arm across my chest, her hair draped over my shoulder. I rub circles on her back and murmur, “Your trip will be so good.”
She scratches my chest lazily. “I’m excited, but I feel sad about missing time with you.” She picks her head up and asks, “Are you thinking of asking Harvey to go with you?”
“Uh, yeah, he said that he’s going to defer grad school and looking to get his captain’s license. This would add to his hours on board.”
“I don’t know why Pop said that about me being your first mate.”
“Well, I’m sure you’d be better than Harvey, but you have the café.”
“Yeah, I do.” Her hand lazily drifts across my abdomen, her fingernails skittering on my skin.
“Hmm,” I stifle a groan. “You’re off Thursday, right?”
“Yeah, why? What are you thinking?”
“It’s supposed to be clear. Let’s go to Jensen Island Wednesday night and stay over.”
Her hand drifts lower. “Mmm, that sounds fun, baby.”