49.
Storm
"You've got exactly twenty minutes."
Six pairs of eyes looked at me.
One of them checked his watch.
"Twenty?" the tall blond one asked.
"That's generous."
"It takes at least thirty to unpack."
I smiled.
"Then you'll be unpacking after we leave."
Ben Gilbert chuckled.
"I like her already."
"Don't encourage her," Ward muttered.
Too late.
His teammates were already grinning.
I picked up the guest manifest.
"Gentlemen...welcome aboard Sea Whisper."
I motioned toward the polished staircase leading below deck.
"Your suites are on the lower deck. Lunch is at one. We'll hold a safety briefing before we leave the marina."
Scott raised one hand.
"Important question."
"What?"
"Where's breakfast?"
Behind me, Willow appeared carrying another tray.
"As if on cue."
The smell of warm cinnamon drifted across the dock.
Scott looked ready to cry.
"Marry me."
Willow blinked.
"I'm pretty sure that's the wrong brother."
The dock erupted in laughter.
Ward nearly spit out his coffee.
Scott pointed toward him.
"I meant after he cancels."
Ward groaned.
"I hate every one of you."
"You love us."
"I tolerate you."
"Same thing."
Ben shook his head.
"We're sorry."
"No, you're not."
"Not even a little."
Willow smiled as she handed Scott the biggest cinnamon roll on the tray.
"I like him."
Scott puffed out his chest proudly.
"See?"
Ben looked at Willow.
"Don't encourage him."
"I'm beginning to understand how this works."
Hazel walked onto the dock carrying her tablet.
"It gets worse."
"I heard that," Scott said.
"You were supposed to."
More laughter.
I watched the interaction with quiet amusement.
Military.
Definitely.
Even out of uniform.
The way they teased each other...
The way they moved...
The way they instinctively watched every entrance to the marina.
None of it was accidental.
Ben noticed me studying them.
"What?"
"You never stop looking."
He smiled.
"Occupational hazard."
"So you're the leader."
He shrugged.
"Most days."
"I figured."
"What gave it away?"
"The other five watch you before they make decisions."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"You notice a lot."
"I have to."
Before he could answer, Ivy came running down the dock.
"Storm!"
She stopped abruptly when she saw the guests.
"Oh."
She looked around sheepishly.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Always," Hazel answered.
Ivy ignored her.
"I got the dolphins!"
She held up her camera like she'd discovered buried treasure.
"They came into the bay just after sunrise!"
Calle climbed out of the engine room.
"Did you get Harold?"
"I always get Harold."
Scott frowned.
"...Who's Harold?"
"The dolphin."
Scott looked at Ben.
"They name dolphins?"
Ivy looked horrified.
"Of course."
"They're wild."
"They're neighbors."
"They're dolphins."
"They've lived here longer than we have."
Scott slowly nodded.
"You know..."
"I don't know."
"I think she's serious."
"I am."
Ben smiled.
"I like Harold already."
"You haven't even met him."
"I trust your judgment."
Ivy beamed.
"He likes you too."
Scott leaned toward Ward.
"I think this family might be crazy."
Ward never took his eyes off Storm.
"I think they're exactly what they're supposed to be."
I pretended not to hear him.
For some reason...
Those words stayed with me.
A loud whistle echoed across the marina.
One of our dockhands waved from the fuel dock.
"Captain!"
"We're topped off."
"Thank you!"
I looked toward the bridge.
Toward the open water beyond.
Everything was ready.
Fuel.
Food.
Weather.
Passengers.
Crew.
I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out Grandpa's old brass stopwatch.
It had belonged to him for nearly forty years.
Dad carried it after Grandpa retired.
Now it was mine.
It still kept perfect time.
I clicked it open.
Nine fifty-eight.
Two minutes.
I closed it again.
Ward noticed.
"Family heirloom?"
I looked down at the worn brass case.
"My grandfather timed every departure with it."
"You still do?"
"Every voyage."
"Why?"
I smiled softly.
"Because some traditions are worth keeping."
He nodded.
"I understand."
Somehow...
I had a feeling he actually did.
At exactly ten o'clock, I slipped the watch back into my pocket.
Then I reached for the brass bell mounted beside the gangway.
Its polished surface reflected the morning sun.
Grandpa had rung this bell before every departure for over thirty years.
Dad had rung it after him.
Now...
It was my turn.
The clear tone echoed across the marina.
Dong...
Every conversation stopped.
Crew members looked up.
Dockhands released the lines.
Passengers instinctively turned toward the yacht.
Mom stepped onto the end of the dock, just as she had for every departure since I could remember.
She smiled at me.
Then she pressed two fingers to her lips.
Touched the hull of Sea Whisper.
And whispered the same words she always did.
"Bring them all home."
I met her eyes.
Then gave a single nod.
"I will."
The engines rumbled to life beneath our feet.
The lines slipped free.
Sea Whisper eased away from the dock with the grace of a swan leaving shore.
No matter how many times it happened...
It always felt magical.
I stood at the helm as the marina slowly drifted behind us.
Ahead...
The Golden Gate Bridge stretched across the entrance to the Pacific.
Beyond it...
Thousands of miles of open ocean.
Behind me...
A family waving from the dock.
Beside me...
Six strangers whose lives were about to change.
And somewhere beyond the horizon...
A current had already begun moving toward us.
None of us knew it yet.
But the sea...
Already remembered.