Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Zane left Tidewater on the ferry Danny piloted. The first new hire had arrived this morning and was assisting Danny today. He joined the two men in the pilothouse as they headed back to Driftwood Bay.
“I can’t wait to see the new ferry,” Danny told him. “And my family is excited that they’ll get to see me way more than before.”
Frankly, Zane didn’t know how Danny had done it, working seven days a week, with only occasional help from Kylie.
“Your sister did a great job drawing up a schedule for when two ferries are in action, as well as three,” he said.
“Kylie’s always been the brains in the family. First to go to college. Worked her tail off, paying for everything her scholarship didn’t cover. We’re really proud of her.”
“Do you think she’d ever consider leaving the Bay?” he asked.
Danny pondered the question. “Maybe. I mean, she did go to work in Dallas after graduating from college. Of course, she’d just eloped with that asshat and then put him through SMU Law.”
Zane hadn’t known that.
Danny rolled his eyes. “Brady was smooth. I’ll give him that.
Smart, too. He let Kylie earn the money for them to live on, as well as pay all his tuition and fees.
And after?” Danny shook his head. “Let’s just say he was a world-class jerk.
If Kylie ever does leave the Bay, Dallas is the last place she would go.
To be honest, she should move on. She’s too talented to waste herself in the Bay.
I know she’s really whipped Mayfield Charters into shape, but she should be doing better things. Things for herself.”
He couldn’t agree more. Maybe before he left Texas, he would approach her about working for Wagner Enterprises. Or at least see if she would consider a life outside of Driftwood Bay.
“Hey, I see it!” Danny cried, causing Zane to look straight ahead and to the right.
A ferry boat was pulling into the harbor, headed for the area they themselves sailed toward. He sensed the boat slowing and realized that Danny had cut back some on the engines in order to allow the other ferry to arrive first. He couldn’t help but admire the sleek lines of the vessel.
“We’ll need to paint it in Mayfield colors,” Danny remarked. “It’s odd looking at it since it has room for cars.”
“That was the only one I could find with short notice that was available to rent. I’ve got the option to purchase it six months from now and plan to do so. Once it’s bought, we can refurbish it so that it’ll seat more people and only allow for a few cars.”
The other ferry reached its destination and was secured to the dock, allowing Danny to move the throttle now and cruise into a space behind it five minutes later. Zane exited the ferry and joined Mrs. Mayfield, who stood on the dock with Denise and Amber.
“She’s a beaut,” Denise said. “Thank you, Zane, for seeing the need to put another ferry into service.” She rubbed her belly. “With the new baby arriving soon, it’ll be nice to have Danny around more.”
“Since we’re hoping to do great business at Tidewater, it only made sense to add to the fleet,” he said.
“A third one will be a true luxury,” Mrs. Mayfield said. “The town is happy that Wagner Enterprises has come to the Bay, Zane. I can’t wait for Dave to see this.”
Karl and Annie came racing down the dock, and Karl said, “We wanted to come and see the new ferry. Wow. It’s incredible. We’ll definitely need to spruce up the old one, Mom.”
“That’s in the plans,” she assured her son. “Plus, we need to paint the Mayfield logo on the new one.” She glanced to Zane. “That is, if you approve.”
“They should match, Mrs. Mayfield,” he agreed.
“Pat. Mrs. Mayfield was my mother. And grandmother.”
“Okay, Pat. Feel free to do whatever you wish to the new ferry because come December, I plan to buy it outright.”
They chatted some with the two-man crew then, one who would be staying on to work for Mayfield Charters on the new ferry. He invited them aboard, and they inspected the vessel from top to bottom.
“Dave and Kylie are going to be so excited to see this,” Pat said. “I should text them and let them know the ferry’s here. They can head over after they’ve cleaned the fish for today’s customers.”
“Not Kylie, Mom,” Karl said. “She’s babysitting for us. I’ve got a distributor I need to meet with in Corpus about a new line I’m thinking about carrying. Annie and I are having dinner with him and his wife tonight. If Kylie sees this ferry, she’ll forget all about babysitting.”
“All right, Karl,” Pat said. “But be sure to tell her it’s here when she shows up at your place.” She glanced to Zane. “Or I suppose you can tell her when you see her, Zane.”
“Actually, I’m helping Kylie babysit the twins tonight,” he informed the group.
“I’ll be sure she knows.” He looked to Karl.
“Thanks for offering to take her weekend shifts on Rodfather. You doing so will give Kylie the opportunity to come and check out Tidewater, just as her friends did. I’m eager for her to enjoy the restaurants and take part in some of the activities available. ”
“I’m happy to help out,” Karl said. “Kylie’s put in long days without any time off.”
“Spoil her some, Zane,” Annie added. “She deserves it.”
He left to see his grandparents, checking in with them and finding that Gramps was all for retirement.
“He’s acting as if it were his idea,” Gran sniffed. “But I don’t care. It’s just good to see him excited about something. He’s calling it our new chapter in life.” She grinned. “He’s already been on the Wagner Enterprises website, looking for hotels and resorts he wants us to visit in the future.”
“I’m going to give you Emily’s number,” Zane said.
“She’ll be able to handle your travel. Flights.
Transport from the airport to the property.
She’ll even make sure you have some vouchers to use for things in the cities you go to.
And everything will be comped. You won’t pay for a room or any meal you eat in the hotel or resort. ”
“That’s a lot to ask,” Gran said.
“Hey, I talked with Dad last night. He’s the one who insisted that everything be handled for you.
Em is great to work with. I spoke to her earlier today, and so she knows she’ll be hearing from you soon.
Don’t wait on those passports. We’ve got plenty of Wagner properties in the US for you to visit.
My top three I’d recommend would be Maui, New York, and San Francisco. ”
Gran smiled. “Oh, this is so exciting. I’m going to need to do a little shopping. What I wear at the diner is not what I want to be seen in when we’re staying at chic resorts.”
“Emily can set up shopping for you, too, especially if you go to New York first. Talk it over with her, woman-to-woman. She’ll be able to organize everything you need. Recommend not only stores to shop in but Broadway plays to see. I’m sure she can even give you a list for your sightseeing.”
Zane decided he would tell Em to make a driver available for when his grandparents came to New York. As frugal as Gramps was, he’d have them riding crosstown buses or the subway. Booking a car and driver for them would make sightseeing convenient and safe.
“Okay, I’m going to head over to Karl and Annie Mayfield’s house. I’m helping Kylie babysit her niece and nephew tonight.”
Gran’s eyes lit with surprise. “You are?”
“If Kylie babysits tonight, her brother will take both the Saturday and Sunday charters for her. That way, I can have her as a guest at Tidewater.”
She touched his arm. “Oh, Zane, that will be wonderful. Please tell Kylie hello for me.”
“Will do.”
Gramps came through the front door. “Good to see you, Zane.”
“I hear you’re happy about hanging up your apron.”
“As much as I’ve enjoyed cooking for the people of the Bay, there’s always a time when things come to an end. A door closes. A window opens. Nellie and I will have the opportunity to see places we’ve never seen.”
“I did talk to the realtor today.” He named a price. Not the one Patti had placed on the diner but an inflated one.
“The diner’s worth that much?” Gramps said, clearly surprised.
“That’s right,” he confirmed. “Patti even thinks she might have a buyer in hand who’d be interested in a quick sale.”
What Zane didn’t say was that he was that interested buyer.
He didn’t want his grandparents to think they were charity cases with him buying the diner.
Patti said that they could complete the sale early next week, which was fine with him.
He’d then need Em to look for someone to manage and staff the place for him.
“I need to head over to Karl Mayfield’s now. Want to give me a lift, Gramps?”
“Okey-dokey.”
Once in the car, he read off the address which Kylie had texted to him.
“Won’t take but about five or six minutes to get there,” Gramps said. “Everything’s close in the Bay.”
He thanked his grandfather for the ride and approached the front door, ringing the doorbell.
It opened moments later, both twins standing in the foyer.
Each child was a miniature version of one of their parents.
Kevin had Karl’s dirty blond hair and height, while Keira’s auburn hair and blue eyes mirrored that of her mother.
“Hi, Mr. Zane,” Kevin said. “Come in.”
“Mama said you were coming,” Keira added. “And Aunt Kylie.” Keira leaned close and whispered, “Sometimes, she brings us M&M’s.”
“I like the red ones,” Kevin announced. “Keira likes the tan and brown ones.”
“Sometimes, they have peanuts in them,” Keira said. “Not always. But I like both. And on really special nights, she brings KitKats.”
Annie came down the stairs, wearing a blue sheath and heels. “Remember, you need to be especially good tonight for Mr. Zane and your aunt.”
“We will, Mama,” Keira promised.
The doorbell rang again, and both children hurried to answer it. He heard squeals as Kylie stepped into the house, both twins wrapping their arms about her.
“Hey,” she said, looking to Annie and him.
“Thank you again for doing this last minute,” Annie said. “This is a new athleisurewear line Karl has been thinking about adding. The distributor is big on face-to-face meetings, wives included.”
“You know as much about the sporting center as Karl does,” Kylie said. “You should be there.”
“True,” her sister-in-law said, chuckling. She turned to Zane. “I’m also grateful you’re allowing Denise and me to have a stand in the ferry’s waiting room.”
Not only would Denise Mayfield have freshly baked cookies available every day, but Annie Mayfield would carry items from Tidal Treasures, her store on the square.
“You’ll be the first contact Tidewater guests have with merchants in the Bay,” he said. “I know you’ll make a great first impression.”
Karl sauntered down the stairs, wearing a sports coat and tie. “Hey, everyone. You ready, hon?” he asked Annie.
“I am. Pizza’s on the way. No TV. The kids can skip baths tonight.
Just be sure they’re in bed no later than eight.
” She looked to the twins. “And no ‘just one more chapter,’ you two.” Glancing to Kylie, she said, “They can each pick out a chapter book, and you can read one chapter from it, either all together or separately. And please make sure they brush their teeth. Kevin has been not so good about that lately.”
“If they’re gonna fall out and new teeth come in, Mom, why do I need to brush?” the six-year-old asked.
Zane replied before anyone else could. “Because you always want to take care of your teeth. When new ones come in, you can’t just brush them and skip the old ones. Plus, you get monster breath if you don’t brush. People will scream and run away if they see you coming.”
Both twins’ eyes grew large. “Okay, Mr. Zane,” Keira said. “We’ll brush. Let’s go get the plates out, Aunt Kylie.” The twins took her hands and rushed her to the kitchen.
“Thank you Zane,” Karl said. “We’ve been talking ourselves hoarse trying to get Kevin to brush. Sometimes, it takes someone besides parents to put the right notion in a kid’s head. See you in a few hours.”
Karl and Annie headed out the front door, and Zane saw the pizza delivery guy making his way up the sidewalk. He accepted the pizza box and tipped the teenager, then locked the door and brought the pizza to the kitchen, the twins cheering its arrival.
As Kylie placed slices on plates for everyone, she leaned over and said, “You’re good with kids, Zane. Maybe you should think about having some, after all.”
He wasn’t ready to voice this just yet, but if he ever did?
Zane would want to have them with Kylie Mayfield.