17. Rescue Crew
RESCUE CREW
LARS
I t was dark on the way back to the marina in a cab. I glanced at my charge and not-girlfriend on the other side of the backseat. Rose looked out the window. On her shoulder, Jacqueline rested her head. Rose didn’t mind. She was terribly maternal, it seemed. I’d never guessed it. She’d been so good with the girls at the hospital. She made them laugh with persistent silliness, distracted them with discussions of horses and shoes, and managed Katie’s parents like a pro.
I looked forward, checking to see if Jack was asleep. Her eyes were closed.
“When we return, I can help you get her home,” Rose whispered.
“You don’t have to,” I insisted.
“You race tomorrow and must take the tender back out there. It’s not like the kid will be much help right now. And her father—I promise not to rip him a new arsehole when I see him.”
I smiled, echoing those feelings. Tomas texted me that he was “busy” and asked me to ensure she was home safe. By this time, my mother and stepfather were already in bed and of no use.
“I cannot ask you?—”
“I insist, so it’s fine,” Rose’s voice was definitive and soft.
“I’m sorry, Rose. The evening wasn’t… it was supposed to end differently.”
She smiled slightly. “I will camp on your couch like a good girl. It’s fine.”
“We have another stateroom,” I said. “It’s okay. If you don’t mind helping, the least I can do is get you a proper bed.”
I could tell that wasn’t the answer either of us wanted. I worried we’d gone beyond flirtation and attraction into parental obligation. I didn’t resent Jack because she’d not meant to cause this distraction, but after this voyage, I knew more than ever that the kid needed more supportive adults around her. And while Rose was the best, most dedicated soul, I wished we’d just gotten takeout and crashed at hers. I longed to pull her out of the green dress she sported.
Back at the tender, Rose helped me transfer Jack to the couch on the stern. She handled the lines efficiently as we pulled out of our day’s spot. Jack barely stirred as I spun up our engines.
“You should get petrol tomorrow,” Rose said. “You shouldn’t get below half, if you’re asking.”
She was looking at the fuel gauge as she prettied up the lines.
“This is usually the one Tomas takes, thanks,” I chuckled. “Judgemental much?”
“I’d hate for you to get stranded. Your brothers—and mine—would never let you live it down.”
“Truth.”
We were out on the open water soon enough, racing out to our home base. I resented that my mother and stepfather refused to pay a crew to run us to and from the shore for the first time in my life. Usually, I’d have blanched at the idea, but navigating back here with two passengers at night with lots of cloud cover made it nervy. When I returned to the ship, I had to radio to the last two remaining crew awake. They lowered the gate and let me park the smallest boats inside our hold.
Jack barely stirred as I carried her back to her room. Rose and I tucked her in and returned to the living room, where Rose looked out at the windows. She stared across the water and pointed.
“That’s ours.”
“And right next to it, my father’s,” I sighed. “We’re all the way down here.”
“This thing is massive. That’s why they have you parked all the fucking way out here.”
I snickered. “She’s brand new. I didn’t buy her.”
“Would you?”
“Nah,” I answered. “Something this big takes all the fun out of it. If we’re honest, I’d rather have a family crew boat like yours.”
“With a fully working AC?” Rose giggled. “By the way, Papa is sending someone to fix that tomorrow. Our incident had unintended good consequences.”
“I wish there were more unintended consequences of another nature,” I muttered.
“Oh, what?” Rose asked, face showing surprise.
“I wished tonight would have ended differently,” I said. “Taking a page out of Jack’s book, I wish I could just tell you that I wanted to spend the evening with you—alone and naked.”
Stone-cold sober, I wasn’t talking from a place of delusion. I took a chance and hoped for the best. Rose didn’t frighten me, even if I feared I’d overshot. Instead, she sidled up and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Well, you do have a bed and working AC,” Rose said.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me—slowly at first, then gripping my shirt collar. I wanted to run her immediately into my room and say ‘fuck it’ to all my worries. However, if I did, everyone would know our business the following day. My plans were solidified, and they involved people we both knew well.
“If we do this and… well, I am slated to dine with my father and Sanne tomorrow ahead of the race. We’re having breakfast and?—”
Rose looked down, playing with the buttons on my shirt. “Everyone is going to know I was here, Lars. It doesn’t matter how innocent it is—or isn’t. Fancy going to hell with me?”