Catalina by Liska Jacobs

Author:Liska Jacobs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

19

On the way to Avalon we pass the same herd of buffalo on the ridge, but now they’re facing in the opposite direction, like a weather vane that’s shifted with the wind. The seals bellow when we coast by. A few splash into the water to play in the boat’s wake. I point and call for Jane as she’s taking out her camera.

“I see them,” she says, her mouth thin. I try to read her expression, but she’s too quick. Her smile is back up.

Charly does not make breakfast. We instead eat little boxed cereals and bananas. She isn’t hungry—“Too tired,” Jared says to me. “Poor old girl, sailing isn’t your thing,” he says to her. “When we get to Avalon I’ll get you Dramamine.”

As we round the last wild cliff, the grass jutting out, waving us on, we see a cruise ship on the horizon. It’s ridiculously large, smoke billowing from its stacks, little orange boats gliding back and forth from it like ants on a log. And suddenly there are sailboats and yachts, people in caps and bikinis shouting “Ahoy!” Speedboats race by, a jazz band plays from a beach covered in white umbrellas, a helicopter whizzes overhead.

There are people everywhere too: on glass-bottom boats that look like tiny cabooses, chugging along near the rocks; on Sea-Doos, teenagers in life vests, the fishing boats blaring their horns at them to get out of the way. There are scuba divers and snorkelers and, standing on the rocks and pier, fishermen fat and thin, playing hand radios. The Catalina Express sits in the harbor with its engine roaring, spewing exhaust.

Tom turns on the boat’s radio. He seems indifferent to this sudden assault—they all do. Jane is peeling off her jacket, rubbing sunscreen into her shoulders. Charly has her eyes closed, tilting her head toward the music. Jared is at the bow with Robby, both perked up, their faces alight with excitement.

“It’s gonna be fuckin’ wild,” Robby says.

Jared turns back to us and beams. “We should’ve been here the whole time. This is where the party’s at.”

Jane glances at Tom. “I liked Two Harbors.”

“You and me, kid,” Tom says, winking at her.

The boats and Sea-Doos create a nauseating artificial swell, and the boat lurches.

“Where are we mooring?” I ask.

Tom motions with his chin to a small cove, and we motor with care through the various boats already anchored.

“Look at the golf carts, how adorable!” Charly says, pointing to land. “Can we rent one, Jared?”

Jared nods. “Comes with the villa.” He stretches so the sun hits his face. “Aw, fucking land, thank God. The boat’s beautiful, Tom, but I’m looking forward to toilets with plumbing.”

Tom shrugs. “Sailing life isn’t for everyone.”

Robby’s holding Jane, his face bent down on her shoulder. “I for one am looking forward to some golf,” he says, kissing her neck.

“I thought we’d do the spa together,” she says.

“You can’t get Robby into a spa,” Jared says, looking at me as if I’ll agree, but I know better. I just sit back and watch a group of children throwing pennies at the pelicans lined up on the dock.

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