Christmas Island by Cynthia Breeding

Author:Cynthia Breeding
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: holiday, christmas, water, cheating, tropical, island, boat, paradise, exhusband, jimmy buffett
Publisher: Highland Press Publishing

~4~

“Great wind,” Liv said as Dirk dinghied her from the dock to the mooring and then helped her on deck the next morning.

“Right at fifteen knots.” He secured the dinghy’s painter to the back rail. “We can use full sails and still not heel too much. Do you want to make a day of it?”

“I’d love that. What a perfect way to spend my last day here.” Liv tossed her backpack down below. “What can I do to help?”

Dirk started the engine and the familiar stroking cadence of the diesel was almost music to her ears. She laughed.

“What’s funny?” He opened a locker to take out the seat cushions.

“The sound of the engine. I can’t believe I’ve actually missed that.”

“How long has it been since you’ve sailed?”

“Almost four years.” She took the cushion. Closed-cell foam—which meant it was also a floatation device. But then, a blue-water boat would have those. “Daddy hurt his back skiing that winter. In the spring, he had trouble handling the boat. Neither Mom nor Eric were that much into sailing and we stuck out the season, but in the end, they decided to sell it.”

“Tough luck. I’ll bet Superior was fun to sail on.”

“Yes, unless you got caught in an early fall gale with lake-effect snow. That happened once and I can’t even begin to explain how frightening it was. White-out conditions with the seas whipping up to seven feet when the winds shifted.”

“You won’t have to worry about snow today.” Dirk turned on the cockpit radar screen. He adjusted some knobs and frowned slightly.

“Problem?” Liv looked over his shoulder.

“Not really.” He pointed. “There’s a low pressure system that’s been sitting out there a few days, but it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Liv looked up at the blue sky scattered with cumulus clouds. “It doesn’t look like a storm is brewing. Besides, I’m sure a Tayana can handle a thunderstorm.”

“That she can. I got caught in a tropical storm a few days out when I took off three years ago. The damn thing had gone inland and then circled back off Baja. Pretty wild ride, but the boat did fine. Here.” He indicated for Liv to step behind the wheel. “I’m going forward to remove the mooring line. When I signal, put the engine in reverse and throttle up slowly.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. The large teak and brass wheel felt wonderful beneath her hands. Dirk unsecured the line, raising his arm straight up and she put the engine into gear, delighted at how smoothly the boat glided backward.

“Go ahead, turn her around.” Dirk moved aft, checking the sheets to make sure no coils would knot them.

Liv shifted gears again and the bow eased to the left as she aimed for the port opening between the red and green buoys. She glanced at the depth sounder. “Does it shale in anywhere?”

“You’re doing just fine.” Dirk came to stand beside her and put one hand over hers, changing course slightly.

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