The Sapphire Sea by David Andrews

Author:David Andrews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 9781629290034, contemporary, sea, adventure, romance, Sapphire, sea, Australia, David Andrews, coast, Eternal Press, Offshore, Oil Rigs, Timor Sea, Darwin, Anchor-handling, tugs, Supply Boats, Semi-submersible drilling rigs, Cyclones, EPIRBs, Survival at sea, sinking ship, Melbourne
Publisher: Damnation Books LLC
Published: 2013-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Carole didn’t expect Tom’s interest to last beyond the wharf at the end of his swing. She was surprised by his suggestion that they rent a house in Darwin. She’d tried semi-permanent relationships before and they hadn’t worked. She always became restless.

He was nice enough; clean, not over-demanding, and fun to be with, but that was all. She wanted better than what her mother settled for.

“Why not?” Tom turned stubborn. “The cyclone season is starting and there’ll be little work on the prawn boats until it’s done.”

He was right. Anything was better than being stranded in Karratha. He had five weeks leave before he returned to the Sapphire Sea and she could always slip away after he left. She could afford five weeks.

“Okay,” she said. “Where do you suggest?”

“Toby told me about this place in Nightcliffe. It belongs to a mate of his and he lets it furnished to the right people.”

“Are we the right people?” Carole was amused.

“Toby thinks so.”

Everything went to plan in Darwin. Toby’s friend approved of them and Carole found herself enjoying the domesticity, cooking just for two, and sleeping comfortably in a queen-sized bed. There was even a spa in the garden.

* * * *

Sally flew down from Darwin with Allan on Thursday and dined as a family for the first time in twelve years that night. Allan greeted Greg with a firm handshake, banishing Melanie’s nervousness with a genuine display of approval.

Seeing father and daughter together, Sally marveled at how many mannerisms they shared. Both had the trick of looking directly into your eyes as they considered their reply to a question, as if measuring your commitment to an answer. They listened when you spoke, content to hear all you had to say before formulating their response. Yet no one could doubt the resolve of either to follow whatever path they chose.

“You’re very quiet, my love,” Allan interrupted her thoughts. “I doubt that we’re losing our daughter.” Greg and Melanie insisted on leaving early and their car just disappeared around the corner.

“Tomorrow she will become a wife first and a daughter second,” Sally confronted the reality of the wedding ceremony.

“I gather they’ve been living together for quite some time,” Allan observed dryly. “I can’t see tomorrow changing much.”

“Men don’t understand.” Sally felt stubborn. “Everything changes tomorrow.”

“I know several things that won’t.” Allan took her in his arms. “You did a marvelous job of raising our daughter. Trust that and know tomorrow is only superficial. The ceremony is for the rest of the world. Melanie knows her mind already and Greg is sensible of it.”

“You took each other’s measure, didn’t you?” Sally referred to the moment of father and daughter meeting.

The two had stood, separated by two long paces and studied each other intently for a period Sally found excruciatingly long, before Melanie bridged the distance in a rush and flung herself into her father’s arms. Allan patted Melanie’s back reassuringly but said nothing, content to hold his daughter his eyes focused on something invisible to the rest of them until she relinquished her hold and stood back to introduce Greg.

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