Always Ready by Susan Page Davis

Author:Susan Page Davis [Davis, Susan Page]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781620298695
Publisher: Barbour
Published: 2009-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eight

Three weeks later, Aven’s ship docked in Seward to pick up an officer and leave supplies. He’d hoped the Milroy would return to Kodiak before Caddie’s ship embarked again, but it looked like he’d just miss her. She was due to deploy at high tide the next morning, several hours before he would arrive in port.

He’d found the past few weeks frustrating, though he’d kept too busy to be bored. The days blurred into a haze until he felt that July had skipped over him somehow and August had arrived without fanfare. Five days into the month, the long Arctic days had noticeably shortened. The wind had a nip of autumn. Summer was a fleeting patch of sea smoke, already dissipating.

Tomorrow Caddie would at last go back on active duty. Aven had seen her only twice since the evening when he’d kissed her, and both events left him longing for more time with her. He’d managed to make a church service with her the first time, and on the second occasion, he and Caddie met for a quick cup of coffee on the base during her break from office work. It was unsatisfactory, though he’d received a few erratic e-mails when he was able to check his account. Each time, he’d replied with assurances that her notes encouraged him. But real time—face time—with Caddie was hard to come by.

He called her cell phone from Seward, where his skipper had logged them in for the night. At least he could get phone service here, which he couldn’t for the most part on the sea.

“I’m so glad you called.” Her voice held an air of confession. He’d learned her moods well enough to read doubts, dread, and lack of confidence in her choppy breathing.

“Tomorrow’s the big day, huh?”

“Yes. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. The cast is off, my arm feels fine, and I’m going back to active duty. Yay.”

Aven grimaced. “What’s up really?”

She hesitated. “Nerves, I think. I don’t know when this happened, but I’m scared to go back.”

“Scared you won’t do well?”

“Yes. And that I won’t be able to pull my weight. I’m still not back to full strength. And then there’s always Boatswain Tilley.”

“I know him. He can be tough on petty officers.”

“I can take tough. But if he goes on to humiliation, I’m not so sure. I guess the thought of going back has worried me more than I realized. Add to that the fact that I’ll see you even less when we’re both in and out of port, and I’m afraid I’ve let myself wallow in self-pity.”

“I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

“Thanks.” Her voice held genuine warmth this time.

He smiled, glad he’d had the power to cheer her even a little bit. “Praying for you, too.”

“I really need it. Aven, I can’t imagine not having you there to give me a boost when I’m down.”

“It works both ways. You pick me up just by letting me care about you.” He glanced around to make sure no one stood close enough to hear him sweet-talking her.

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