Chapter fifty-one

Her silhouette startled him. As Sam walked toward Angel, he could just barely see her shape sitting on the aft rail in the dim light of the marina’s transient dock. Two steps closer, and he was sure it was her.

“What are the chances?” he muttered.

Sam flapped his arms and hissed, but Kathy the Mallard didn’t budge from her perch.

“Well, at least I won’t get kicked out for having a pet this time. Kathy, you can stay the night. Again. But in the morning, I’m leaving. You’ll have to leave, too.”

Kathy raised her head in apparent acknowledgment, then hopped down on the aft deck atop a nest of coiled line for the night.

. . .

The next day, in the calm of early morning under a pale blue sky, Sam secured everything below and above for his cruise. He was happy to be getting underway, despite his fine-feathered traveling companion’s presence, yet something nagged at him. Still, he poured a travel mug full of black coffee before washing and storing the coffeepot.

It was a fair day for sailing. Wisps of skyward mare’s tails signaled approaching wind—a good omen. The weather report on the radio confirmed it was a good day to get going, so Sam fired up the engine and moved topside to untie the three lines that tethered him to the marina—and to Carolina Beach.

Starting forward, Sam noted the wind coming off the dock. He untied the bow line first, planning to let the wind pivot Angel from the stern. Moving back toward Angel’s midsection, Sam leaned down to let go of the line when he heard Molly shout.

“Wait!”

Seeing a large box in her arms, Sam’s heart soared. He retied the dock line and helped her aboard, setting the package in the cockpit.

“I’m glad I caught you!” Molly panted. “I wanted to talk before you left…. I want to apologize for last night.”

“It’s okay, Molly.”

“No, it isn’t. I was childish last night, and I’m sorry.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“It’s simple, really. I’m just jealous you are pursuing your dream. And I’m essentially grounded.”

“You don’t have to be, Molly. You could come with me. We’ll do some sailing on the Chesapeake; then you can catch a bus back here to continue working on Hullabaloo. I’ll be back after a while.” Sam stepped closer and put his hand on Molly’s, searching her face for a glimmer of hope.

“I can’t. I have too much to do on the boat, and I really need to get those deliveries done to pay for her repairs and restoration.” Molly bit her lip. “Another time?”

“Another time, then.” Sam kissed her quickly on her cheek.

Molly climbed off the boat. Looking aft, she saw Kathy. “Your first mate?”

“Apparently so. She’ll fly off when she figures out I’m heading north, not south.”

“Maybe. Oh, the box is a care package Jenny and I put together for you. Enjoy it, Sam. And keep in touch.” Molly untied the line from the dock and tossed it to Sam, then mirrored his walk aft to get the last line.

“You too, Molly. You too.” Sam waved one last time before putting the boat into forward gear, forward to Norfolk.

The End