Finn hadn’t seen Rose – properly – for a week since their day in Falmouth. They’d barely exchanged more than a nod at the cricket match because he’d been keeping his distance so as not to get in Joey’s way. He’d been too busy working on the boat and to be fair, Joey had put in the hours too. They were making progress, thanks to the new plan, and if there were no unexpected problems, they should make the September deadline.
With this in mind, he met up with the boatyard manager to discuss the launch. The date wasn’t set in stone yet, but plans had to be made now. With coffees from Bo’s they held their ‘meeting’ outside in the June sunshine, and were finishing up when the manager nodded down the estuary.
‘Isn’t that the woman who’s moved into Cornish Magick?’
Finn looked closer at the Laser dinghy, which was tacking towards them. It was definitely Rose at the helm, in her buoyancy aid. She was part of a flotilla of half a dozen beginners.
‘She’s doing well,’ the manager said.
‘Very well,’ Finn echoed, impressed at the way Rose turned the boat downwind away from him, becoming just another sail among many. She’d never mentioned she was having lessons … unless … Was Joey involved in her decision?
‘I’ll email you with the details about the launch, then, mate,’ the manager said, throwing his coffee cup in a bin.
‘Yeah. Thanks … see ya.’
Finn watched Rose for a few seconds more until she disappeared from view completely. Surely it was no coincidence that Joey had taken her sailing and now she was learning herself? Joey hadn’t said anything about it, but why would he? It was nothing to do with Finn. He resolved to tear his mind away from her and concentrate on his work.
A couple of hours later, Rose herself approached him when he’d gone to Bo’s to get brunch butties for the team. All hopes he had of trying not to be attracted to her vanished. She looked glowing and happy, and Finn wasn’t sure if that was a result of the sailing or something to do with Joey.
‘Hello!’ she said, brightly. ‘I came over to grab a sandwich and some cakes from Bo’s to take to the dig. The students have been working hard and I wanted to treat them.’ She laughed. ‘Who am I kidding? I’ll probably eat the cakes myself. I’m starving.’
Because of her sailing … Finn thought … ‘I saw you earlier,’ he blurted out. ‘Having a sailing lesson.’
‘Oh, did you? I’d hoped it was too early for anyone to notice! It’s my third lesson this week and they let us sail up here.’
‘You were doing really well,’ Finn said.
‘Was I? I was too busy hoping I didn’t capsize to notice anyone watching.’
‘I didn’t know you wanted to learn,’ he said.
‘I didn’t either, or rather I didn’t until …’ She hesitated. ‘Until I was sure I’d got the research grant and knew I was coming here. I’d vaguely fancied it, but Joey said I should have some lessons and so I took the plunge. Not the literal plunge, I hope. We haven’t done a capsize drill yet.’
‘You’ll be fine. You’re a natural.’
‘Thanks, but I really don’t think so.’
Finn was tongue-tied but he didn’t want her to leave.
‘Um – talking of Joey, is he around?’
Finn’s heart sank. ‘He’s in the shed.’
‘Of course, he is. I’m sure he’s very busy only … he sent me a message about taking Spindrift out …’
Having not heard a word from Joey about Rose, Finn had half-hoped they weren’t taking things any further. Those hopes were now crushed.
‘Want me to call him down here?’ Finn scraped up a smile. ‘He’s been at work since seven. I’m sure he’d like an excuse for a break.’
‘Thanks, I’d rather not disturb him. I had to come this way so I thought I might see him at Bo’s.’
‘Come on, I’ll take you up there. He won’t want to have missed you.’
With a tentative ‘OK, but only for a moment,’ Rose joined Finn. When they reached the shed, Joey was at the wood stack and spotted them.
‘Hello, Rose!’
‘Here he is. I’ll leave you to it,’ Finn said, turning to leave, but not before he spotted something in Rose’s eyes. She was ultra-polite but there was a definite coolness when Joey kissed her on the cheek.
‘I’ve been meaning to call you,’ Joey said.
‘Don’t worry, it’s no problem. We’ve both been incredibly busy.’
‘I thought you might have been. Finn’s had my nose to the grindstone.’
‘And I’m going back to it,’ Finn said. ‘See you, Rose.’
Finn went back to the woodpile by the entrance to the boatshed but found it impossible not to hear snatches of their conversation. Finn could have walked away and yet he didn’t.
‘So, how did this morning’s lesson go?’
‘OK, I think. I didn’t run aground or capsize.’ Rose laughed, sounding far more relaxed than she’d been when she’d spoken to Finn about her sailing efforts. ‘I think I’m getting the hang of it more. I was better than when you came out with me the other evening.’
‘You’ll soon be entering the regatta. They have a novice class.’
‘I don’t think so! But the tips you gave me about getting into the right position in the boat were really helpful when I went single-handed and I tried to relax.’
‘You only need some confidence. So, are you ready to handle a proper boat?’
Rose gasped but sounded amused by Joey’s teasing. ‘I already have handled a proper boat, but if you’ve time to take me, you know I can’t resist a chance to sail Spindrift again.’
‘What about …’
A loud bang startled Finn. He swore under his breath and heard Gurdeep apologising for dropping a bag of tools on the floor.
Maybe it distracted Joey and Rose too, because Finn could no longer hear their voices clearly. He went back inside and engaged in some banter with the others about apprentices being butterfingers, but inside he was eaten up by what he’d heard. It was wrong to be jealous, but he couldn’t help it. Joey and Rose obviously got on like a house on fire and Finn found it hard that they were sharing a passion for his beloved sailing. Still, he had to master his feelings. Joey had lost one love of his life and if he was going to be happy with Rose, Finn had to find a way of living with that fact, no matter how much it hurt.