24

While Leo was at the helm, attempting to get the boat back out near the Golden Gate Bridge while there was still some good sunset color left in the sky, Tia quietly cleaned and disinfected the corner of the bridge where Natalie had “lost it.” As Tia slipped behind him to open the side windows wider to allow more air flow, she was relieved that Leo was so focused on navigating through the heavy nautical traffic that he didn’t seem to notice her. She didn’t know what she would say to him if he did. Judging by his troubled expression, it was more than just the busy bay that was bothering him. She felt truly sorry for both of them.

Although Natalie’s dramatic meltdown had placed a temporary damper on some of the guests, it didn’t take long for most of them to return to their previous merrymaking, which hopefully made for some good photos. While the sunset was still glowing, Jake helped Melinda into Leo’s rowboat, which they’d been towing. He rowed the boat to various locations as she took some fast photos of the ship from different angles.

“I got shots of the boat with the bridge behind it,” Melinda told Tia as she came back onboard. “I also got it with the cityscape and even some remnants of the sunset. Lucky for us, it was a nice long sunset. If these shots aren’t light enough, I can probably get Leo to take me out again later in the week.”

As the sky was growing dusky, Tia started up the fire pit and laid out the makings for hot dogs and s’mores. With the Pacific Pearl slowly cutting through the bay, the real party began. Ties and heels were cast aside, and some got out musical instruments while others started roasting hot dogs. It wasn’t long until they were enjoying the fireworks shooting up high from various locations, reflecting across the dark, glossy water with the loud booms of explosives echoing off the nearby hills.

Tia had just finished roasting a bratwurst when she noticed the soft blue light glowing from the captain’s bridge. Seeing Leo’s face illuminated by the instrument panel, she felt a fresh wave of compassion for him. Poor guy. Talk about a bad night. Ever since his public clash with Natalie, he’d been at the helm, alone and unhappy, and probably embarrassed. As far as she knew, he hadn’t even had dinner. Fixing him a generous plate of food, she turned to Melinda. “I’m taking this up to Leo. Want to come along?”

“Not right now. I’m trying to get a good shot of the musicians around the fire with the fireworks shooting off behind them,” Melinda said. “Maybe later.”

Tia went up by herself. “Thought you might be hungry.” She set the plate and an unopened can of soda on the countertop.

“Thanks.” He kept his eyes forward.

She moved back toward the door, sensing he wasn’t interested in socializing. “I’m sorry about what happened,” she said quietly. “I mean, with Natalie.”

“Nothing for you to be sorry about.”

“I know. I just mean I feel badly for you. And for Nat too.”

He reached for the soda, popping it open. “By the way, thanks for cleaning up that stinking mess for me.”

“No problem.” She opened the door. “Anyway, I was thinking that you shouldn’t give up, Leo. I mean, maybe you guys will patch things up and—”

“Nope.”

“But lots of couples fight.” She noticed Melinda coming up the stairs, still carrying her camera.

“That’s right,” Melinda declared as she entered the bridge. “Lots of couples fight.”

“I know that, Melinda.” He turned to glare at her. “This was different, okay? It was more than just a little lovers’ quarrel.”

Melinda sat on the stool next to Leo, sneaking a quick candid shot of the captain at the helm. “Did Tia tell you what Natalie was up to?”

Tia shot her a warning look as she opened the door, preparing for a fast getaway.

“Hold on there, Tia,” Leo said sharply. “What’s Melinda talking about?”

“Nothing.” Tia narrowed her eyes at Melinda.

“What difference does it make now?” Melinda asked her. “They’re broken up.”

“It was a private conversation,” Tia said tersely. “I told you that I didn’t want you to—”

“But it was about Leo.” Melinda grabbed Tia by the hand, pulling her closer to the helm. “Spill the beans.”

“Melinda.” Tia frowned. “You promised—”

“This is my brother.” Melinda placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Why would I not tell him?”

“Tell him what?” Leo snapped. “What’re you two yammering about?”

“Just that Natalie planned for you to enroll in Stanford Law School this fall,” Melinda supplied.

“What?” Leo turned to scowl at both of them. “How is that even possible?”

“Tell him, Tia.” Melinda nodded to her.

“I’d rather not.”

“Come on.” Leo’s tone softened. “What did you hear, Tia?”

“It wasn’t my intention to eavesdrop.” She quickly explained her post by the dining room that night. “I couldn’t help but overhear something.”

“Out with it,” Leo commanded.

Tia repeated the disturbing conversation. “I know Natalie meant it as a good thing,” she finally said. “It was supposed to be a wedding gift. A surprise.”

“Yeah, right.” Leo whacked the wheel with the heel of his hand.

“I need to go back down,” Tia said suddenly.

Melinda grabbed her by the elbow. “Tell him about the seasickness secret first,” she urged.

“The seasickness secret?” Leo scowled.

“Come on,” Melinda told Tia. “Leo deserves to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

“Fine.” Tia looked at Leo, knowing she would sound like a tattletale and that she could be making an enemy here. But maybe it didn’t matter. “Natalie told me that she’s been keeping her seasickness problem a secret from you. It’s not just a one-time thing. She gets horribly seasick whenever she sets foot on a boat. That’s why she doesn’t like being on your houseboat for more than a few minutes. It’s what happened in the rowboat the day you guys came here and she said she had food poisoning. It’s why she avoids this boat like the plague. Even when she takes Dramamine, like she did tonight, she can still get horribly ill.” She turned to Melinda. “There. Are you happy now?”

“He has a right to know.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know why I have to be the one to tell him.” Tia reached for the door, this time without being stopped. “Excuse me.” As she went back down, she felt slightly betrayed by Melinda for dragging her into Leo’s mess. Oh, she understood why Melinda wanted her brother to know the truth, but why force Tia to be the bearer of such negative news? That didn’t seem right. Especially if and when Natalie and Leo got back together. Because despite Leo’s claim that it was over, Tia was not convinced.

Tia was grateful for a nonworking weekend. It was a relief not to cross paths with Leo for a couple of days. When she “accidentally” slept in on Sunday instead of riding her bike to church like she’d told Melinda she planned to do, she didn’t even feel guilty. Well, not much anyway.

When the workweek began again on Monday, there was plenty to keep her occupied—and distracted. This was the week to get the galley fully assembled, and she planned to be on hand to supervise every step of the way. When she wasn’t in the galley, she was in the stateroom, putting the finishing touches on the menus so she could hand them over to Melinda, who would then come up with some designs for Julie to choose from, plus add them to the website. Not only that, but Tia had waitstaff and kitchen crew applicants to interview and hire. There was a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it in.

By the end of the week, the Pacific Pearl was almost completely transformed. The galley was finished and functional, with cabinets stocked and ready. The dining room was all set, complete with a bar on one end and an upright piano on the other. The windows were sparkling clean, the decks were shiny and bright, the heads were in great condition. All in all, the Pacific Pearl was shipshape.

Except for the captain. Tia attributed Leo’s taciturn attitude to last weekend’s blowout with Natalie. It didn’t take a mind reader to know he was not okay with it. The best Tia could do was try to not cross paths with him.

On Saturday morning, Tia was enjoying being alone on the boat. As if playing house, she went around sweeping up the last of the building debris, dusting and polishing, and basically just admiring the amazing transformation of the Pacific Pearl. The plan was for Julie and Roland to come see the final results and enjoy a private dinner cruise with several of their closest friends tonight. The crew and galley staff would be minimal, but Tia wanted to ensure that everything was as perfect as possible. After a week of foggy days, it even looked like the weather was cooperating, because the mist seemed to be melting away by midday.

“Hello?”

Tia strained her ears to hear what sounded like a female voice.

“Anybody aboard?”

Tia stuck her head out of the dining room, where she’d been putting small flower arrangements on the four tables she’d chosen for tonight’s dinner—and there was Natalie, standing on the dock with a perplexed expression.

“Oh, hi, Tia.” Natalie waved eagerly, smiling. “Is Leo around?”

“Not right now.”

Natalie’s smile evaporated. “Do you know where he is?”

“No.” Tia shook her head.

“Oh.”

Tia waited for Natalie to say something . . . like good-bye. But she just stood there looking slightly lost and totally out of place on the scruffy dock in her white linen pantsuit. “Is there anything I can help you with?” Tia asked in a slightly formal tone, almost as if she was waiting on a customer.

“Please, Tia!” Natalie’s voice broke as if she were on the verge of tears. “Can you come out here and talk to me?”

Tia’s heart softened as she crossed over the gangway to the dock. “What’s up?”

“It’s Leo. He’s avoiding me.”

Tia’s sympathy faded. “Well . . . you guys broke up, remember? In fact, you’re the one who pulled the plug.”

“I know. But I was so upset. I said things I didn’t mean and I—”

“Look!” Tia held up her hands to stop her. “I am not going to get in the middle of this—whatever it is. This is not my problem.”

“No, of course not. It’s just that Leo is ignoring my texts and my calls and he’s not home and—”

“You’re not listening, Natalie. I’m not going to get involved in this. It’s not fair for you to ask me.”

“But I thought you were my friend.”

“I’m Leo’s friend too.” Tia stepped onto the gangplank. “I’m also Leo’s co-worker, and I think that trumps my friendship with you.”

“But I don’t know who to talk to.”

“Maybe Melinda—”

“She’s avoiding me too.”

“I’m sorry, Natalie. I honestly am. But there’s nothing I can do for you. Maybe you should check with Leo’s parents. Don’t you work with his dad—”

“Yes, and Jim is as flummoxed as I am. I told him the whole story, and he doesn’t understand why Leo is being so stubborn and hardhearted.”

“Seriously?” Tia went back down the gangplank, holding her forefinger in the air. “Let’s talk about stubborn hardheartedness. How about the fact that you kept your seasickness troubles a secret from Leo? Or that you were conspiring to enroll Leo in law school without his knowledge or approval? Or that you never intended to live on the houseboat with him after you got married? Those things all seem pretty stubborn and hardhearted to me.”

“To me too!”

Tia spun around to see Leo coming across the deck of the boat toward them. What was he doing there?

“You lied to me, Tia!” Natalie spat out. “You said Leo wasn’t here.”

“I didn’t know he was here,” Tia declared.

“I get it!” Natalie yelled. “I see what’s going on now. Good grief, how could I have been so naïve. You’ve been after Leo right from the start, haven’t you, Tia? No wonder it all went sideways on me. It’s because of you, isn’t it?” She pointed at her with fury in her eyes. “Tell me the truth, Tia!”

Feeling like she was being cross-examined on the witness stand, Tia speechlessly backed away from her, moving toward the boat.

“That’s enough, Natalie.” Leo came over to stand behind Tia, blocking the gangway and her access to the boat. “You can’t turn Tia into your whipping boy. All she’s done is try to be a good friend—”

“To you maybe. But she’s stabbed me in the back, hasn’t she?”

“That’s ridiculous. But if you insist on hashing this all out right now, tell me the truth. Wasn’t everything Tia just said about you true? You hid your seasickness from me. You never planned to live on the houseboat. You were secretly enrolling me into Stanford. You were doing everything—from pushing for the engagement and then a quick wedding—all just to have your way. My feelings never even mattered to you, did they, Natalie? It’s always just been about you.”

“I can’t help that I get seasick,” she said in a pitiful tone. “It’s not fair to hold that against me, Leo.”

“Except that you kept it from me.”

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?” he demanded. “On our honeymoon? Right after you told me your plans for me to give up boats and head off to law school? Or after you informed me that I had to give up the houseboat to live in the city? When?”

“Excuse me.” Tia pushed past Leo and ran into the dining room. Still stinging from Natalie’s accusations, words that were closer to the truth than anyone realized, she just wanted to get away from this—all of it! She didn’t think she could stand one more harsh word from them arguing like that. She went to the stateroom, and with a heart that was pounding hard, she closed and locked the door, bursting into tears. It was just like this ten years ago when her parents were fighting and bickering, trying to put her in the middle of their battles. She had hated it then, and she hated it even more now.