Dreams Take Flight

by Jim Dalton

  Just like a finely tuned Swiss watch, Autumn pulled into the parking lot at Gold Coast to relieve Heather at 5:58 p.m.

  Although not standing at the door to greet Autumn, Heather was ready to bolt as soon as Autumn reached the lobby. As Autumn stepped into the lobby, Heather began heading for the door.

  “Autumn, how you doing tonight?”

  “I’m OK. You?”

  “I’m looking forward to my weekend with Lucas, that’s how I’m doing.”

  “Bet you are,” responded Autumn in a condescending tone.

  “Come on, Autumn; don’t sound like that. Did you work on that little project last night?”

  “Yes, for what good it will do.”

  “Don’t be discouraged if your future doesn’t become crystal clear overnight. I want to talk about this more next week, OK? Right now I need to get home.”

  “We can talk about me if you wish, but I want to hear more about you and Lucas.”

  “I’m not the kiss-and-tell kind of gal, but you have a good night—and thanks again for helping me out. We’ll talk next week. Right?”

  “Sure, but if we don’t talk about your weekend, it likely won’t be a very exciting conversation. Go have fun and don’t worry about me.”

  “Thanks again, Autumn. I owe you.”

  Having said their good-byes, Heather and Autumn headed in opposite directions.

  At a few minutes past six, Heather arrived home and, as advertised, Lucas was waiting patiently in his car with the top down, soaking up the sun. Before Heather could open the door to her own car, Lucas jumped out and pulled it open, extending his right hand to help Heather out. Together, the two grabbed Heather’s overnight case from the trunk of her car.

  “What do you think, Heather? You ready to head south?”

  “Yep! Let’s do it.”

  With that, Lucas put Heather’s overnight case into his trunk, helped Heather into the passenger seat, and settled himself into the driver’s seat. Both buckled in, and their next adventure got underway.

  “Tell me, Lucas, where are we going? I know you said the lake, but I didn’t ask which lake and you didn’t mention it.”

  “Sorry about that. We’re headed for the Lake of the Ozarks. My plan is to head out Interstate 70 with a pit stop in Fulton. That’s about a two-hour run. Sound OK to you?”

  “Sounds like a plan. How long will it take us to get to there?”

  “Nonstop, it’s about a three-hour run, so it just depends on how long we take in Fulton.”

  “That’s not a bad drive. That should put us there around nine thirty or ten. Where are we staying? Do we have reservations?” asked Heather.

  “I guess I didn’t tell you much about this trip, did I?” he asked.

  “Not really.”

  “Well, we’re going to stay on my boat.”

  “You have a boat?”

  “Sure do. It’s a beauty. You’ll like it.”

  “I bet. Tell me more!”

  “For now, just trust me: you’ll like it. We’ll be there in a few hours and you can judge for yourself.”

  “OK, but I have to admit you have my curiosity running in high gear.” This Lucas guy is one giant mystery. He reminds me of Forest Gump and a box of chocolates—you never know what you are going to get. About the time I feel like I know him, he finds a way to convince me that I don’t. I would never have guessed we were spending the night on a boat, much less his. This will be another first—sex on a boat!

  It was a beautiful evening. The temperature stayed in the upper seventies with clear skies. The two motored their way to the Lake of the Ozarks, arriving around ten in the evening. Their route took them along Highway 54, across the Bagnell Dam. As they crossed into the “strip,” they found traffic congested along a three-mile stretch lined with motels, restaurants, shops, bars, and all sorts of entertainment venues.

  Approaching a small grocery store, Lucas announced his plan to stop and buy the supplies needed for their stay. Both went into the store and wandered the aisles, hoping to spot items of interest. Neither was disappointed in their bounty. Though planning to eat most of their meals out, their bags were brimming with snacks and beverages of all kinds. They loaded back into the car and drove a few more miles south.

  “Heather,” Lucas said, “the marina is just ahead on the right side.” Lucas gestured toward the lake. “It’s dark, so don’t expect to see much. The rows of lights on the docks are pretty much it until daylight. There is the road,” Lucas added, pointing to a small, paved road leading down into the marina.

  “Wow! This place is nice! These boats are huge! Is yours?”

  “No, but it’s nice and accommodates my needs.”

  “How do you do this? Do pilots make that much money?”

  “We’re paid well. Plus, I’m a good money manager.”

  “You must be damn good. Think you could manage mine?” If I had any to manage, she thought.

  Lucas gave another boat owner a friendly gesture without answering Heather. Pointing to a large boat in the last slip on the dock, Lucas said, “That’s our home for the evening.”

  “Damn! How often do you come here?” These surroundings speak volumes about this place. Without even stepping foot on his boat I am impressed. I don’t believe this. Are we on a reality show or something?

  “Not often. I try to make it down about every three weeks or so. This is a quick trip this weekend because I haven’t been down for a while and need to run the systems.” This is going to be a new experience for me; having someone on the boat with me, and a looker like Heather. I wonder how this is going to unfold.

  Pointing to a large complex on a hill above the marina, Heather asked, “What is that?”

  “It’s a combination motel and resort. We’re going to put our groceries away, turn the AC on, and then head up the hill and check out the bar while the boat cools down. I like this routine because it gives me an opportunity to settle down. I usually sleep like a baby after a trip to the bar.”

  “Cool. I can’t believe this is your boat, and that I didn’t even know you had one, much less one like this!”

  “I’m not that comfortable talking about my personal business.”

  “That’s apparent.”

  With supplies in hand, they both made their way to the dock where the boat was moored. The dock was cordoned off, so Lucas entered his code into the lock, allowing access to the dock. The place had a pleasing, comforting look.

  Looking down the dock, one could see land running along the right side and rows of boats on the left. The dock was lit by yellow lights mounted above the walkway every fifty feet, the line of them running the length of the dock. The light was subtle but adequate. The boats were the pride of their owners, and often got more attention than the owners’ families and homes. The owners, subsequently, were finicky about visitors and generally didn’t like others touching their pride and joy.

  Lucas’s boat was in the first or last slip, depending on the approach. Entering the last gate, as they had, put his boat directly ahead, making the distance from the car to the boat a short two hundred feet.

  Lucas set his grocery bags down and then unzipped the back cover that protected the rear deck of the boat. Once on the boat, he asked Heather to pass her bags to him.

  With the groceries on board, Lucas extended a hand to Heather to help her step from the dock onto the back deck of the boat. The rear of the boat had a cushioned seat that ran the width of the boat. A rail ran around the perimeter of the deck. The rail, had a cutout on each side of the boat for getting on and off the boat. A small door led down three steps into the cabin area.

  At the bottom of the steps and to the left, Lucas explained, was the “head,” a nautical term for bathroom. Opposite the bathroom was a booth capable of seating four people. A small couch and “galley,” or kitchen, rounded out the left side of the cabin. All the way to the front of the cabin was a double bed. The walls were decorated to meet the taste of a single guy, which include
d several airplane pictures. Back on the deck, the controls, steering wheel, radio, and depth finder were elevated on the right side, permitting the captain to have a forward view through an upper windshield, complete with a windshield wiper in case a voyage included rain.

  “Heather, let’s turn the AC on and then go get the luggage.”

  “You take the lead and I’ll follow,” responded Heather. This is one fucking awesome boat. Air-conditioning, a TV…this is a fucking house that floats. The two made their way back to the car, grabbed their luggage, and returned to the boat. After unpacking all of the essentials and finishing preparing the cabin, their stay on the lake was ready to begin.

  “Ready to go to the bar and indulge in a nightcap?” asked Lucas.

  “Sure, I’m with you. Do we need to follow the driveway back to Highway 54, or is there a shortcut?”

  “Oh, there’s a shortcut. There are steps right behind my car that lead straight to the bar. They make it easy.”

  “If I owned the bar, I’d make it easy too,” responded Heather.” By the look of these boats, I think I’d provide a shuttle.

  Lucas and Heather spent the next couple of hours in the bar, putting distance between themselves and their work as they allowed themselves to be absorbed by an environment designed for fun, relaxation, and romance.

  The bar was perched on top of the hill, with large picture windows and a deck. There were two doors that led to an outside seating area on a deck that ran the width of the bar and then wrapped around the sides. The deck provided a romantic view of the lake and marina. The marina sat on the lake, and the only lighting on the dock were the yellow pedestrian lights mounted above the walkway. Because the lights were mounted above the walkway and under the cover of the roof, they were not directly visible from the bar, so the dock took on an ill-defined look from above. In the evening, the atmosphere was very warm and comfortable.

  The motel sat on the hill directly above the marina. The hill was steep and mostly covered with pine trees, separating the marina parking lot and the motel. The motel was arranged like a resort, with a variety of activities right on the property, including three bars, a bowling alley, and a theater. All of the rooms had outside access, with yellow lights just outside each door. Like the marina, the motel had an aura of romance at night. The complex was built on multiple levels on the side of the hill, giving it an interesting look.

  At around two in the morning, Lucas suggested they return to the boat and turn in. With the bar tab paid, they began their return pilgrimage down the steep, wooden steeps.

  “Lucas, I think I’m living a dream. This place is beautiful. I can’t believe you only come here every three weeks. If this were my boat, I’d be here every weekend.”

  “When I’m here, I feel the same way.”

  “Why don’t you come more often?”

  “Summer school and other stuff.”

  “Do you come down by yourself?” Heather asked.

  “Usually. Why? Who would I bring, Mike?”

  “What about me? I’m available.”

  “If you recall, we just started seeing each other.”

  “I know, but I didn’t even know you had a boat. This isn’t how I see you. I think of you as someone who talks and thinks in hundreds of miles per hour and thousands of feet—someone talking about the city you went to yesterday and the city you’re going to tomorrow.”

  “I understand what you’re saying, but this place is different. Listen. What do you hear?”

  Heather responded with a crisp, “Nothing.”

  “Exactly. This place is like heaven on earth! It’s my escape; it’s where I come and don’t need to think about anything. I can just relax, and if I choose to be mentally engaged, I make plans for the future, or whatever. Generally I come down, go to the bar like we did tonight, and then just kick back on the boat and cook something on the pit and people watch for a day or two.”

  “What else don’t I know about you?”

  “Hard to say; I’m still discovering who I am. It’s late; want to hit the sack or sit on the back of the boat and watch the stars? Speaking of which, ever see so many stars?”

  “No, the sky is beautiful. How many stars do you think are up there, a billion?”

  “Hard to say, and I bet you and I will never know. What did you decide, Heather? Stay up or go to bed?”

  “I am so psyched; let’s stay up.”

  “You got it. It will just take a few minutes to pull the top off, and then we’ll have a clear view of the sky off the back. While I take care of the top, why don’t you make us something to drink? Also, as long as you’re going below, why don’t you bring some cheese back with you? It should be in the refrigerator.”

  “What are you drinking tonight? What can I get the captain of the ship?” asked Heather.

  “How about a scotch?”

  “One scotch and Colby cheese on the way.”

  After just a few minutes, Heather emerged from the cabin to find the back deck fully exposed to the outside world. Lucas, noticing how full Heather’s hands were, reached for his glass of scotch. Heather placed the cheese, and her glass of wine, on a small table between Lucas and the padded bench on the rear of the deck.

  “Lucas, you got something I can cover my shoulders with while we’re out here? If so, I’d like to get it before I settle in.”

  “Look in the closet at the bottom of the steps on the right and you’ll find an old shirt I wear when I’m washing the boat. It doesn’t look like much, but it’s clean.”

  “Got it!” she yelled from inside the cabin.

  This time Heather returned from the lower deck with empty hands, but she had also managed to shed her clothes and replace them with Lucas’s shirt. The shirt was an old uniform shirt that nearly reached Heather’s knees, with sleeves long enough to almost cover her hands. The shirt could be used for a night shirt, which was exactly what Heather had opted to do.

  She headed for the rear bench, and perched directly in front of Lucas. She sat perpendicular to Lucas, with her bare feet on the cushion. She turned and tilted her head to the left to see Lucas. Both of her hands interlocked at her ankles, with her knees under her right cheek. Although the shirt reached her knees when standing, her seated position gave her barely enough fabric to sit on. The front of the shirt gathered in her lap, letting her beautiful, smooth legs rise above.

  The deck was dimly lit, with the only light coming in from one of the yellow dock lights in front of the boat. Heather could see a rough outline of Lucas, but his face was in silhouette. To her right, Heather could see boats lining the other side of the cove.

  The water was smooth and like a mirror, reflecting the dock lights, the stars, and lights coming from other boats. Since the dock light was located behind Lucas, he was able to see Heather’s features. Her eyes were intense and seemed to sparkle. Looking past Heather, Lucas could also see the boats docked on the other side of the two-hundred-foot-wide cove.

  “Heather, do you have any idea how pretty, cute, and sexy you look right now? I wish I could capture your look at this moment and remember it forever. I don’t have the words to express how beautiful you are.”

  “You’re just saying that because you’re horny.”

  “No, I’m not. Besides, your look isn’t about me! It’s the truth.”

  “So you’re not horny?”

  “I may be, but that still has nothing to do with the way you look.”

  “If you insist,” replied Heather. “Why don’t you go get comfortable? I’ll guard your drink.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll be back in thirty seconds.” Lucas bolted for the cabin.

  In Lucas’s absence, Heather took in her surroundings, still in awe. The atmosphere was so peaceful and romantic. If I could only live like this—feel like this—every day of my life. I wonder where this relationship is going. Maybe this is it: mad, crazy sex. But what about a house, kids, or maybe a boat we both own? Back to reality, Heather. I should appreciate w
hat I have and worry about tomorrow another day.

  “See, that didn’t take long,” Lucas said upon his return. “You didn’t drink my scotch, did you?

  “Nope, I said I would guard it. Besides, I never developed a taste.”

  “Can I pour you another glass of wine? I thought I’d just bring the booze with me to keep us from running back and forth.”

  “Damn, you pilots are smart! Sorry about that; I’m just playing with you. Please, I’m dry as a bone.”

  “Heather, how much have you had to drink?”

  “I said I was just playing.”

  “I know, and now I’m playing with you,” retorted Lucas. “It’s so dark out here I thought I’d leave the cabin door ajar a little; at least then we’ll be able to see what we’re eating. Speaking of which, where is the cheese?”

  “It’s on the table. I covered it.”

  “Thanks. Heather, do you have any idea how attractive you are, the power you possess? Didn’t I just ask that question? See, you have me repeating myself.”

  “Like I told you earlier, I just think you’re horny and feeling the effects of the scotch. But you can keep on telling me that if you wish.”

  Lucas’s mood changed from one of conversation to one of reflection and observation. He was mesmerized by the sheer beauty of Heather, still sitting with her knees high, her unbuttoned shirt left her left nipple and her entire hip exposed. Heather’s overwhelming beauty seemed to have a hypnotic power over Lucas. Heather was inviting to Lucas without saying a word. She stared at Lucas as though speaking to his inner being. Lucas couldn’t take his eyes off of Heather. He wondered how nature could have created such a perfect body and face. Her legs were fully exposed. Lucas studied them intently, and couldn’t help but notice her pubic hair barely extending beyond her obscurely defined thigh. From there, he traced her leg as it led to her innocent baby face, with eyes that would capture the soul of any man. Lucas found himself conflicted. He didn’t know whether he should just sit there and enjoy the sight of Heather, lean over and hug her until the sun rose, or make love to her all night. Lucas recognized that feeling conflicted usually led him to do nothing, but he also knew that this wasn’t a time for indifference.