If it worked, fifty bucks was cheap, so I stuck out my hand and shook his. “You got a deal – if it works.”
“Okay, here’s how it’ll work. ’See that old scow over on the next pier, theDixie? She don’t look like much but she’s strong as an ox. She’s mine. She’s longer than theJezebel. I figure you guys can push theJezebel outta her berth. Then I’ll side tie her up to me and slowly jockey her out to the bay, turn her around and bring her back in to the lift. It’s gotta be done slow and careful, but my boat can do it jest fine.”
Of course. No reason it shouldn’t work, if the scow’s captain was as good as he said he was. Side tying used to be used a lot. Not so much any more, but not because it wouldn’t work.
By then it was darn near dark. Josie grabbed my arm. “Let’s quit for the day,” she suggested. “Come on up to my place. We can clean up and get some dinner.” No way was I going to say no to an offer like that.
At her place, she made me a drink, then headed upstairs for a shower. I took the opportunity to call Smitty and fill him in on our progress and what my current thoughts were on fixing his boat. He was tickled and wanted to know when the boat was coming out of the water. He wanted to be there. He made me promise to call him first thing in the morning and we hung up.
Sitting back, I thought how lucky I’d been. Good thing he’d been so excited about his boat, he hadn’t asked about Josie. What if he’d asked me where she was? She’s upstairs taking a shower? I don’t think I’d tell him that.
I hadn’t finished imagining that conversation when Josie appeared in a big robe, toweling her hair. She suggested I might want to take a shower too and I readily agreed.
“Tell you what,” she said. “You take a shower. I’ll fix a steak for dinner. That sounds more relaxing to me than going out. Okay?”
“Sounds perfect. Wish I’d stopped off at my place and gotten some clean clothes.”
“Take a look in the hall closet upstairs. I think there’s a gigantic robe in there. Should fit you fine.”
The evening was beginning to look interesting, what with showers, robes and a home-cooked dinner, and as it turned out, itwasinteresting. For that matter, the whole night was interesting. The shower gravitated into another cocktail, the cocktail gravitated into dinner, dinner gravitated into dessert, dessert gravitated into after-dinner brandies and brandy gravitated into bed.
And all that gravitating turned out to be gratifying. Very gratifying indeed. The last thing it felt like was a one-night stand. It was more like coming home. At one point, Josie cried, saying she’d been afraid that going to bed with me would somehow cheapen our relationship. But we’d both felt a natural attraction to each other almost since our first meeting, an attraction that had only deepened, an attraction that needed to go where it needed to go.
We ended up, side by side in bed, talking about the future – which now included marriage – until the wee hours. Finally we both drifted off to sleep, but not until we decided it best to keep our plans to ourselves for now.
CHAPTER 80
Next morning we drove down to the docks bright and early. I wanted to catch the scow guy and see what he had in the way of bumpers to protect the boat with the side tie. It turned out he had plenty. He’d obviously done this before, probably many times. He also had plenty of lines to tie up with.
“If ya get the durn thing cleaned up so’s we can move it, I kin probably get her done this afternoon.”
I told him I had to get the boss down to sign the release papers and then we’d be good to go. I called Smitty and told him I needed him.
Just as I was putting the phone down, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning around I saw the landing craft owner.
“What’re we gonna do with all that crap in my boat?”
Thinking fast, I said, “One of my guys is trying to find a place to dump it legally. How about we pay you twenty-five bucks a day till we can get her cleaned out. That okay with you?”
“Thirty-five and you got a deal.”
This was turning out to be a bigger job than I’d imagined. At five hundred a week, I was beginning to think Smitty was getting himself a bargain.
By late that afternoon, the papers had been signed, theJezebel was side-tied and on the way to the lift. Once we got her in place and the lifting bands under her, the rest was easy. Before dark we had her safely on land in a cradle, drying out.
At first light the next morning I had my first chance to examine her closely. Her bottom was filthy. Barnacles, moss, blisters – a real mess. Smitty said she hadn’t been out of the water for a couple of years and she looked it. Other than that, though, she looked pretty good, at least no damage I could see. Inside was another matter. ‘Still a real jumble of junk to clean out before I could start checking for interior damage.
Several of the guys and Josie helped me clean out below decks. We decided early on that nothing was worth salvaging. We just threw it all away. I finally got down to the floorboards and found the bilge was still full of water. I’d have to locate a land pump and clear that out before I could take an ice pick and start checking for wood rot or other failure.
There was a lot to do, but we got the water pumped out and after checking out the hull thoroughly, I began to think she was worth saving and called Smitty and told him so.
“But it’s gonna take a lot of time and money to do it.” I said. “Probably the best way would be to have her taken to a professional yard and let them do it. It’d be costly, but much faster.”
“Nope, no way!” Smitty said without hesitation. “First thing, I’m in no hurry. Second thing, we’ve got a verbal contract and I expect you to live up to it. Like I said, I’d rather spend money on you than on a shipyard.”
Shortly after lunch Josie and I went up to Smitty’s house and he cleared the air about the whole project. We made up a little employment contract between us for me to oversee the rebuilding of theJezebel, with him keeping control of the design but leaving most everything else to me. He set up an open account at the shipyard so I could buy anything I needed, and asked me if I knew that he’d transferred ownership of the pickup to me.
“Yeah, Josie told me. It’s perfect for the job. I’m kinda’ speechless.”
“Well, there’s more. In myconsideredjudgment…harrumph…” he said, openly winking at me, “you’ll need office help to keep records and so on. And Ishould have someone looking over your shoulder. So I’m hiring Josie to be your amanuensis.”
“My – amanuensis?”
“Secretary,” Josie said.
“Unless you object to having her around all the time?” Smitty said, rhetorically. If I didn’t know better, I’d almost swear he was leering at me. And who was I to say I knew better? I had the distinct impression he already knew I’d spent the night at Josie’s house.
That afternoon I went over the boat with a fine-toothed comb to see what she needed structurally and the three of us drew plan after plan for the superstructure above deck. Everything from the waterline up was up for grabs. It would be a completely redesigned boat. Smitty found an evening class in boat design on line and suggested I enroll in it to make sure our designs were sound.
The only fly in the ointment was Sergeant Horning. Smitty and Little George were keeping tabs on the Senator. One of the broadcasted Senate sessions had come and gone without Goldberg saying anything. There were only two more session scheduled to be broadcast before the two week deadline. The four guys watching him said he hadn’t made any suspicious moves; in fact he wasn’t doing much of anything, except drinking.
The sergeant of course, didn’t know what we knew. Smitty wasn’t about to tell him anything, he wanted Horning to fall flat on his face when the truth came out. Horning kept needling him. Somehow he’d found out that we’d been out of town in spite of his warning us to stay close, but he couldn’t find anyone to corroborate his suspicions. We heard he was after Smitty day and night. He’d told somebody that this time; finally, he had Smitty dead to rights and was
going to put him in jail where he belonged.
Smitty, for a change didn’t say much about Horning, but Josie and I could tell he was pissed.
Josie said, “Let him rant and rave, it’ll just show him for the fool he is when the whole story comes out.”
But Smitty was getting tired of waiting.
So was Josie, it turned out. But for a different reason.
It had been a long day for us. We were relaxing in her house, talking about everything that’d happened since that morning. After a while, conversation abated, I thought that Josie had fallen asleep. Suddenly she blurted out, “Why don’t you let go of your apartment, move your stuff in here and let’s get married,” all in one breath.
I think we’d both been skirting the idea for some time, so it didn’t take much to convince me.
“What about your dad?” I asked.
“Dad? He’s way ahead of you!” she laughed. “He knows we’ve been together since the very first. Why do you think he hired me for you? Actually, if you want to be on his good side, you better make an honest woman of me pretty soon.”
I was struck by the humor of the moment. First Smithy’s thrown Josie at me, Then Josie’s proposed to me – and I loved it.
“Okay, you and your dad can get up off you knees. I accept your proposal.” And on that romantic note, we were officially engaged.
In bed that night, I reflected on the fact that we’d only known each other for less than a month. Did I have any second thoughts? Absolutely not! I thought we felt totally right for each other.
Things were going awfully well for me. So well I began worrying. My experience at sea told me that smooth seas were followed by storms.
CHAPTER 81
Sanding hulls is a dirty job. The port authority demands that boats be draped to minimize dust and other particles. That meant we’d be working under the boat, inside what amounted to a tent, wearing coveralls and masks, power-sanding the entire bottom– in short, a dirty, tiring, hot, sweaty, messy job.
Next morning we got started. Josie was terrific. She never complained once. We started early, before it got too terribly hot, and by eleven in the morning had made a lot of headway. I could see she was wilting.
“Let’s quit for the day,” I suggested, and Josie looked relieved. “This doesn’t have to be done all in one day. We’ve got lots of other things to do. Let’s go home, clean up and do some running around. I want to meet the guys at West Marine and see what kind of deals we can get.”
“Theme’s the kindest words I’ve heard all morning,” she admitted. “And sumpin’ else, my man. We have to think about when and where we’re going to let Dad in on our little secret.”
“That’s another errand for this afternoon. Thanks to your dad, I’ve got enough money to make a down payment on an engagement ring. There’s a nice little jewelry store in Alameda near a chandlery I want to visit. I thought we might drop by there if you’re interested, unless you’d rather go to the chandlery first?”
“Idiot!” she laughed and added, “What’s a chandlery?”
Needless to say, we ended up at the jewelry store first. Actually, I knew the owner through sailing and he gave us a really good deal. Josie was the practical type when it came to jewelry. We were able to get a ring she loved for just about every cent I had.
Outside the store, she gave me a big hug and said, “I can’t wait to tell Dad!” I wasn’t as enthusiastic as she was about confronting Smitty, but it had to be done sooner or later.
So I said, “Do you want to call him and tell him right now?”
“Ummmm, I don’t think so,” Josie said. “I’d rather surprise him. How about if we take him out to dinner tonight? We’ll tell him we have a surprise for him. He’ll assume it’s about the boat. Then we can spring our engagement on him. He’ll love it!”
I wasn’t so sure. I hadn’t gotten the impression that Smitty liked surprises too much. But he was her dad and it was her engagement so I let her call the shots.
He agreed to meet us for dinner down at Jack London Square and kept pestering Josie about what the surprise was. Then he wanted to bring a couple of the guys along with him. Josie finally settled on letting him bring Gus.
At dinner Josie deliberately left her new ring off until dessert was served. Smitty kept asking, “So what’s the surprise?” and she kept putting him off. As dessert was being served, she surreptitiously slipped the engagement ring on under the table, and at the proper moment she waived her ring finger under Smitty and Gus’s noses and said, “Casey and I are engaged to be married!”
Smitty said, “That’s nice. But what about the surprise?” Then he and Gus cracked up.
“You guys!” Josie said. “I bet you had us all figured out, didn’t you?”
“Of course we did,” Smitty laughed. “And we had a bet going, whether you’d tell us right away or after dinner. Didn’t know you’d already got a ring though. So, I guess you’re really serious about this?”
I looked at Josie and she said, “I think he’s perfect. Don’t you, Dad?” She really put Smitty in the hot seat.
“Weeeeellll, I guess he’s okay.” Pretty high praise indeed from Smitty!
“Congratulations, kids,” Gus chimed in. “When’s the date?”
“We have to finish the boat first!” Josie said.
“Forget the boat!” Smitty said, “I want a grandchild!”
Gus said, “I’ll drink to that,” and calling the waiter over, ordered champagne.
We finished two bottles of champagne, moved into the bar area and had some after-dinner drinks as well. At one point Smitty got me off to one side and told me he was really pleased to have me as a soon-to-be son-in-law.
I was really touched until he followed that by telling me that he’d probably have to fire me as his boat builder.
All three of us looked at him with surprise.
“Wouldn’t that be nepotism?” he said and then burst out laughing.
Shortly after, we all decided we’d better head for home. Smitty insisted we’d had too much to drink and called for a cab to get us home. Oops. Did Smitty know we were living together? Would he care? Josie gave the driver her address for both of us. Smitty never said a word.
In the house, Josie said, “I’m not really sleepy. How about some coffee?”
Halfway through the coffee, Josie said, “What do you think?”
“About what?”
“About setting a date, goofus!”
Trying to lighten the moment a little I said. “We don’thave to get married, do we? I mean you’re not PG or anything, are you?”
“Don’t be silly. I’m serious. Why wait? I know I love you. Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Do you love me?”
“Seriously? No question. I do love you. You want to get married tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow, you idiot. How about soon, like next Sunday?”
“Like drive up to Reno or something? I asked.
“No, no. Right here, a big regular wedding in a church.”
“Can we really get married that fast? There’re licenses, churches, people, receptions and everything. I don’t think it’s possible.”
“Dad can do it, if we really want it.”
“Then there’remy parents. I think they’d be a little miffed if I didn’t invite them to my – our – wedding. I’m not sure we can get them here that soon.”
“We can send a couple of the guys up on motorcycles to get them.”
“Seriously.”
“Seriously? Dad can do it. Dad can do anything. Seriously!”
We agreed we’d talk to him first thing in the morning.
Sunday morning, bright and early, Josie cornered her Dad at his house.
To say he was startled would be the understatement of the year. “You want to get married nextSunday? Like maybe Reno?”
“Nope. Not Reno. Right here. Today’s Tuesday, you’ve got five days to get it done!”
“Me? Five days?
I suppose you want a church wedding and all the trappings too – by Sunday?”
“Yep. I told Casey if anyone in the world could do it, you could.”
“Jesus, let me think. You’re really sure about this?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, okay, okay. Let me think. I’m pretty sure I can get the church, but I better call Father Murphy right now.”
In a few minutes he had the church lined up. Three o’clock, Sunday afternoon. One little hiccup: Josie and I had to have a meeting with the priest before the wedding. That was okay with Josie who’s what you would call a part-time Catholic. For me, I really didn’t care. I could go along with whatever was necessary for the wedding. So that was set.
Then there was a whirlwind of planning to do. I called my folks and a few friends. Smitty called all the Devils. He told them they had to rent tuxes for the event – he’d accept nothing less. I quickly called and made an appointment to get a tux, seeing how there was gonna be rush on them. Josie called a bunch of her friends and was agonizing over her choice for maid of honor.
I asked Smitty if he’d be my best man, but he respectfully declined. “Thanks, Case,” he said. “I’m honored, but I’m already taken. Father of the bride, remember? How about Gus?”
When I asked Gus, he jumped at the chance. Turned out, he had plenty of experience. He asked me if I wanted references.
Josie called her dad. “You need to plan a rehearsal dinner for after the rehearsal Saturday night.”
“Jesus, Josie. A rehearsal dinner? Your mom and I never had one of those. You’re sure it’s necessary?”
“Come on Dad. You know what they are. Nowadays it’s expected.”
“Okay, I give up. Who’s supposed to come to that and where should it be?”
“Well, the parents of course. And everyone in the actual wedding party.”
“Okay, I’ll find a place. You invite everyone. And Josie? I’d like to invite Chief O’Meara and his family. What do you think?”
“Great, perfect! Do it!”
I asked Josie if maybe this wasn’t too much of a financial load for Smitty. Her answer was as clear cut as the rest of her planning. “Are you kidding? I do his taxes. He could afford a wedding like this every other month without batting an eye!”
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