by DW Davis
Rochelle’s skin was the color of cafe au lait, her hair was long and black, and her eyes were so dark I couldn’t tell the irises from the pupils. Her father was from Senegal, and her mother was from Aruba. I never did quite understand how they came to be in Rouen - something about the company Rochelle’s father worked for. Rochelle was a second year student at the American University in Paris, on Saint Croix with some school friends for the holiday.
I don’t know what attracted Rochelle to me. Maybe it was the grizzled sailor look or the deep tan I’d developed over all those months at sea. It could be that she just liked older guys more than the school boys among her peers.
Why didn’t really matter. We enjoyed the evening talking and dancing, but when the party broke up I’m afraid I disappointed her when Rochelle suggested that we could go back to her room. While I’d enjoyed her company, I wasn’t looking for anything like that. Rochelle said she understood, thanked me for the evening, kissed me gently, and said good-bye.
“Mike,” a noticeably inebriated Chase said. “I don’t know how you let her just walk away. She obviously dug you.”
As I tried to steer him toward the dock, I wondered that myself. “Yeah, I know. Maybe I’m an idiot, but it just didn’t feel like the right thing to do.”
Chase nodded his agreement. “Anyway, I guess we need to head back to the boat. You drive.”
Being that the club was only a short walk from the harbor, and we had indeed walked there, Chase was acknowledging that perhaps he’d had a bit too much to drink and needed my help finding his way back to the dock. Perhaps if I had taken a drink of something stronger than club soda and lime, I would have followed Rochelle back to her room. I put my arm around Chase’s shoulder, and we found our way back to Cuarto.
When the season for college spring break approached, I made port and arranged to leave Cuarto docked for a week or so while I flew home to spend time with the folks. The sea, sun, wind, and friendly folks on the Islands had been working their therapeutic magic on me. I was feeling much more at peace with myself.
Thirty-two
Malori, who was home for Spring Break, picked me up at the airport in my GTO the Monday afternoon I arrived.
“Dad thought you might like to drive your own car while you’re home,” she explained.
“That was thoughtful of him,” I said, holding my hand out for the keys. “And you just happened to be available to drive it out here to meet me.”
“Hey, what can I say, I’ve missed my big brother,” Malori said.
We got into the car. I drove. We headed out to the beach.
“How long are you going to stay home, Mike?” Malori asked once we were on the road.
“I’ll be here at least a week, maybe longer. My return ticket is for next Monday. I can always change that if I decide to,” I said.
“It hardly seems worth going all that way back just to turn around and come back for Easter,” Malori said.
My coming back for Easter wasn’t a sure thing, but I didn’t want to tell her just then.
“What are you talking about? I’ll get in more than two good weeks of cruising,” I said instead.
Snickering, Malori said, “The Islands will never be the same.”
I laughed. “What are you trying to say, sister mine?”
“Oh, nothing at all,” Malori said with all the innocence she could muster. “You know that UNCW is closed all this week.”
“It usually is,” I said.
Malori looked sideways at me as we rode along Eastwood Road. “That means that Rhiannon is off all this week.”
“That would stand to reason,” I said.
“You did say you would take her out to lunch when you were home,” Malori reminded me.
“I said we could get together for lunch,” I corrected her. “That’s not quite the same as taking her out.”
“You are splitting hairs,” Malori said. “I told her you were coming home today.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I told her as we stopped for the light at the drawbridge. “I had written and told her last time I made landfall near a post office.”
“I know,” Malori informed me, “she told me.”
“Do you and Rhiannon talk much?” I asked, feigning annoyance.
“When I was at UNCW I would see her almost every day. We usually had breakfast together at the Hawks’ Nest before she went to work,” Malori told me. “Once I went off to Notre Dame, we wrote each other a lot. She kept me up to date on what was going on around here, and I kept her in the loop on what I’d heard from you.”
The light turned green, so I put the car in gear and we rolled over the bridge. “Oh, really, isn’t that interesting.”
“We ran into each other a couple of mornings early last semester and it just sort of became a routine,” Malori explained. “She’s been kind of like a big sister to me.”
That brought a twinge. I could see it did for Malori, too. Maeve had been the big sister Malori had longed for. I guess I was glad Rhiannon had been there to step into that role and yet…
Looking at me, Malori said, “I still miss her too, Michael.”
“Yeah,” was all I managed to say as I fought back tears. We rode the rest of the way to our folks’ house lost in our own thoughts.
Thirty-three
My father must have had some kind of early warning radar. He was waiting for us at the bottom of the steps when we pulled down the road to the house. He came around to the driver’s side as I shut off the engine.
“Welcome home, Michael. How was your flight?”
“It was long and circuitous,” I told him as I climbed from the car. “I couldn’t go straight from there to here. I had to go several other places first.”
He laughed, “It still beat walking, I reckon.”
“Yes, it did. Especially since I would have to swim a lot before I could walk,” I joked back.
He gestured to the stairs. “Well, come on inside. Your mom’s dying to see you.”
When I went into the kitchen, I could smell lasagna baking in the oven.
“Hi, Mom, that smells delicious,” I said as I gave her a hug.
“I am glad you think so. I have been keeping it warm for you since your birthday,” my mother said with a straight face. “You did not show up to eat it.”
“It was a long swim against an outgoing tide,” I offered as a way of excuse.
“I am sure it was. It is good to see you, Michael,” my mother said.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, drawing in the familiar scents of home. “It’s good to be here,” I said.
“It still has a while to bake, so we can sit down and you can tell me all about your travels,” my mother said, wiping her hands on a towel and pulling out a chair.
My father fixed us some iced tea, and we sat around the kitchen table while I told them all about what I’d been up to since I dropped my father off in Fort Lauderdale.
By the time I finished my story, my mother announced that supper was ready. I’d just stood up to see what I could do to help when I heard a car pull up outside.
Looking from me to the door and back at me, my mother said, “I hope you do not mind, Michael; I invited Rhiannon to join us.”
Since it must have been Rhiannon who’d just driven up, I don’t think it mattered much if I minded or not. My father and Malori went out to meet her.
Presented with a fait accompli, I chose to be gracious. “No, I don’t mind. It will be good to see her.”
Interestingly enough, as soon as I said it, I realized that it really would be good to see her.
“Rhiannon has been such a good friend to Malori since she moved back. And she has been looking forward to seeing you as well,” my mother told me.
“Really,” I said, a bit surprised. “Do you see her often?”
“In the evenings your father and I usually take a walk up to the pier. It is how we get our exercise. Rhiannon has been helping Ed and Lind out in the evenings no
w and then. We usually have a chance to chat while your dad is talking with the guys.”
“Is that how you’ve kept your youthful figure, Mom?” I asked with a grin.
Blushing lightly, my mother laughed, “Michael, do not be fresh. But thank you for noticing.”
I got up from the table and went out onto the deck. Rhiannon had just started up the stairs. She looked up, spotted me, and broke into a big smile.
I thought she looked even prettier than she did in high school, and then felt oddly guilty for thinking that.
“Hi, Michael,” she called out. “It’s about time you came home. Your mom’s been keeping a pan of lasagna warm for you since Veteran’s Day.”
“Did you two work that joke out or what?” I retorted.
“Who’s joking?” Rhiannon asked as she reached the top of the stairs. “It’s good to see you, Mike,” she said, pulling me to her for a big hug.
“It’s good to see you too, Rhiannon.” I said, and found that I meant it. “I’m glad Mom invited you over.”
“Me, too. I love your Mom’s lasagna,” Rhiannon said with a grin.
“Let’s get inside,” I said, shaking my head and chuckling.
My dad and Malori came up the stairs after Rhiannon. Dad followed her inside. Malori stopped next to me on the deck.
“I told you she’d be glad to see you,” Malori said in a conspiratorial whisper.
“Who woulda thunk it,” I replied. “I figured she’d have a boyfriend by now.”
“It’s not like guys haven’t tried, Michael,” Malori said. “But Rhiannon wouldn’t give them the time of day.”
Feeling a sudden need to change the subject, I asked “What about you, Mal?”
Malori answered by sticking her tongue out and dashing into the house. Left alone on the deck for a moment, I looked out over the sound. A stiff breeze was kicking up little whitecaps on the water.
The wind was blowing out of the northwest. That meant a cold night coming on, cold and clear. Shivering just a bit at the thought, I joined the others inside.
My mom put me at the foot of the table opposite my father. That was usually her place. Instead she sat on the corner near my father and next to Rhiannon. Malori sat on the corner near me across from Rhiannon. That put Rhiannon at my other corner.
I thought to myself that there should be some young man of Malori’s acquaintance sitting in the empty chair. Once the lasagna had been served and we’d begun eating, I broached that subject again.
“Malori,” I began in a teasing tone, “I may regret asking this as it may mean I have to beat someone up, but are you seeing anyone?”
“No one will go out with me,” Malori said, laughing. “They’re all afraid of you.”
“That’s good - just as it should be,” I said.
“Michael, you’re incorrigible. There are lots of nice young men at school that Malori could go out with,” Rhiannon said. “It’s just that she has very high standards.”
“That’s right, I do,” agreed Malori. “There aren’t many guys who can measure up. I mean look at who they’re being measured against.”
“I think that’s a good thing,” my father said. “There’s no reason to hurry in that department.”
“Actually, Michael, your sister does date now and then but has wisely chosen not to start a serious relationship,” my mother said.
“I’ve been too busy with my class load at Notre Dame. Nothing against UNCW, but Notre Dame is one tough school,” Malori said.
“So who is it you’re measuring these guys against, Malori, that makes it so hard for them to make the grade?” I asked, sounding a bit facetious.
A serious look came over Malori’s face as she replied, “You and Dad, Mike, that’s who.”
That hit me like a ton of bricks. I never imagined that Malori would use me as a yardstick. Maybe our father, but not me. My dad looked a bit uncomfortable. I know I felt a little awkward.
“Thank you, Mal, that means a lot,” I said.
It took our father a second longer to find his voice. “Yes, Malori, it means a whole lot.”
“It may mean I never get a boyfriend. You guys set the bar so doggone high,” Malori said with a smile.
“Just don’t lower your sights, Malori. And when the right one does come along, don’t let him get away,” Rhiannon said, looking at me.
My mother broke the tension by asking if anyone was ready for dessert. She’d baked a maple-caramel cheesecake, her own recipe. As full as I was, I wasn’t about to turn that down. Neither did anyone else.
“Boy, I’m stuffed,” my father said, after we’d finished dessert. “I think I need to take a walk. Anyone want to join me?”
It sounded like a good idea to me, so I said, “I think I will. I hope there’s a jacket around here that will fit me. I’m not used to these temperatures.”
“We went up to River Dream and brought down some of your winter clothes and jackets,” my mother told me. “They’re in Malori’s old room. I guess it’ll be your room now when you’re home.”
That surprised me. It used to be my mother’s music room. When I walked in, I saw that it still was. They’d put a twin bed along one wall for me. Malori had set my bag on the foot of the bed.
As I came back out to the kitchen, Malori chimed in, “I’d like to go, too.”
“Just let me get my jacket from the car, and I’ll come too,” said Rhiannon, deciding she didn’t want to be left out.
My mother, who is more sensible than the rest of us, opted to stay home out of the cold. The rest of us suited up and headed to the beach. It was dark with a new moon, but it was clear and cold.
Thirty-four
On the beach, we turned north and headed towards Crystal Pier. As we passed the Angevine’s house, my father suggested we pay a visit to Rhiannon’s folks.
Mrs. Angevine answered the door and smiled when she saw me. “Well, look who’s here. Michael, how are you?”
Giving her a quick hug, I replied, “I’m well, Aunt Cassie. How are you?”
“Come on in, all of you. Goodness, what are you doing out on a cold night like this?” Mrs. Angevine asked as she ushered us into the house.
“We filled up so much on Mrs. L’s lasagna,” Rhiannon explained, “we decided to go for a walk. Is Dad working tonight?”
Mrs. Angevine nodded her head. “Every night these days he’s working. He says there isn’t enough business to pay someone to mind the pier, so he and your uncle take turns.”
I looked at Rhiannon. “Maybe tomorrow night we can give the two of them a night off; what do you say?”
“Are you serious, Michael?” Rhiannon asked, eyes wide with surprise.
“Sure,” I said. “Why not? It would be fun. It’s not like we haven’t minded the store over there before.”
“No, but it’s been a while, for you anyway,” Rhiannon responded. For a minute I didn’t think she was going to go along. Then a smile crossed her face and she said, “If you really want to, let’s do it.”
Mrs. Angevine looked pleased at the prospect. “That would be so nice, you two. I know your daddy will appreciate it, Rhiannon.”
That decided, we bid Rhiannon’s mother good-bye and headed back towards Lumina Pier. We told Mrs. Angevine we would stop by and let Mr. Angevine know.
Mr. Angevine was more surprised than Rhiannon had been at the suggestion. “You two would do that? But Michael, it’s your holiday,” he argued.
“I feel like I’ve been on holiday since summer, Uncle Lind. Doing some honest work will do me some good.”
Putting his arms around the two of us, he said, “Well, I certainly won’t turn down your offer. I’m sure my brother will be glad of it, too.”
While my father stayed back to talk to Mr. Angevine, Rhiannon, Malori, and I took a walk out onto the pier. The wind was cold and bit right through our coats.
I shouldn’t have been, but I was surprised to see Hans’ mom fishing. “Mrs. Schultz, what a pleasant surprise.”
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Putting down her rod, she walked over and gave me a hug. “Michael, is that you? I heard you were off pretending to be a Caribbean pirate.”
“The Royal Navy was on to me, so I decided to come home and lay low for a while,” I said, going along with the joke.
Holding me at arms’ length, she looked me up and down. “Well, it’s good to see you. Have you been doing okay?”
“I’ve been doing a little better every day, Mrs. Schultz, thank you.”
She nodded as she considered that. “Hans is looking forward to rejoining your crew next month. I think it will do him a world of good.”
“It will be great to have him along,” I said. “I need someone to swab the deck and mizzen the jib once in a while.” Behind me, Rhiannon and Malori laughed.
“I’m sure you two young men will enjoy yourselves out there with all those Island ladies to keep your minds off your troubles,” Mrs. Shultz commented.
Hans and April had separated just after New Year’s Day. I suppose it was what you would call an amicable divorce. She got the kids, and he got the bills. Hans had told me he thought sailing around the Caribbean with me for a couple of weeks would be just what he needed to take his mind off it.
“I’ll try to be a bad influence on him, Mrs. Schultz,” I promised lightheartedly.
“You do that, Michael,” she said. “It may be just what he needs.”
Leaving her to her fishing, we walked on to the end of the pier. The wind felt stronger out there, and no fisherman were bold enough to challenge it that night. I looked up and scanned the clear skies, almost unconsciously picking out Star Jillian. I smiled a melancholy smile at that memory.
“What was that smile, son?” my father asked.
I hadn’t realized he’d come out onto the pier. He and I were out there alone. Rhiannon and Malori had headed back inside. I’d been stargazing longer than I realized.
“I was just remembering something from a long time ago, Dad,” I said. “Do you remember Jill? She and I dated for a while in high school before Rhiannon and I got together.”
