Page 18 of A Ferry Merry Christmas
“Then why are you selling it?” Olivia asked, which was the very question plaguing Beth.
Logan appeared to be composing his answer. “Sometimes adults have to give up things they enjoy for other things.”
“What other things?” Olivia asked.
“Just things, ones that are important.”
Beth battled back tears. It hurt her heart that Logan was selling his motorcycle. As hard as it was to make ends meet, especially when she wasn’t working, not once had they considered selling his bike.
Reaching over, Beth placed her hand on Logan’s forearm. “I’m so sorry.”
He looked at her hand for several long seconds. “Nothing to be sorry about. Like I said, it is what it is. Life is like that. We all need to make choices, and they aren’t always easy ones. I’ve got my truck, and the motorcycle was taking up space and . . .” He let the rest fade.
“Your truck is twenty years old,” she protested. It had been on its last legs when they’d been together. She couldn’t imagine it would keep running much longer.
“It gets me where I need to go and that’s all that’s necessary.”
Beth hardly knew what to say.
“Mommy, please call Grandma and tell her Daddy is coming to dinner on Christmas.”
Beth knew Olivia’s real Christmas wish was to spend it with her father—spend it as a family. For that matter, it would mean the world to her, too. The last two Christmases without him had left her feeling empty and her heart aching for what might have been.
“Would you like that?” she asked Logan, unsure of his response.
He turned to look at her, his gaze intense. “Would you?”
“I would,” and then for emphasis, she nodded. “More than you know.”
His eyes filled with a flicker of what looked like hope. “You can ask, but I don’t think your folks would relish me hanging around.”
“I will ask, but I feel that despite everything, they would welcome you,” she told him. Her parents knew how much it would mean to Olivia to have her father over for Christmas and would relent if for no other reason.
He remained uncertain. “You’re sure. I mean, even after, you know . . . everything?”
“Olivia is right. Mom and Dad would be happy to see you.”
“Then okay, if you’re sure,” he said.
Beth reached for her phone. It was a small step, and for the first time in a long while it was a step forward.
CHAPTER SIX
Kellie Stetler glanced at her phone for the second time in the last five minutes, awaiting an update from her brother, Harrison. He said he was lucky enough to catch the 11:45 ferry out of Bremerton.Luckywasn’t the word she would use currently. The ferry sat dead in the water in the middle of Puget Sound halfway between Bremerton and Seattle.
Having lived and worked in the Seattle area for several years, Kellie had never heard of anything like this happening to a ferry. This was highly unusual, and its being this close to Christmas made it even more frustrating.
Harrison hadn’t sent any updates beyond a couple short text messages, giving her the most current information, which, to be honest, wasn’t much. It didn’t take a mind reader to know his fellow passengers wouldn’t be pleased with this unexpected turn of events. She could only imagine how upset everyone on board must be. Everyone had a reason to get to Seattle, and if the traffic in the ferry terminal was any indication, there were plenty of friends and family awaiting the boat’s arrival.
The lone announcement at the Seattle terminal was less than helpful. All Kellie had heard was that the Bremerton run had been delayed. The crowd inside the building was growing by the minute. First with people waiting for the ferry’s arrival, in addition to the ticket holders expecting to board for the return trip.
“Excuse me,” a man said, coming to stand next to Kellie.
Kellie glanced up from her phone. She’d noticed him earlier, as he’d looked familiar.
“I promise this isn’t a pickup line, but I know I’ve seen you somewhere before.” He wore a slight frown, as though racking his brain to make the connection.
Kellie placed her phone inside her purse. “To be honest, I was thinking the same thing . . . that we’d previously met.” He was attractive enough for her to remember, tall and fit, with brown hair and eyes the color of rich, dark chocolate. His face was familiar, but she couldn’t imagine where they might have met.
