Page 40 of A Ferry Merry Christmas
From the brief conversation between the captain and the crew member, Avery learned that the speedboat had pulled up alongside the ferry. The fix had arrived. That was good news. Hopefully the ferry would soon be on its way and James would be able to be with his wife.
The captain left abruptly and the three of them started up the stairwell to the passenger deck.
“It won’t be long now,” Avery said, hoping to reassure James.
“Right,” he said without a lot of enthusiasm.
Once they returned to the passenger deck, Avery noticed people lined up against the windows, watching the part be delivered. A cheer rose, followed by a burst of applause. It seemed the mood instantly lightened.
Avery relaxed, too. Like everyone else, she was eager to get to Seattle. With the end of this debacle in sight, Avery sent her brother a text, letting him know it wouldn’t be much longer now. She’d been pleasantly surprised that Reed had hung around town to greet her and help her make the uphill trek to his condo. Coincidentally, her brother had also found a companion to help pass the time. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
James stood at the window with several others, watching excitedly as the speedboat pulled away. A cheer rose once again.
Thinking it would be only a matter of minutes, Avery noticed a few people return to their cars. Others gathered their items together, preparing for the departure.
But then another forty minutes passed and the restlessness returned. By all that was right, they should be underway by now. The information they had received was that it would take only a few minutes to install the part. Yet the ferry remained dead in the water. No one needed to tell Avery or anyone else that this easy fix apparently wasn’t so easy.
Something wasn’t right.
People started mumbling among themselves, pacing and looking anxious, asking questions no one could answer.
Before long, Captain Douglas’s voice came over the intercom.
“Unfortunately, I have discouraging news.”
A cacophony of discord and frustration echoed through the waiting area.
“As many of you noticed, we received what we hoped would be an easy fix. It has since been determined there is more than this single problem. The engine crew is working diligently . . .”
Whatever else the captain had to say was drowned out by the loud boos and curses. As the roar of discontent slowly dissipated, James’s phone rang.
Looking desperate, he grabbed it with both hands.
Avery watched as James listened. He instantly went pale and looked at Avery and Harrison as if he didn’t know what else to do.
“What is it?” she asked, moving to stand next to him.
“That was our neighbor,” he said. “Lilly’s water broke and they’re heading to the hospital.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After their fun ride on the Ferris wheel, Reed and Kellie continued their lazy stroll along the waterfront with no real destination in mind. They walked almost to the point where the cruise ships docked. Come May and June there would be as many as nine cruise ships anchored in Seattle, most heading to the pristine waters of Alaska. Reed was enjoying himself. Spending what would have been a long, boring afternoon with Kellie had made this one of the best days he could remember in a long while. She was everything he’d imagined. Friendly, warm, charming, funny, and caring. Even from the brief interaction they’d shared months earlier, he’d found himself attracted to her. After one afternoon, he knew beyond a doubt he really wanted to spend more time with her.
As they continued walking, he checked his phone to make sure he hadn’t missed a text from Avery. Nothing yet. Whatever the problem was with the engine, it must have been major. Earlier Avery had assured him that once the part arrived the ferry should be on its way in short order. Although he was warm in his thick wool jacket, Kellie hadn’t dressed properly for spending a long period of time in the elements.
“My condo is close by,” he said, thinking on his feet. The idea had come to him, and while it appealed strongly, he was unsure how Kellie would feel. “The building is off Cherry Street with a great view of Puget Sound. It’s only about a ten-minute, maybe a twelve-minute walk from here. Would you like to head over there, warm up, and share some wine while we wait?”
His spirits rose at her quick nod.
“That sounds lovely.”
“Great. I’ll get the fireplace going and we’ll be warm as toast in only a few minutes.”
Her smile was infectious, and he had a hard time looking away.
“That sounds even better.”
“I’ll check to see if there’s any news from my sister,” he said, and reached for his phone again.
