Page 47 of A Ferry Merry Christmas
Liam and Tom immediately started playing, with Suzie’s alto voice blending in beautifully. It took Avery less than a second to recognize the classic “Fast Car.” It sounded almost as if Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs were singing the duet.
While they sang, those close by started counting out the seconds, along with James. They must have caused something of a ruckus because Earl Jones and another crewman appeared.
“What’s going on up here?” Earl demanded, scrutinizing the way nearly everyone on the passenger deck had gathered around James.
Before anyone was able to answer, he figured it out himself. “You mean the guy with the pregnant wife is the cause of all this?”
Avery nodded. “Her water broke right after the speedboat left and she’s in the labor room by herself. We’re all trying to help her feel less alone.”
Earl did a quick study of the situation and stood, amazed when Lilly had another contraction. Liam and Suzie broke into a country-style Christmas song next while everyone else counted down the seconds. Avery didn’t recognize the lyrics but could tell the singing was helping Lilly and James, too.
“I’ve got a Bluetooth speaker,” the second crewman offered. “That way everyone can hear Lilly, if she’d like that.”
James asked his wife. “Lilly said she’d love that.”
The crewman left and returned no more than a minute later. It took even less time than that to connect the phone with his speaker.
Once it was operational, Cherise encouraged Lilly. “Lilly, rest as best you can between contractions. Take in deep breaths and let them out slowly.”
“Did you hear that, sweetie?” James asked.
“I did. Can everyone hear me okay?”
James looked up and saw several people nodding. “They can.” She must have said something more, something Avery wasn’t able to hear.
James relaxed. “Lilly wants everyone to know how much the counting helps.”
“We’re happy to be here,” Virginia assured her.
Another contraction was serenaded by the two band members. Other voices joined in while those counting the seconds added to the cacophony.
Watching the crowd, it came to Avery that before helping Lilly everyone had been varying degrees of annoyed and angry after the news regarding the failed engine part. The entire atmosphere had now shifted while helping James and Lilly.
The grumbling had all but disappeared. Only a few minutes earlier, James had been understandably distraught and tense. He seemed much calmer now. What had felt like a disaster earlier had brought them all together, given them a purpose.
Beth and Olivia stood side by side. Every now and again Beth would bend closer to her daughter. Avery guessed it was to explain to the little girl what was taking place and why everyone was gathered around James.
From the far side of the room, she noticed the man Olivia had identified as her father come to stand beside Beth and Olivia. He glanced at his wife and seemed to want her attention. Only Beth refused to look at him.
Avery couldn’t help but wonder what all that was about.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Beth ignored Logan even though he’d positioned himself so that he stood next to her and Olivia. He’d bruised her heart—and more important, Olivia’s—with his decision to bow out of Christmas. Yet, as hard as she tried, she could feel herself drawn to him, drawn into the memories of the love they’d once shared. For months on end, she’d prayed and hoped that eventually Logan would realize he’d made a mistake and return home.
Her love for him and all the might-have-beens made her weak. For so long after Logan left, she’d believed he’d realize he belonged with his wife and daughter and would come back to them. Four months passed before she found the courage to tell her parents Logan had moved out. Until that time, she’d invented excuses for why he wasn’t around.
He was working overtime.
He was at a friend’s house, watching a Seahawks football game.
He was out running errands.
The sad part was that her parents believed her. Beth was forced to admit the truth to her family when it becamehertruth. Logan wasn’t going to change his mind. He’d made his decision and had no intention of being part of their family any longer. She knew her parents would loan her the money to file for a divorce. At any point, she could have taken advantage of their generosity. Only Beth couldn’t make herself give up the hope that one day they would be willing to open up to each other and communicate, talking through their issues together.
“I couldn’t do it,” Logan said, breaking into her thoughts.
Beth ignored him.
