Page 53 of A Ferry Merry Christmas
“Come on,” Harrison said, as he reached for Avery’s hand.
Laughing, she joined him at the end of the line.
As they circled the deck, Avery noticed Olivia standing on a chair clapping her hands, her sweet face glowing with joy. When she noticed Avery, she jumped down and ran over to her.
Avery and Harrison stepped out of the line to see what the youngster had to say that was so important.
“Guess what?” she shouted, and then answered her own question. “Daddy is going to come live with me and Mommy again.”
Avery had wondered. She’d seen the two adults talking with their heads leaning toward each other. Earlier, Oliva’s dad sat at the table in the small cafeteria and slumped forward as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Clearly something had taken place that had put matters straight.
“That’s wonderful,” she told Olivia, who was beaming with happiness knowing she would be with her mommy and daddy for Christmas.
“It’s the best news ever,” Olivia said, and with that, she raced back to where she’d been standing and continued clapping.
Avery considered this news one of the many Christmas miracles she’d witnessed that day. A baby’s birth. A chance meeting. Hearts healed. She suspected there were more she knew nothing about.
As she watched Olivia, she felt a slight shift on the deck that caused her to take a single step forward.
The ferry was moving.
To be sure, she went to look out the window. The city lights came into view, bright and welcoming. All afternoon she’d waited patiently to see this very sight. Oddly, she felt a strange sense of disappointment. Their adventure was about to end just when it felt like everything had righted itself.
Harrison came to stand behind her. “It won’t be long now,” he said, his hand resting on the small of her back.
Looking over her shoulder, she commented, “As ridiculous as it sounds, I’m almost sorry to be leaving.”
“I know. I was thinking the same thing.”
“Look,” she said, pointing to the tugboat, which had positioned itself against the side of the ferry. It was decorated with strings of multicolored lights as it nudged the huge vessel toward the dock.
They were soon joined by others and the band broke into “Auld Lang Syne,” which sent a wave of laughter through the deck.
It wasn’t long before they reached the dock. Cheers rose, along with applause that after the extended wait, they had finally reached their destination.
Soon passengers started to gather their belongings. Those who’d driven on returned to the car deck while the walk-ons stood by the door leading to the exit ramp. When boarding the ferry in Bremerton, there had been a rush as people jockeyed for seats. Unusual as it seemed, no one appeared to feel that same sense of urgency now.
Avery supposed it had to do with the camaraderie while stranded. A common purpose that had brought them together. Hearing the first cries of a new life coming into the world had changed them. Had changed Avery.
James came to stand by her and Harrison. “I wanted to thank you,” he said, his expression radiant. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been willing to lend me your phone.”
“It was nothing,” Avery assured him.
“It was everything,” he countered. “I’ll be heading directly to the hospital, but before I leave, I wanted to give you my business card.” He handed her his card. “I’d like to send you a photo of Noelle, if you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” she countered. “I’d be thrilled.”
“She weighed seven pounds, four ounces, and is twenty inches long. Lilly thinks she’s going to be tall like her daddy.”
He started toward the end of the line, which parted like the Red Sea, as if he were Moses holding a staff. Logan had lingered on deck with his wife and daughter. When he saw James, he moved forward and offered him a ride on his motorcycle to the hospital.
As James left with Logan, people slapped his back and congratulated him again.
“Are you ready?” Harrison asked.
“Sure thing,” Avery said. “My brother sent a text. He’s waiting for us at the end of the ramp.”
Harrison reached for her hand, and together they headed toward the exit.
