Page 25 of The Sailor in Polynesia
“But you might like Fakarava even better,” he argued, and despite his seriousness, I couldn’t help the smile that grew on my face. “And you need food and internet.” He pointedly looked at my pathetically empty produce hammock. “I bet your family would like to hear from you.”
I chewed on my lip. “Well, that is true.”
He tapped his hand against my bare knee, then gripped it, finally giving me a real smile, perhaps feeling that he’d won already. “Come with us,” he said softly. “We will have fun exploring together. And I know you do not need it, but I like keeping you company.”
Ten
I watchedEikraise its anchor and motor off toward the pass. It was a little early for the slack tide, but Jonas was watching the conditions for me and reporting back. I myself had an ulterior motive; I didn’t want the crew ofEikto see me get the anchor up myself.
I had done it a handful of times, but it was ungainly and hard. WithoutEikin view, I could do whatever I needed to do to get the anchor up.
Driving the boat forward, I tried to get her to hover over the anchor. I hustled to the bow and it was a complicated dance of pushing the button to haul the chain up electronically, lying on my belly to get the chain out of the way in the locker, and keeping an eye on our position.
Finally the anchor was up and secure. I quickly went back to the helm and swung the bow out toward the pass. There was no way I could catch up toEik, but Jonas did call on the VHF radio while going through: the path was clear and the current was good. I carefully threaded my way out of the pass of Kauehi.
Overnight, I’d thought about the memories I had accumulated. It was still hard not to think about my first visit with Liam and the fights that had unraveled here, but I also had new memories. Living by myself, independent for the first time since my divorce, had been hard.
But bright spots were there too. Bonfires, paddleboarding, snorkeling: thanks to my new friends, I was reminded of what this life could be like. I’d been hesitant when Jonas asked me, but now I was more confident that I was ready to move on.
Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I looked ahead to Fakarava. The winds were good, light but from a favorable direction. I rolled the jib out, telling myself I’d see how things went before going through the stress of getting the mainsail up.
As the islands of the Tuamotus were so low, I quickly lost sight of Kauehi.
As if sensing my sadness, Jonas called on the radio. “I am glad you decided to move with us. Besides, Kauehi will not be the same without me there.” I heard the grin in his voice.
It was a wonderful day to sail the forty miles from Kauehi to the north pass of Fakarava. I put my fishing line out, hoping to catch something big enough to share with the crew ofEik. Just in case, I set up a GoPro too, positioned to watch the fishing line. With the headsail flying and the autopilot running, I sat under the Bimini and watched the waves pass by. AsWelinaangled in for the pass to Fakarava, the fishing lines went off and I wrestled the fish.
I was thrilled to haul in a ten-pound tuna. I posed with it while looking at the camera. “Sushi tonight!” I told my future viewers.
I made my way through the pass, tacking to head directly toward the small town of Rotoava.
Jonas and Eivind came over and helped me pick up a mooring ball as I arrived in the late afternoon. When we were settled, the guys climbed aboard. “Ahoy, Captain,” Eivind called out while Jonas tied up their boat. He bounded over and gave me the two European air kisses.
“I have something for you to bring to Marcella,” I said to him.
“Oh?”
“In my fridge. Go look.”
Eivind disappeared downstairs. “You only get one!” I called.
Jonas climbed back into the cockpit, his dinghy now secure.
We locked eyes and Jonas gave me a slow little grin. Even though we’d just seen each other yesterday, it felt more monumental now. I had chosen to follow him, to stay in his company.
He leaned down and kissed my cheek—not the air kiss I’d gotten from Eivind, but a real kiss, a light brushing of his lips against my skin, a perfect little lean into each other.
“How did things go over onEik?” I asked.
“Ah, beautiful. No problems.”
“Oh ho, ho! Look at this beauty.” Eivind appeared at the top of the stairs with the bag of fresh tuna. “I better get back before Marcella starts to cook something else for dinner.”
While we moved over to the port side and the men climbed in their dinghy, Jonas invited me to join them in town the next day. “We can shop for food, and use the Wi-Fi at the yacht services office. They can also help sort out tours and dives.”
“All the important stuff.” I grinned. “Sounds good.”
“Pick you up at eight,” Jonas said as he swung down to the dinghy. He pushed off fromWelinaand started the engine. As I untied their lines, Eivind shouted, “Thanks for the tuna!”
