Page 56 of The Sailor in Polynesia
“What about your sailing friends?” Mom asked me.
“Most of them have moved on already. There are so few boats in that part of the world, and for sure not many stay very long. Most boats still have a long way to go to get to safety for cyclone season.”
Mom clucked. “I worry about you all alone.”
“But now the boat’s in Tahiti. There are lots of boats in Tahiti.”
“True.”
My phone dinged in my backpack and I was sure it was Jonas, checking to see if I got in okay. “Hang on,” I told my parents.
Sure enough, it was Jonas asking if I was home safe. I typed a quick reply and smiled when I saw a picture he sent me:Eikhad moved into the marina too and was right next toWelina.
Now I will be able to keep a close eye on her for you. And I’ll have Wi-Fi more often to talk to you.
I looked up to find my parents both watching me. Mom smiled, all saccharine. “Who’s that?”
I turned the screen off and stuffed the phone into my pocket. “The caretaker who’s looking afterWelina.”
She nodded and took a sip from her wine. “How did you find them?”
“He’s on another cruising boat.”
“But I thought you didn’t have any friends in the area?”
I rolled my eyes. “Mom, okay, fine, I have a friend.”
“What’s his name?”
“Jonas.”
“Is he single?”
“Mom! Seriously, you have four children popping out grandbabies for you, and three of your children are happily married.”
She sniffed. “That’s only a fifty-percent success rate. And it’s not the grandbabies I’m really after; I just want you to be happy.”
I gentled my tone. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Are you going to be happy on the boat? By yourself—”
Dad interrupted. “Of course she’ll be happy. She’s my little sailor girl.” He ruffled my hair again and stood up. “Now, ladies, I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Mia, you better come around a lot while you are here. Gotta make up for not staying with us.” He squeezed me really hard, squishing the breath out of my lungs.
“It’s not my fault Dawn and her brood claimed the guest rooms first.”
Dad waved me off and headed upstairs.
My sister had three kids: the oldest grandchild, who had a room to himself, as a teenager should, and two younger ones, who were downstairs watching the Disney movie.
“Where is Dawn anyway?”
“She and Marvin went to catch up with friends tonight. Take advantage of the free babysitting.”
“That’s fair.”
Mom caught me up on the kids, detailing the activities they all partook in. With my three siblings who still lived in the Seattle area, Mom was pretty involved in her grandma status, driving kids around and dropping by to help around the house. She kneweverything.
“Speak of the devil.”
