Page 70 of Night and Day
Chapter 27
Mia navigated the riverpath, sniffing the sweet scent of jasmine, so thick in the air it could drug a lesser person. She was the lesser person, high on the flowery smell that seemed to penetrate everything around them. Izzy’s wide frame moved ahead of her, carrying a large backpack, a guitar case and a chilly bin.
Her fingers brushed the backpack swinging on her shoulder, feeling for the passport in the side pocket. They’d driven by the police station to pick it up. Reuniting with the old I.D. felt odd, like carrying a piece of herself that she desperately needed and didn’t necessarily want. She no longer needed Izzy’s help. Mikko had sent her a money order, which she’d picked up after the passport. She’d tried to pay Izzy back for everything, but he’d stonewalled her, creating the most awkward encounter of her life. Mia had dropped the subject and decided to hide the money somewhere in his house.
“Can we just forget this for one day?” He’d asked her, driving towards the river.
She expected they were headed for a picnic by the river, although he’d asked her to pack an overnight bag, which she didn’t quite understand. It didn’t matter. She’d happily sleep under the stars if she could be with him.
They passed a dog walker, an older woman who smiled at them, pointing up. “Did you notice the eucalyptus? Beautiful smell.”
Izzy nodded and gave her a faint smile.
“I can smell something sweet,” Mia replied. “I don’t think it’s eucalyptus.”
The woman’s smile widened. “Yes, this is jasmine!” She informed them and described where exactly the eucalyptus trees were located.
“Do you know her?” Mia asked Izzy after the woman had moved on.
“No.”
“Really? But she just talked to you like she knew you.”
Izzy shrugged. “It happens.”
Mia shook her head, smiling to herself. “Not in Helsinki it doesn’t.”
But as they continued down the path, she spotted the docks. An old guy with a deep tan wearing a linen shirt waved at them. He stood by a pickup truck pulling a boat on a trailer. For a moment, Mia thought he might be another overly friendly stranger, but Izzy beelined to the guy, his hand raised in greeting.
“Peter!”
“Izzy. How are you? Deacon told me you have someone special staying with you?” He turned to Mia with a self-assured smile. “You must be the someone special?”
“Mia.” She shook the hand he offered.
“Peter Huntley.”
“Deke’s dad,” Izzy explained, and Mia’s eyebrows shot up as she tried to connect the dots. At a glance, he looked nothing like Deke, but then again, hardly anyone did.
“Lovely to meet you!” The old man exposed a perfect set of pearly whites that looked dentist-made. “I have to get going, but I trust you’ll take good care of our old gal?” Mia’s eyes searched the boat’s shiny, wooden hull and located the name Rosalind in flowing cursive. It must have been a lovingly restored original.
“I will.” Izzy accepted a key on a cork keychain.
“We’re going on a boat?” Mia asked, her heartbeat kicking up a notch. She would have happily sat on the riverbank with Izzy, but this was seriously amazing. Maybe the act of sailing on the river would take her mind off the burning question of tomorrow.
“Yes,” Izzy beamed at her. “I mean, if you want? I’m not going to force you or anything.”
“You’re not forcing me, but you really like surprises, don’t you?”
Tension flickered behind his eyes. “Don’t you like them?”
Mia cocked her head, considering the question. “I thought I didn’t, but lately, I’ve really enjoyed them. What can I say?”
His smile brightened with relief. “I love seeing that look on your face. I’m seriously addicted to it.” His tender hand brushed her cheek and she felt a rush of heat, suddenly aware of the old guy looking at them.
Peter winked, hopped in his car and expertly reversed the trailer so it was facing the ramp. Izzy heaved their bags onboard while Peter fiddled with straps and levers attaching the boat to the trailer. Izzy helped Mia board the boat and joined her, taking the wheel. Peter reversed down the ramp. Once they were afloat, Izzy started the engine and steered away from the ramp. And just like that, they were on their way, navigating downstream.
Izzy found two life jackets under the seat and Mia selected the smaller one for herself. The cockpit was just big enough for two people and had only partial cover, but the boat had a lovely feel to it, the lacquered wooden dashboard and old school steering wheel exuding vintage charm.
