Love's Stormy Gale (Heartsong Presents) (7 page)

Chapter 9

“I
’m so embarrassed.” Maggie sounded sheepish on the phone.

“Are you okay? How’s the baby?” Olivia wanted to reach through the line and hug her.

“I’m fine, and she’s fine.”

“Do they know what was wrong?”

Her heart started to pound with Maggie’s silence.

“Yeah, they decided it was, um, the ham-and-egg breakfast bagel I had yesterday morning. I had gas.”

“Whew. That’s good. I mean, it’s not good you hurt so bad.” Olivia sighed.

“But Todd and the doctor want me to stop working now, and that includes going to the lab at the institute. And I have to agree with them.”

“I’ll miss you. I start back Monday full time. But I know Todd’s thinking of your health and the baby.” She didn’t mention the miscarriage.

Maggie chuckled. “He’s treated me like a porcelain doll ever since I got home earlier this morning. He wouldn’t even let me empty the dishwasher.”

“That’s sweet. I’m glad you’re doing better. Holler if you need anything. I’m on the afternoon trip out, so I need to head to the docks soon. But in the meantime, call me.”

“You can count on that. Take care of yourself. Say hi to the whales for me.”

Four hours later, miles out in the Atlantic, Olivia stood by Jonathan’s side in the wheelhouse aboard the wave cruiser. She felt like Dr. Doolittle’s pushmi-pullyu, being yanked in two different directions.

“Beautiful today, isn’t it?” Sunlight sparkled off the rippling water.

“Yeah.” Jonathan glanced at their heading. “Did Maggie call you this morning?”

“She did. Todd’s got her under house arrest until the baby comes.” Olivia grinned, then tried to assume a serious expression.

Delighted squeals from the passengers caught Olivia’s attention. The massive flukes from a humpback rose above the water, then gracefully dipped below the surface.

Olivia picked up the microphone to describe the whales she loved. Jonathan wordlessly maneuvered the boat for the passengers. She wasn’t afraid out here on the water with him. But the thought of his heading out even farther on the sea carved a hole in the pit of her stomach.

* * *

Jonathan couldn’t get enough of the sea air, the swell of the waves, the freedom of seeing nothing at the horizon. His family and Olivia were what tugged him to shore. They’d held him there since the loss of the
Lady Jane
. That, and his private fear of the past repeating itself. Of course, carpentry helped pay some of the bills, as well.

Today was the last time for a good long while he’d see the whales on a leisurely trip. Terry had already accepted Jonathan’s notice. The summer season was drawing to an end, and he wouldn’t be needed to pilot anymore. He could hardly wait to set foot on Pete’s boat, soon to belong to him via generous financing from a local bank. Somehow, they deemed him a good risk.

Jonathan’s light thoughts buoyed him up for the remainder of the afternoon. They docked at last back in the harbor. After performing his final checks on the boat, he headed to the office.

Olivia was standing by Terry’s desk when Jonathan entered. Her accusing glare passed from Terry to him.

“Your last day. How come you didn’t tell me?”

“I meant to, but I didn’t want you to get upset.”

“No, I’m not upset. It’s just so...soon.” Olivia’s lips twitched. “You’ve wanted this for a long time, but wow.”

“Sally in the office ordered a cake. It’s in the break room,” said Terry. “Congratulations, Jon.”

Sally, a mother figure to many at the whale watch office, waved a knife. “C’mon, you skinnies, don’t be shy. We’re proud of our Jon, getting his boat. Chocolate for you, Olivia?”

“Definitely.” She gave Jonathan a glance he couldn’t quite read. Yes, she was trying to be brave. He could tell from the way she squared her shoulders. But no one could free Olivia from her fear until she was ready.

“Me, too,” said Jonathan. “Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the send-off.”

“You ever need work, you’ll have some here,” said Terry.

Olivia stabbed her piece of chocolate cake with a plastic fork. “That, and your carpentry work.”

Jonathan nodded. “That’s true.” He watched her scarf down her cake, then collect her purse from her locker. He set down his plate and followed her to the back door, ignoring the curious looks of the others.

“So, I was hoping we could use that gift card and have dinner before I head out on my first trip,” he said as he trailed her to the parking lot.

She stopped at her driver’s side door. “That would be nice, I think. You deserve congratulations. You’re...you’re very brave, Jonathan Barrotta.” She smiled at him, but the grin didn’t reach her eyes.

“Thank you.” He reached for her hand, which she allowed him to hold. “I have to go, Liv. I can’t explain it, but I have to. If I don’t, it’ll be almost like chickening out.”

She nodded. “I know you have to.”

“Dinner, Friday night, then?”

“Okay.”

* * *

The water sprayed over the bow of the
Isabella Rose
. Jonathan, soaked through, stood side-by-side with the crew as they freed the catch and tossed it into the hold. His back and arm muscles screamed from his labors. The skin on his face stung from a salt water rash. And he felt terrific.

All except for his throbbing heart. Had it been just two weeks since he’d watched Olivia drive away? She avoided him at church, and said nothing more to him about the desk she wanted for her father. In fact, she said nothing to him at all.

“It don’t get any better than this, does it?” Pete grinned. He measured an undersized fish and tossed it back into the ocean.

Jonathan shook his head. “Nope.” He untangled a fine-looking herring and let it fall into the bin with the other fish.

They had been out almost two days, and the entire time Jonathan knew the Lord was confirming His will. This boat would belong to him after he signed the papers at the bank. Some men owned homes. Owning the
Isabella Rose
would be like owning a piece of the sea.

After the catch had been pulled in, the men assembled around the galley table for a hot meal. Stumpy had thrown together a hodgepodge stew for their last night out. Jonathan would be grateful to hold the bowl if but to warm his numb hands.

Pete clomped down from the pilothouse and stopped at the table. “Startin’ next month, Jonathan’s gonna be your new boss.”

Stumpy, a grizzled old fellow, eyed Jonathan. “Huh. Heard you had problems last time out. I’m thinking you’re bad luck.”

“Listen.” Jonathan stood. “I started as a deckhand when I was twelve, working summers. I worked my way up, just like the rest of you. And I know we’ve all been doing this long enough to know the sea’s a fickle lady. All of us have had our share of troubles. But I’m willing to be here no matter what happens.”

A few nods and a few suspicious looks. He could mention his faith, but would any of them understand?

Pete must have taken the pause to mean Jonathan was through, so the man continued. “I’m opening my shop in the spring, but in the meantime I’m going to help Jonathan out here in whatever way I can. I expect you to do the same, or you can find work elsewhere.”

Stumpy reached over and clapped Jonathan on the back. “If Pete’s backin’ you, I’m with you, too.”

“Yeah, we’ll give it a shot.” Freddy raised a cup of coffee in toast.

That night, after the men had set out the nets and started to drag them behind the boat, Jonathan collapsed onto his bunk for a few hours’ sleep. He touched a snapshot of Olivia tucked into the corner of his bunk. Maggie had given it to him just before they’d shipped out.

Olivia sat on a blanket at the beach, the breeze teasing her hair about her shoulders, her smile lighting her eyes. Maggie had snapped it at the Fourth of July party. Did Olivia remember that night? Jonathan did. It was the night he’d realized he was in love with her.

It was also the night he first mentioned buying the
Isabella Rose
from Pete. He prayed for a way to help Olivia understand somehow that he was meant to be on the sea. Strangely enough, he didn’t feel the grip of fear over the past, not even when Stumpy had mentioned what had happened with the
Lady Jane
and Robby. The waves buoyed them along this time. Jonathan imagined the earth and its waters carried safely in the palm of his Father’s hand. With that reminder, he found his Bible and read a few scriptures, then closed his eyes and listened to Stumpy snore for the next two hours.

Then Pete bellowed down the hatch for them to come above deck. The whole routine started again, towing the nets in and freeing the catch, then storing the fish in the hold.

“Well, that’s our quota,” Pete said with a sigh.

Jonathan nodded. It was too late in the season to venture farther out, and the two thousand pounds of fish would hopefully bring a good price back in harbor. The
Isabella Rose
wouldn’t venture out as far as the swordfish boats. Her crew instead trawled closer to the coast for herring and other smaller fish in demand by restaurants and markets.

Times had changed since he was a kid working the boats. The Fisheries Department had assigned quotas for each catch. Even if they caught more than they could use, they had to toss back the extra. Plus their fishing days per year were limited. Bad catch meant less pay. Jonathan echoed Pete’s sigh. Next time, there might not be as many fish.

When they reached the mouth of the harbor, Jonathan scanned the coastline for the long white building of the Cetacean Institute. Two research vessels were docked at a pier leading to the entrance of the institute. Was Olivia there? Did she think of him at all?

He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He didn’t want her to worry about him. But then, why did his dream coming true cause an ache in his heart?

* * *

“I’ve got a project for you, Liv.”

Olivia looked up from the microscope and made a notation of the plankton they’d gleaned from the waters of Stellwagen Bank.

“What kind?”

Rusty, a man with a shock of red hair and crinkles around his eyes from the sun, glanced at Olivia’s notes. “It was Maggie’s project, but because she’s taken a leave of absence, she recommended you to run with it.”

“Okay.”

“It’s the Whales in Schools program. It’s a multimedia program you will share at school assemblies.”

“I’ll be glad to.” Next thing she did would be to call Maggie and thank her.

“Thanks for coming through. Get with Maggie for the particulars. Your first assembly is in less than two weeks.”

She studied the printouts and test results before her. In a way, she understood a little of how Jonathan must feel. She’d seen a light in his eyes the night they’d had dinner together and she masked her own trepidation enough to let him enjoy the realization of his dream.

She could envision Jonathan with several days’ growth of beard, his dark eyes shining with joy as the wind tousled his wavy hair. The man was born for the water. She prayed for him every night. Olivia dashed away her sullen thoughts, picked up the phone and called Maggie.

“Come over for supper.” Maggie sounded jubilant. “I’ve got scads of notes cluttered around the computer. Plus, I can show you the nursery.”

“Wonderful! I’m looking forward to it.”

After work she called her dad. “I’m going straight to Maggie’s tonight, so eat without me.”

“That’s fine. I’m starting my computer class at the community college tonight anyway.”

She’d forgotten. “Have fun. Don’t blow up the hard drive if you can help it.” They ended the call laughing. Her dad amazed her, the way he’d picked up computer skills. Every night he checked email and even joined Facebook after she gave him strict warnings about oversharing his personal information and whereabouts online.

If someone wants to find me, Liv, they’re going to find me one way or another,
he’d said.
The other night, an old friend of mine got back in touch with me. It’s fun being on Facebook.

Olivia left the institute, making a beeline for Todd and Maggie’s, enduring the onslaught of Fairport traffic. Her stomach growled. Maybe she should pick up a dessert at the market.

Her heart leaped when she pulled up behind Jonathan’s Jeep parked in Maggie’s driveway. Olivia pounded on the front door, then opened it when no one answered. “Hello?”

“In the kitchen, Liv!” came Maggie’s shout.

The scent of warm tomato sauce and garlic drifted past her. She heard the television in the den blaring sounds from one of the playoff games. If the Red Sox were playing, she knew Jonathan would be glued to his chair. As Olivia tiptoed past the den entrance toward the source of the delightful smells, a quick glance showed Jonathan and Todd entranced by the game.

In one look, Olivia knew she loved Jonathan. The sensation coursed through to her core. Lord help her, she hadn’t wanted to fall for someone again. Not like this. The realization made her gasp and quicken her steps to the kitchen when she wanted to flee home.

“Hey.” Maggie was bending over an oven rack, poking at a pan of lasagna. “Let me check this and I’ll show you my plans for the whale program.”

“Hello to you, too. Smells delicious. I should have asked if I needed to bring something.” Olivia set her purse on the roomy phone table in the corner. She loved Jonathan, but tonight wasn’t the time to think about that.

Maggie closed the oven door. “I’m a lady of leisure now. Utterly domesticated.”

“Bet you went kicking and screaming.”

“Tell me about it.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “I’m doing great, though. Three more months. I have another appointment next week. And Jonathan’s starting to build the crib we saw at the store.”

Olivia followed Maggie to the little alcove in the kitchen that served as a study. She noted how much Maggie’s desk resembled her father’s: papers everywhere.

Maggie snatched up a laminated blue folder with a whale decal. “Here it is.” She unfolded a series of lessons. “I’ve designated the program to be for all grade levels. Just pick the presentation you want, from early elementary through high school.”

Olivia turned the pages. She could already see herself standing before a classroom of excited students, guiding them through a multimedia presentation about marine life, especially whales. Part of her missed teaching youngsters. “You’ve put a lot of work into this.”