“Sure.”
They walked to the front door. Before he stepped onto the porch, he looked at her.
“You know, most of our years together were pretty good.”
The statement caught her off guard. Was that how he saw things? Her view was entirely different. Not that she would say that to him—there was no reason to revisit that well-trodden road.
“They were,” she lied, going for the kind response rather than the honest one.
“I think about that sometimes.”
With that he turned and walked away. Robyn closed the front door behind him, then leaned against it. The list of things that had gone wrong in their marriage seemed a lot longer than the list of what had gone right. Four years after the fact, she was clear on where she’d screwed up and where Cord had as well.
They’d married too young. They’d had kids too young. They’d put all their energy into growing the business and raising their family rather than paying attention to their relationship. And when Cord had cheated, six years in, they’d dealt with the betrayal and the pain, but never the why.
Looking back from a safe emotional distance, Robyn thought maybe that had been the first big crack. They should have gotten down to the real issues between them, but the hurt had been so big, she hadn’t been able to think about anything else.
Marriage was hard, and sometimes people failed. Robyn accepted that and knew if there ever was a next time, she was going to get it right.
three
“HAVING FUN, ILIANA?” Harlow Caldwell raised her voice over the roar of the boat’s engine.
The ten-year-old nodded, her wide grin saying more than any words. Both her small hands were on the wheel, with Austin, Harlow’s younger brother, standing right behind her, ready to take control.
“We’re doing great, Captain,” Austin said, giving Harlow a mock salute.
“I’m going to tell Thea we’re heading in,” Harlow said. “And get everyone ready to disembark.”
The charter had been a success. Three families had gone out for a day of sun, fun and fishing. Eight hours later, everyone was happy and tired, which was how Harlow liked her charters to end.
She took the stairs down from the flying bridge to where the three guys were sipping beer on the stern deck, while two of the wives sunned on the foredeck. Only Thea sat inside, skin pale and eyes closed.
There was always one, Harlow thought, who couldn’t handle the motion. She’d never been seasick herself, but had seen enough of the malady.
“Hey, Thea,” she said softly.
The fortysomething’s eyes opened. “Are we heading back?” she asked, her tone both hopeful and desperate.
“We are. In about two minutes, we’re going to get some chop. When we’re in the marina, the boat will stop rocking. Come outside and face the wind. Stare at the horizon, or close your eyes, and keep breathing. Five minutes and then we’re done.”
Thea struggled to her feet. “I haven’t felt this horrible since I was pregnant.”
“I know it’s been bad.” And the motion sickness medicine hadn’t helped. “Just a few more minutes. Once we dock and you’re on steady land, your stomach will settle quickly.”
“I hope so.”
Harlow guided her guest to the rear of the boat and had her sit so she was blasted by the wind. Right on time, they hit the chop, and the boat began to sway. Thea clutched the side, her face going white.
“It’s okay,” Harlow told her. “Austin knows what he’s doing.”
“If you say so.”
Harlow excused herself to tell everyone else they were nearly back at the marina. She got the lines ready, then returned to check on her queasy guest. Just then, they entered the protected waters of the marina, and the rocking stopped. Thea relaxed her death grip on the side of the boat.
“Better?” Harlow asked.
“A little.” Thea offered a tight smile. “I swear, I’m never getting on a boat again in my life.”
Harlow patted her arm, then went up the steep stairs to the flying bridge. Iliana was in her seat, watching Austin worshipfully as he guided the fifty-foot boat through the marina.
When he saw Harlow, he stepped back, giving her the wheel. He winked at Iliana before making his way to the main deck, where he would be responsible for securing the lines.
Harlow watched for other boats and the kayakers who ignored the signs that said they weren’t allowed in this part of the marina. She went past their slip before easing the engines into reverse, then backed into the space. She cut the engines and used the thrusters to snug up against the finger pier. Austin stepped onto the dock and tied off the aft line, then jogged to the bow and secured that line as well.
Harlow checked the upper deck for any items belonging to their guests before going down the stairs ahead of Iliana.
“Both hands,” she told the ten-year-old.
Harlow thanked everyone for the day, accepted a very generous tip and handed out business cards, along with a reminder to review them online. After giving her brother his half of the tip, she tidied up the galley and saloon. Austin, crew rather than captain, got stuck cleaning the head and restocking supplies. Forty minutes later, they were done.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked Austin as they walked to the main office of Caldwell Charter Boats.
“Getting ready to move into my new place.”
Harlow laughed. “You rented a furnished apartment. What do you have to get ready?”
“I want a bigger TV. I’m going to ask Mom if I can take the eighty-inch one from the media room.”
“You are such a guy. Why do you need an eighty-inch television?”
Austin slung his arm around her shoulders. “Needing it isn’t the point. Having it is.”
“You’re weird.”
“Maybe, but also your brother so you gotta love me regardless.” He dropped his arm and waved. “Enid! You’re here. That must mean you’ve finally decided to admit you’re desperately in love with me. Let’s sail to Tahiti, where we’ll live on the beach and I’ll worship you forever.”
Harlow slugged her baby brother in the arm. “Stop it. You’re embarrassing her.”
Austin’s blue eyes were bright with laughter. “She loves the attention. I mean, come on. It’s me.”
Harlow hugged her friend. She and Enid had been BFFs since kindergarten. They’d both recently graduated from college, with Harlow going to work for her dad and Enid preparing to enter medical school. Austin, younger by four years, had tagged along when he could—until high school.