William let out a laugh. “No. Like where I take people on trips. Teach them about the marsh, help them learn how to fish there. Work with tourists and locals.”
“So, a fishing charter business?”
“Right. Janine had me do this silly exercise where she was trying to tap into my subconscious mind…”
Dixie held up her hand. “Lord, I don't understand what that girl is talking about sometimes.”
He laughed. “Me either, but this one actually seemed to make sense. She asked me some questions, I had to answer fast and when she asked me what I wanted to do, suddenly fishing popped out of my mouth. I don't even know where it came from.”
Dixie squinted her eyes at him. “You and I both know where it came from.”
William stood up and paced back-and-forth next to the table. “Daddy?”
“You know it. That was always Johnny's dream. He wanted to take that old fishing boat, and show everybody how to fish those marsh waters. But he got stuck doing his job, and he never got to live that dream.”
“But it's crazy, Mom. I don't even know how much money I could possibly make doing something like that.”
She stood up and walked over to him, putting her hands on his upper arms and looking up at him. He was tall, like his dad. “You'll never know unless you try. And I have faith in you, son. You always land on your feet.”
“I have another question.”
“What's that?”
“Can I have daddy's boat?”
She smiled. It’d been years since she thought about that old rickety boat. She kept it in a storage unit over near Charleston. Johnny had bought it intending to work on it, being that he was so good with his hands. But right after he purchased it, he’d started getting sick. She just couldn't bear to look at it, so she put it away, out of sight and out of mind.
“Of course you can. But, and pardon me for saying so, you're not exactly the mechanical type.”
William nodded. “Don't worry. I'm going to ask Dawson to help me. Maybe even Tucker, since he invents all kinds of intricate toys. Maybe he can help me too.”
She chuckled. “Well, it sounds like a wonderful group project. Let me go get you the key to the storage unit.” As she started walking toward the desk where she kept the key in the drawer, she turned around. “William?”
“Yeah?”
“I want you to know that your daddy is smiling down from heaven right now. He'll be there helping you get that boat set right. Don't you worry.”
Colleen was more nervous than she ever had been in her life. She had been working all day around Dawson's property, trying to get set up for the foster kids’ camp. It started in just a few days, and it seemed like there was still so much left to do.
So far, they had gotten the old barn turned into a bunkhouse for the kids since the inn was full of guests most of the time. Amy, the head of children and family services locally, would be sending social workers to stay overnight and make sure that all of the kids were accounted for.
The final count had been right at fifteen children. She had to admit, she didn't have a whole lot of experience working with kids, although Tucker did. He was just a big kid at heart. His playful nature and willingness to listen was going to be a big help when the kids got there.
She was getting a little nervous, wanting to make sure that it was a wonderful event for the children. They weren't making any money on this, and at times she had questioned why they had offered that. But then she would think about these kids who had no parents, and she knew that she was doing the right thing. While she was certain some of them were in great foster homes, she was also very well aware of how broken the foster care system could be. For the days that the kids would be with them, she was going to do her best to make it a great experience in their lives.
Lucy, Dawson’s resident chef and stand-in grandmother, had created a beautiful menu for the children. Filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and chicken pot pie, the kids would be well fed the whole time they were there. They had planned to have a big breakfast outside each morning before doing all kinds of physical activities throughout the day, including kayaking and playing on the beach. They would run three-legged races, bob for apples and even do a little fishing.
By far, Tucker was most looking forward to teaching them about toys and inventions and all of the things that he found the most interesting. His secret hope was that one of the kids would become a toy inventor, but Colleen told him not to pressure the children.
“What else do y'all need?” Dawson asked, as he walked up behind Colleen. She was sitting at the picnic table on the back deck overlooking the ocean, furiously writing on a pad of paper attached to her clipboard. She had recently gotten the names and ages of the kids, she was trying to make sure that all of the activities would work well for every child.
“Nothing right now. You've been a godsend, Dawson. I really appreciate all of your help. I know you're busy running the inn.”
He smiled. “You're like my daughter, so you know I don't mind.”
Colleen smiled.
“Oh, I hope I didn't speak out of turn. I know you have a father…”
She laughed. “I don't mind at all, Dawson. I kind of think of you like a stepfather. Who knows? Maybe one day you will be.”
He shook his head. “I don't know about that. I don't think your momma is wanting to get married again.”
Colleen waved her hand in the air. “Oh, what does she know? She had a tough couple of years, but she seems to be head over heels in love with you.”
“What about you girls? What would you think if your mom got married again?”
“We would be ecstatic. She deserves a second chance at love, and we wouldn't want anyone else in our family but you.”
Dawson chuckled. “Well, maybe you can tell her that.”
“Y’all aren’t over here talking about me, are you?” Julie asked as she walked over. Colleen hadn't even noticed that she had parked her car just a few feet away.
“No, Mom. We have more things to talk about than you. How conceited,” Colleen said jokingly as she rolled her eyes. Julie sat down beside her.
“Don't be sassy. What are you up to?”
Dawson leaned over the table and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Your daughter has been amazing setting up this camp.”
“Don't forget Tucker,” Colleen said. Even though he had helped a lot, he was back at work on a conference call about a new toy they would be unveiling over the summer. Some mixture between a robot and a ghost. Colleen rarely understood what he was talking about, but she loved working with him anyway.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Julie asked.
“Well, if you can help me organize all of these games by age group. I received the final list of kids, but I want to make sure that none of these games is too hard for the little ones or too easy for the big ones.”
Julie took the clipboard and started looking it over. “I’ll be happy to. Meg has a night class, so I don't have to get Vivi for a couple of hours.”
“Where is Christian?”
“He's got some staff meetings this evening. So, of course, I offered to keep Vivi. I never miss an opportunity to squeeze those little cheeks,” Julie said, laughing.