Sail Away by Jen Talty

3

Darcie entered her childhood home from the back patio and made her way into the kitchen, where she poured herself an extra-large glass of expensive red wine and took three hearty gulps. Her family was used to her being fashionably late. It was her role, and she didn’t want to disappoint them.

And she was still shaken up by seeing Reid.

He was sexy as all get-out with his low-hanging jeans, black V-neck shirt tucked in, and a dark belt with a sexy cowboy buckle. His hair with its thick dark wave that curled across the back of his neck and perfect highlights made every girl in the room want to run their fingers through it and ask about his conditioner and any other products he might use.

The kitchen door screeched as she made her way down the Bowie hallway of fame and into the great room. Ten years ago, she’d tried talking her parents into making the kitchen open to the rest of the house, but they liked the old-fashioned separation. And right about now, as she took another sip of liquid courage, so did she.

Pressing her back against the wall, she closed her eyes and took in a long slow breath, focusing on the deep timbre of her father’s voice.

“I love these little cookies, Crystal. Your bakery is the best,” her father said. “I just wish I could drive by once in a while and not stop, but it’s impossible. It’s like my car has your address on autopilot or something.”

“My Crystal. She does make the best decadent treats within a hundred-mile radius. Or more,” Albert Morning, Crystal’s husband, said.

Darcie’s mouth watered at a vision of her and Reid sharing a piece of chocolate cake the weekend she’d brought him home to meet her family. She’d thought he was the one.

The one who understood her and accepted her for who she was, not what he wanted her to be.

But that had all ended when he made it clear that her going for her captain’s license was something he would support, but not something he could get on board with long-term. If they were to make a go of it in a forever kind of way, she needed to find a new career path.

“Save some for Darcie,” her mother chimed in. “I got those little chocolate ones with the vanilla frosting specifically for her. They are her favorites.”

“No way,” her father said. “If she can’t show up on time, then too bad for her. Besides, that job is taking her nowhere and fast. Did you know that Hector offered her a job managing the marina and running the sailing school? And she turned it down. I can’t believe she’d do that. That girl needs some stability in her life. She’s always running off into the sunset, chasing some pipe dream. Only she doesn’t even know what the hell she wants.”

“She called and said her boss threw her a curveball and she’s got a charter in the morning so she’s got to flip the boat,” Jag, her oldest brother, said. “And she’s taking her captain’s license test soon. She loves what she does, and it’s not like my or Troy’s jobs are conventional. I mean, I’ve been shot. Twice.”

“Don’t go getting your mother all riled up about that now,” their father said.

At least Jag tried to stick up for her most of the time, though he did agree that her job was a bit harsh and that, at some point, she should consider a change.

“For as long as I’ve known Darci,” Crystal said, “she’s wanted only one thing, and that’s to be on the water. She’ll figure out what that looks like soon enough. She’s still young.”

“But she’s not getting any younger,” her father said. “Yachting isn’t a stable profession. Too many unknowns. Too much risk.”

“I really don’t understand her industry or how it works. And why the hell is she living on a boat?” Troy said. “I mean, really, who lives on a boat?”

“You’re a sailor. Don’t you live on a dinghy that floats sometimes?” Ziggy asked.

“That’s different. And I don’t think you can call a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier a dinghy. Not to mention, I’m a pilot. I spend more time in the air than I do on the water. Besides, isn’t our baby sister living on like a fifty-foot sailboat? Is that like a tiny house thing?”

“Not sure it matters where she lives since she’s never home,” her father said. “And it’s worse since she and Reid broke up. I really thought he was the one. I don’t know what she’s so afraid of. As soon as she gets close to someone and things are going good, she runs. And now she’s not giving herself any breaks between ships. She goes right from one charter season to the next. We’re just lucky she got a job here for the summer.”

“I wonder what Reid is up to these days,” her mother said. “He was the one, but he had his own demons and those two souls couldn’t get their shit together.”

“I miss that boy,” her father said. “Best thing that ever happened to Darcie, and she just tossed him away. Much like she did college and that opportunity she had at that sales job.”

Her mother laughed. “You thought Reid was too old and wild for her when she started dating him.”

“He had Jag run a background check,” Albert said.

“I changed my mind. He was perfect for her, and if I had his number, I’d call him and tell him,” her father said.

Shit. Her father would reach out to Reid because her dad, God love the man, was a meddler. Worse than her mother.

“We don’t know what went on behind closed doors,” Ziggy said. “And let’s not forget they broke up in part because he demanded she give up something important to her. That’s a pretty uncool thing to expect of someone.”

Darcie pinched the bridge of her nose. While she wasn’t going to go chasing after Reid—that ship had sailed—she was contemplating her career choice in a long-term sense. She was tired of the traveling. Tired of the drama. Tired of dealing with childish deckhands who only wanted to get wasted and laid when they were off duty.

Simply put, she was just plain fucking tired, and she didn’t have it in her to live the life of a yachtie anymore. She could get a job as captain of one of the ferries. She’d be on the water doing what she loved.

It was an option.

She groaned. Okay. Perhaps not. She’d rather teach sailing. But truth be told, she still wanted to captain a superyacht for maybe a year—or two.

But then she was done.

Her family had a point, and perhaps it was time she listened.

About her career.

Not Reid.

It was also time to shut them up. They’d had their gossip fun.

She inhaled sharply and let the breath out slowly as she plastered a smile on her face and entered the family room. “Hello, family. Sorry I’m late. Hope you enjoyed talking about me.”

“It wouldn’t be a family gathering if you didn’t show up last,” her sister, Ziggy, said with a big kiss and hug. “And if you mention the fact that I’m dateless, I will scratch your eyes out,” she whispered.

“Ziggy. What? No date? Again?” Darcie did a little curtsy.

“I’ll get you for that,” Ziggy said, holding up the plate of cookies. “I think these are all for me.”

“Not.” Laughing, Darcie stretched out her arm and snagged a couple of the cookies.

“You know, I brought another box.” Crystal waved her hand toward the kitchen.

“I think we better go get them.” Albert took his wife by the hand and led her through the maze of family and close personal friends.

“Look at you.” Darcie took her sister-in-law, Callie, by the hands. “You actually look pregnant.”

“Better than looking fat,” Callie said.

Darcie kissed Jag. “Are you ready to be a dad?”

“Nope,” he said, looping his arm over his bride. “But I don’t have a choice anymore, now do I?”

“I guess not.” Darcie laughed. “I will enjoy watching you attempt this.” She patted Callie’s belly. “You do know my big brother dropped me on my head when I was a baby.”

“Everyone dropped you,” her mother said. “And your cousin Zane. It was a thing.”

“Right. That’s your excuse for why I turned out this way.”

“Those are your words. Not mine.” Her mother held out her arms and wiggled her fingers.

No matter what, Darcie would always be the baby of the family, and there was nothing she could do about it. She just wished everyone would stop treating her like she was incapable of making grown-up decisions.

“Hey, Mom. Dad. Happy anniversary.” No matter how the family dynamics played out, or the razzing she took, she would always click her heels together and remind herself that when push came to shove, these were her people. Whenever the world caught her off guard, her parents and siblings had her back.

No matter what.

Even when they disagreed with her and her life choices.

There was still no place like home.

“How’s my pumpkin?” Her father kissed her temple and hugged her close. “I hear you have to leave bright and early in the morning.”

“I hate to do this, but I won’t be staying the night. I’ve got to sleep on the charter tonight.” Total lie, and she wasn’t going to sleep on The Weatherby. Nope. She was going to get a bottle of tequila and do a few shots before climbing into her bunk on her own vessel to pass out, and hopefully not dream about Reid.

“Do you have to?” Her mother lowered her chin and fluttered her lashes over those big blue eyes.

“Ma. That only works on Dad.” Troy laughed. “But I’ve got some bad news, too.”

“No.” Her mother raised her hand and cupped Troy’s cheek and gave it a good shake. “You have to leave tonight, too?”

Troy nodded. “Unfortunately. I have to be on a C-150 transport plane leaving for Germany at one in the morning. I’m lucky that I got to come at all. Duty calls. You know the drill.”

“We’re just glad you got to be here, son.” Her father clapped Troy on his shoulder. “We understand and we appreciate what you do for our great nation.”

Darcie resisted rolling her eyes. Both her brothers got a shit ton of respect, and they deserved it. One being a fighter pilot for the Navy, and the other being the chief of police for the Langley Police Department. They were noble professions, and she was honestly insanely proud of her older siblings. They inspired her every day to be a better person.

And her sister, Ziggy? Wow. She was a firecracker who didn’t take no for an answer and always got what she wanted. Darcie had always wanted to be more like her sister, but Ziggy had this big personality and always managed to be in the right place at the right time.

But Ziggy didn’t work in a man’s world, nor was she constantly looked at as if she didn’t cut the mustard.

It wasn’t that Darcie worried she wasn’t good enough. She knew she was good at her job and that she’d make a great captain. She had the skill set, the passion, and she knew more than half the yahoos who went into yachting in the first place. But she struggled because most of her efforts ended up washed out to sea because yachting was still a man’s world, and no one would take her seriously. And even if they did, she still felt like she had to prove herself to the point where it became a ridiculous game.

“We’re so blessed to have such great kids and soon to be our first grandbaby.” Her mother planted her hands right on Callie’s stomach. “I can’t wait to meet this little creature. And more importantly, I so look forward to watching Jag try to change a diaper.”

“You and me both,” Callie said. “I bought a toy baby for him to practice on.”

“Yeah. That’s not happening,” Jag said. “I’ll have you all know I plan on being the best dad ever.”

Darcie laughed. “I’m struggling with that concept.”

“Isn’t everyone?” her father said.

Life in the Bowie household had been filled with laughter, love, and a shit ton of teasing. No. More like harassing. Darcie had learned at a very young age that if she was going to survive in this family, she had to balance dishing it out and finding solace in her favorite hiding places when the energy level was at a category five.

She loved her family and wouldn’t give up the razzing for anything. She just wished she knew what to do with her life when her yachting journey came to an end. Being on the water had been all she ever dreamed about, but she didn’t want to be in the Navy. That wasn’t the right career. The military wouldn’t give her the proximity to the sea she craved. She could have ended up in a landlocked post, doing a job that had nothing to do with the water. She’d considered being a marine biologist for about five minutes in high school, but college wasn’t her cup of tea either.

Sitting still was something she hadn’t ever mastered.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, people.” Jag lifted his wine and took a long sip.

“Aw, don’t worry, babe. I know you’ll be a good daddy.” Callie patted Jag’s chest.

“I’m glad at least one person believes in me,” Jag said.

“Only because you made the decision to marry me.” Callie smiled brightly. “Otherwise, you’d be doomed.”

Darcie’s heart swelled. She could give her family shit all day long about their judgments, but they loved her and only wanted her to be happy. She knew that without a doubt.

All she had to do was figure out what happy looked and felt like. She knew from her older siblings that it sometimes took a while for the roadmap to show the actual directions. Wow. Her thoughts told her that perhaps the wine had gone right to her head. Good call on her part to use Lyft this evening.

“I don’t know, Callie. He couldn’t take care of me when I was a kid to save his sorry ass. He once left me on the ferry. I rode it back and forth five times before anyone found me,” Darcie said.

Jag waved his finger. “I didn’t lose you or leave you. The truth is, you ditched me, and I totally freaked out. You didn’t want to get off that damned boat, and you hid from me. I ended up having to call the cops. We both got in trouble that day.”

Darcie laughed. “That has to go down as one of my fondest memories of childhood.” She plucked a mini egg salad sandwich off one of the trays. She stuffed the entire thing into her mouth and prepared for the onslaught of flavors. Her mother always stuffed a cucumber in the center, and to this day, it surprised her tastebuds. “Jag, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure. I need to freshen up my drink. Anyone else want something from the kitchen?” Jag asked.

“I’ll take a water,” his wife said.

Jag looped his arm over Darcie’s shoulders as they meandered down the long hallway where every accomplishment that any of the Bowie children ever achieved hung proudly.

Including her waving goodbye the day she left for her first yachting adventure.

She sighed. “Why does Dad have to belittle everything I do, and yet he does… this.” She tapped the picture.

“You could have done exactly what he wanted you to, and he’d still give you shit for it. It’s just the way he is.”

“Well, it’s annoying, and I wish he would razz you guys half as much as he does me.”

“You forget—or you were too young to remember—but we’ve all had our fair share of Mom’s and Dad’s judgments,” Jag said. “I’m glad you got me alone. I actually have something I need to tell you, and you might need to sit down for this.”

“Nothing can shock me today.” Darcie found the bottle of red wine and topped off her glass.

Her brother did a double take. “Maybe you already know that Reid’s in town.”

“I just ran into him. But worse, his company is my next charter.”

“That fucking sucks.” Jag stuck his head in the fridge and pulled out his favorite beer. He twisted off the cap and tapped the longneck against her glass. “I still don’t understand why you broke up.” Jag held up his hand. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. I meant it as a rhetorical question. I don’t need you to give me all the reasons why you and Mr. Perfect didn’t work out.”

“Obviously, he wasn’t so spectacular.” When she and Reid called it quits, it had been Jag’s shoulder she cried on the most. He’d understood what it was like to lose the one person who understood you better than you did yourself.

Only Callie came back in his life, and now they were married and having a baby. Jag got lucky and got a second chance at love. “How did you know he was in Seattle?”

“There was some chatter about him and his buddies doing a night bungee jump off Deception Pass. That kind of stuff always ends up as gossip in my office.”

“They couldn’t get approval for the jump. Which honestly, I don’t understand. They are professional extremists. It’s not like they don’t know what they are doing.”

“We had three jumpers this year alone. In general, we’re afraid it will make it more enticing for suicide jumps off Deception Pass, and that’s something we don’t want.”

She hadn’t thought about it in those terms. It made sense. “They could get approval for another night jump on another bridge?”

“Probably. Maybe. I really don’t know. It’s not my area, but I could do some checking for you.”

“That would be awesome. I know I can talk Reid into an alternative jump. Preston, on the other hand… He’s an entirely different story.”

“It’s just a bungee jump. It’s not that thrilling, considering what those two have done in their lifetimes. What else do they have planned on their little vacation?”

“Kayaking the rapids. Outside of that, just the toys we have on the boat. To be honest, Preston is going to be bored as shit, but Reid will be fine. He does know how to relax.”

Jag took another swig of his beer. “How was it to see him again?”

“Weird. Awkward. Normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s hard to explain.” She leaned against the counter and folded her arms around her middle. “He looks good. Too good.”

“Did you expect him to have gained fifty pounds, stop shaving, and quit using deodorant?”

“Considering the last time I saw him, that wouldn’t be such a stretch.”

“You went on with your life too, so you can’t begrudge him for moving on with his.”

She hated it when her brother made sense, and her mind had the audacity to agree with the levelheaded thinking as if she had no right to throw a temper tantrum and act all indignant. “You could break out the baby violin and have a pity party with me. I mean, I ran into him right before I got here and had to listen to everyone talk about my career and ask when I was going to get a real one. Not to mention, they like my ex-boyfriend more than they like me.”

Jag laughed. “Reid did fit right in unlike that James asshole. How is Captain Jim?”

“He’s getting engaged and laid tonight.”

Jag choked on his beer. “Engaged? That’s quick.”

“Well, I didn’t call him quick-draw Jim for nothing.”

“Jesus, Darcie. I never needed to hear that come out of my baby sister’s mouth.”

She waggled her finger. “I could start talking about the first time I had sex.”

“Please don’t. I still can’t look at Tim and not want to punch him in the face.”

Darcie smiled. Life didn’t get much better than hanging with her family. “Will you please help me get permission for Reid and his team to jump from Deception Pass or find me a bridge of similar height and danger level that I can get them to by water?”

“Sure thing,” Jag said. “You should ask Albert, too. He knows more people in higher positions than I do. But Justin might be the best bet.”

“But he’s in New Orleans now.”

“He was well liked in the department and is connected as hell. If anyone can make it happen, he can.”

“You take care of Albert, but don’t do it tonight. I don’t want to bug him at our parents’ party or around family. I especially don’t want Dad to know Reid is in town. I’ll get ahold of Justin.” Darcie used to babysit for Justin’s daughter. She’d seen Justin through some dark days, and Justin always told her that if she needed anything at all, just to give him a call.

Day or night.

She glanced at the digital clock displaying the time in red. Eight thirty. It was even earlier in New Orleans. She’d be reaching out to Justin tonight.

“Actually, wait on pushing Albert until I’ve heard back from Justin.”

“Why?” Jag asked.

“Let’s see what Justin says first. I know Reid won’t want this to be a spectacle, and Preston made it pretty clear that he didn’t want any hype. They just want a team jump. The more people we get involved, the more the masses might find out. Do you really want a ton of people out by Deception Pass, at night, hoping someone dies?”

“You’ve got a good point there, baby sister. Let me know what Justin says and who he talked to so we’re not doing double duty.”

“Thanks.” Now all Darcie had to do was get through the charter without throwing herself at Reid and begging him to sleep with her for old times’ sake.