Page 25 of Changing Tides

“I thought I was taking the Andersons out,” I say.

“Bill called and his mother and father decided to join them, so they opted for an inshore charter so Donnie Dale and I will take them out. You and the boys will be giving the other boats a good scrub-down today,” he informs me.

Although not sexy, cleaning is an essential part of the job.

“Aye, aye, captain,” I say as I give him a quick salute before handing him the box.

Anson and Parker meander on-site, and the three of us get to work.

Wednesdays are our slowest days, especially this early in the year. It affords us time to do all the repairs and maintenance needed. Anson is an excellent boat mechanic, and Parker is a jack-of-all-trades.

We make a great team and crew.

The boats are rinsed daily, and the motors are flushed with fresh water after every ocean excursion, but today, we’ll be pulling out the big guns.

Parker drags over the wheeled power washer from the office as I raise the first boat out of the water. The pressure will help clean stubborn floors, gunwales, and console grime after Anson and I scrub them down with soapy water.

Parker sets to start the exterior, motor, and trailer while we work on the interior.

Once everything is clean, we work together to apply the fiberglass wax to seal the surface and prevent it from becoming ingrained with and damaged by surface dirt.

One by one, we knock out the fleet.

Around one, Nana shows up with a picnic basket and a little girl who has curly brown hair and the most angelic face I’ve ever seen.

“Well, who do we have here?” I ask as I take the basket and lift it aboard the boat.

“This is Leia. She is our tenant’s daughter. She’s spending the afternoon with me while her mother is down at the turtle hospital. Leia, this is my grandson, Sebastian. He works on the boats with Sebby,” Nana explains.

“Nice to meet you, Bastian,” a sweet, melodic voice calls.

I grin down at the adorable child. “Nice to meet you,” I say before returning my attention to my grandmother. “You taking on a new career in babysitting, Nana?” I ask.

“I’m not a baby!” the little girl barks, that sweet voice going up a few octaves.

I snap my eyes to hers and quirk an eyebrow. “You’re not?”

She shakes her head, and the curls bounce like tiny springs.

“My apologies, ma’am,” I say before returning my questioning gaze to Nana.

“Ida Mae and I offered to keep Leia here for her mother a few days a week until she’s able to find a suitable day care. She had signed her up for Little Miss Sunshine at the end of the Westside Bridge, but Ida Mae and I have heard a few troubling things about that place.”

Sure they have.

“Thank goodness she had you and Ida Mae to save the day,” I say with a wink.

“Are you a good captain, like Cap’n Crunch, or a bad captain, like Captain Hook?” Leia asks me.

The question throws me off.

“Crunch or Hook? That’s an odd duo,” I say.

“They aren’t a duo. They’re not even friends,” she says.

I laugh out loud.

Her confused eyes narrow on me.

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