Page 72 of Passing Ships

The next hour passes in a blur of laughter, stories, and toasts. The food is incredible—fresh seafood, crisp salads, and light pastries that melt in your mouth. The champagne flows freely, and before long, we’re all giggling like we’re back in high school. Avie’s eyes are bright, and her smile never falters. I watch her as she talks animatedly with the others, and my heart swells with happiness for her.

This is how I want her to remember today—surrounded by the people she loves, laughing without a care in the world.

Avie stands and taps her fork against her flute. “I just want to thank you guys for today. This is … it’s more than I could have ever imagined. You know how to make a girl feel special.”

She nods at Sabel, who reaches down and retrieves the gift bags.

“And I have something for you girls,” Avie says.

Sabel sets one in front of Lisa, Savannah, Eden, and me.

My eyes dart up to Avie. “What’s this? Today is your day.”

“Open it,” Leia bellows.

The four of us dig in, tossing the pink tissue paper aside.

Tucked inside are pajamas, consisting of a pair of black silk shorts and a short-sleeved button-up shirt with our initials monogrammed on the front pocket, and a black velvet box. We open the boxes together to find a delicate gold chain with a pendant that has a seashell engraved on it.

“Wow, this is stunning, Avie,” Savannah coos.

“Sebastian had cuff links with the same engraving made for the groomsmen. We wanted you guys to have something that reminded you of our island.”

“I don’t think we’ll be forgetting Sandcastle Cove anytime soon,” Lisa says. “Bobby is talking about looking for a small vacation home here.”

“It does make an impression,” Sabel chimes.

“Yep. Landing here sure changed my life,” Avie agrees.

I stand and raise my flute. “To Sandcastle Cove,” I chirp.

They all raise their glasses. “To Sandcastle Cove!”

Lennon

I help Anson, Parker, and Dad fill the coolers with ice. Anson packs one with beer.

We are spending the day out in the waters of the Atlantic to go deep-sea fishing. Something I used to love to do when I was a kid. Sebastian and I would beg to go on every single charter Gramps and Dad took out. We grew up on the decks of these vessels. It’s the reason I chose the Navy at seventeen. The ocean felt like home.

Gramps and Donnie Dale arrive with two large picnic baskets.

“Wade’s bringing leftover wings he and Eden got from Whiskey Joe’s last night too,” I say as I check out the contents of the baskets.

Nana and Mom loaded them with sandwiches, chips, beef jerky, and several containers of cookies.

“Last night’s cold wings and beer? It’s like old times,” Anson says.

“At least we won’t starve out there,” Gramps muses.

Once Wade and Sebastian arrive with a couple of Avie’s cousins’ husbands in tow, we push off from the dock just as the sunlight starts to kiss the horizon, lighting up the Atlantic in shades of gold. The boat rocks gently with the early morning breeze.

I glance over at Dad, who is adjusting his grip on the wheel, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He’s not much of a morning person nowadays, but something about the sea brings him alive. I know he misses this. He used to work alongside Gramps and Donnie Dale, running the charters. But epilepsy took him off captain duty and restricted him to the office, bringing Sebastian back to the island to help run the business. I guess that’s why he’s been talking about this trip for weeks, planning it down to the last detail.

Gramps is sitting in the back of the boat, his white hair poking out from under a weathered baseball cap. He’s already got his fishing rod in hand, ready to cast his line out into the deep—his natural habitat. There’s a peacefulness in the way he sits, the way he looks out over the water. A lifetime of memories stored behind his eyes.

Sebastian leans against the railing, his tall frame relaxed in a way that only he can manage. Even though the wedding is just a little over a week away, he seems as carefree as ever, like nothing can touch him. I wish I could feel that way.

“You ready for this, Lennon?”

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