Page 39 of Wanting a Family Man

It turned into a fun exercise where the boys practiced reading and writing English while combing through a wildlife identification book and writing down the animal names.

“A cougar can jump twelvemeters? Does that mean they can get on the boat?” the younger, Stefan, asked with alarm, eyeing the distance to shore.

“I don’t know why one would want to,” Cloe said. “Unless you crumple up that paper. Cats can never resist a ball of paper, can they?” She batted her hands in the air like cat paws.

“Or string,” Stefan said, laughing, but alerting her to an obvious danger. “You have lots of string here.” He pointed toward the bow where the line was coiled.

“I want to see one,” Karl said with a sly look at his little brother as he wrote it on his card.

They stayed on the stools at the island, making cards for the other guests while Cloe began the lunch prep, which was a crunchy quinoa bowl with steamed shrimp and brightly colored precut veggies, topped with a peanut sauce that smelled of tangy lime and spicy ginger.

It was a good thing she asked around first, because there were several guests who gave a hard “No, thank you” to cilantro so she left it on the side.

The boys ate at the island while their parents and the New Yorkers sat in the dining nook, admiring the bingo cards they’d been given. The mother-daughter pair went upstairs with their bowls, chatting with Trystan while they ate. The honeymooners snuggled at the outside table that offered a view off the stern.

Cloe had several offers to help in the galley, but she waved them off, reminding them, “You’re on vacation.”

Also, if they were on schedule, they would be coming into Ocean Falls—which they were. She heard Johnny speaking to the guests on deck and opened the window so she could hear better.

“There’s theStorm Front. This is their last day. Give them a big cheer and a wave.” They did and an answering cheer came in return.

The noise brought the rest of the guests on deck where Johnny was sharing the history of the ghost town they were visiting.

“Seventy years ago, nearly four thousand people lived here in Ocean Falls. It was a thriving company town built around the hydroelectric dam and the pulp and paper mill. There was a hospital, an apartment building, a four-hundred-room hotel.”

Cloe dried the last dish and put it away, then came on deck to see the substantial buildings that still stood, making it seem as though they were arriving at a thriving port.

“An Olympic silver medalist trained at the pool here,” Johnny continued. “He was one of several champion swimmers who got their start here. The mill closed in the eighties and now there are fewer than a hundred people living here.”

The engine slowed to a low rumble as Trystan nudged it toward the wharf. Cloe watched how Johnny moved, stepping off and leaning back on the line to pull the boat in closer before tying off. He secured the bow line she tossed him, then he came to show her how to efficiently loop the stern line so it was secure but easy to release when it was time to cast off.

TheStorm Frontarrived at the wharf as Trystan cut the engine. Cloe caught one of their lines and practiced her new technique before introducing herself to their first mate, Wayne.

The moods on the two boats were distinctly different. The guests on theStorm Ridgewere starting their vacation. They were listening eagerly, wanting to hurry up and see stuff, while theStorm Frontpassengers were sun-kissed and relaxed, fumbling to find a hat or walking shoes, barely paying attention to Trystan when he came on deck to address them.

“If you stop by the marina office, they’ll have a walking tour map for you. Entering any buildings is strictly at your own risk. Take your time. We’ll have a happy hour here at four and get underway at five.”

Cloe wistfully watched the guests file up the wharf, then she turned to reboard theStorm Ridge, realizing Trystan was watching her.

“Do you want to look around?” he asked.

Her heart swerved with self-consciousness. She was being obvious again.

“That’s okay. I have dinner prep and heads to tidy.” And she was lucky to be here at all, she reminded herself.

“We have lots of time. Let me check in with the other crew, then I’ll show you around. You okay to stay behind if we go for a walk, John?”

“For sure.” Johnny nodded as he finished stowing a life preserver.

“Okay.” Cloe’s mood took a lilt of excitement and a different apprehension when she realized she would be alone with Trystan. It was always a struggle to keep her attraction under wraps, but she was curious about this place. “I’ll get my real shoes.”

*

“Were you afraidI’d get lost if I went alone?” Cloe asked with a wryness that struck Trystan as nervous.

Maybe this had been a bad idea. She had changed out of the cheap flip-flops she wore as deck shoes and into her cheap, well-worn sneakers. She seemed to have found a sports bra that snugly constrained her breasts, which was a pity, but she was still incredibly attractive with her smooth, bare limbs and cheeky, short hair that was frizzed with tight curls on top. He noticed the plumpness of her lips way too often, but couldn’t help doing it again.

“It’s an opportunity to ask you how you’re liking the work so far.” And remind himself that she was his employee. He forced his attention forward. “Any mal de mer?”

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