Page 3 of Sail Away with Me

Dean Holmes shook his head. “Mr. Carter, you are hereby suspended.” He listed off every infraction Sail had committed. He was double penalized because he was the president of the fraternity and therefore held at a higher standard. “You have twenty-four hours to remove yourself from campus.”

“I’ll file an appeal.” Sail thought this was the right avenue to take.

Holmes scoffed. “You can, but I can make sure your hearing isn’t until December. You’re welcome to come back in January, but you will be on probation as well.”

“Where am I supposed to go?”

Dean Holmes stood and gathered his things. “This isn’t a concern for the university, Mr. Carter. What is, are the many students sprawled all over this house, passed out. Do yourself a favor, get help.”

With those parting words, the dean of students left the house, and the clock started ticking on Sail’s life in Miami.

galvin

. . .

Galvin Winters pulled alongside the curb and put her ancient but extremely reliable four-door Camry into park. She allowed the car to idle while she took in the surroundings. For years, she’d listened to her father, Martin, tell stories about the few spring and summer vacations he spent in Seaport with his college buddy, Jack Carter. Having lived on the west coast her entire life, she never had a chance or reason to visit. Until now.

The sound of horns and motors caught her attention. She looked across the cobblestone road and waited for a group of walkers to pass by. A smile formed as Galvin took in the scenery before her. Boats of all sizes lined the wooden docks—or were they piers—and swayed slightly from the ebb and flow of the water. Out farther, there were yachts anchored in the middle of nothing, swaying briskly when other boats motored by. She’d never been on a boat and figured she would need to rectify this soon if she was going to live by the water.

Glancing at the building she parked next to, she sighed as she looked at Carter’s Diner. People crammed into the booths, stood in line by the door, and swiveled back and forth on their stool at the counter. Galvin had looked the diner up online to get a feelfor where she’d be working. She’d been skeptical when she saw#1 Diner in all of New Englandin bold across their website, but by the look of things, they weren’t wrong.

The key to her future was inside those walls, with the people gathered in there. She needed money for law school to offset the measly loan the school and financial aid department had given her. Ever since she watched shows likePerry MasonandMatlockwith her grandma, Galvin had wanted to be a lawyer, and she would work her fingers to the bone to become one.

When she heard how much money could be made from waiting tables, she scoured the internet for the right location. Places like Vail and Cape Cod seemed like the obvious choices, but those were seasonal. She wanted something year around. No, sheneededsomething year around. A place where she could come back to on the weekends or some nights while in school.

Carter’s was it, according to her father. He also told her they had very little turnover, so the fact they offered her a job was bigger than big.

Galvin pulled her visor down and checked her make-up. She ran her fingers under her eyes to clear away any smudges from her liner and reapplied her red lipstick. One good lip smack and finger comb through her chestnut and naturally blond highlighted hair, and she was as ready as she ever would be.

She reached for the key in the ignition and paused when her eyes caught sight of her red, almond-shaped nails. Red was her signature color, especially when it came to her nails. She couldn’t recall a time when her nails were any other color and really hoped Jack wouldn’t care.

Resigned, she turned her car off, grabbed her bag, and waited for a guy on a bicycle to pass by before opening her door. Normally, she wouldn’t lock her car. It was old and wasn’t worth much. At least to anyone other than her. However, the back was full of her belongings, and she didn’t want anyone driving offwith her things. She slipped her key into the lock and turned. Galvin shouldered her bag, took a deep inhale, closed her eyes, and gave herself a quick pep talk. Less than a minute later, she opened her eyes and squared her shoulders.

“You’ve got this,” she said aloud and walked toward the diner.

At the door, she sidestepped the people waiting for a seat. A few grumbled as she walked by, which she expected. She would be miffed if someone cut in front of her. At the wooden host stand, Galvin waited behind a couple, who added their name to the extensive wait list. When it was her turn, she stepped forward.

“If you want to sit at the counter, it’s a twenty-minute wait. If you want a table, it’ll be an hour,” the young woman said as she held her tablet up, ready to take Galvin’s name.

“Actually, I’m here to meet Jack Carter.”

The hostess set the tablet down. “One moment and I’ll get him for you.”

Now, if the diner wasn’t busy, Galvin would’ve sat down, but as it was, there was very little room to move because of the number of people. She had waited tables before, but she couldn’t recall a time when she’d seen this many people in one place, waiting for food.

While she waited, she took in the retro vibe. Sparkly red vinyl covered the booths and stools, which she appreciated. She quickly looked at her nails and chuckled. Maybe she would change her signature red to a sparkly version to match the décor. In the corner, a jukebox played fifties music. The wait staff all had a little pep in their step, and everyone looked as if they were enjoying themselves. What really caught her attention was the antique cash register, which was fully functioning. This alone made her want to work there.

“Galvin?” A tall, fit man, with a head full of dark hair came toward her with his hand extended. She shook his hand. “I’m Jack Carter,” he told her. “Follow me. We’ll go to my office and chat where it’s quiet.”

Galvin followed Jack through the crowd of people, around the counter, through the kitchen and down a hallway. The farther they got, the quieter it became. Jack stepped into his office, placed his hand on the door, and waited for her to enter.

“Are you okay if I shut the door?” he asked. The question made her pause. No one had ever asked her something like this before. She quickly nodded.

“My dad speaks very highly of you.”

Jack chuckled. “Oh, Martin. I do miss him and his antics.”

“Oh, boy.” Galvin sat down, setting her purse on the floor. Instead of walking around and sitting behind his desk, Jack pulled his chair around and sat casually.

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