Page 78 of Sail Away with Me

Caroline rolled her eyes. “Of course, it was Dune.”

Galvin tried not to laugh, but Caroline’s exaggeration was . . . well very exaggerated.

“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Is there something I can get you?” Galvin didn’t want Caroline to think she was making fun of her.

Caroline waved Galvin’s comment away. “I’m just complaining. Everything I need is in that big bag of mine.”

“Is your ultrasound scheduled?” Pearl asked.

“I think they’ll give me the date at my next appointment. It should be soon.”

“Are you going to find out what you’re having?” Galvin asked.

Caroline shrugged. “Dune and I go back and forth on whether we want to know. Obviously, knowing means we can pick a name, decorate, and buy all the things. But also, I think there’s something special about finding out after you’ve given birth. You know the whole, it’s a boy or girl thing.”

Galvin didn’t know, but it made sense.

A horn sounded in the distance and people began clapping. Excitement grew within Galvin. She couldn’t wait to watch Sail race.

“Five minutes,” Pearl said.

“This is nerve racking,” Caroline said. “I have nothing at stake and I’m freaking nervous.”

“I know what you mean.”

Another horn sounded and Pearl reached for Galvin and Caroline’s hands.

And then the boats appeared. People cheered. They hooted, hollered, and screamed as loud as they could.

Including Pearl. Who stood up and shouted at her son, and the racers near him. She fist pumped, leaned, and paced until Sail’s boat came back around. And then swore when he didn’t finish in first.

“It’s okay,” Caroline said when Pearl sat back down. “Dune said the first race can be a throw away.”

“I know. He’s just . . .”

“A perfectionist,” Galvin added. Pearl looked at her. Galvin shrugged. “It’s something I’ve noticed. Especially after working with him the other day. One of my orders came up and it wasn’t plated correctly. He sent it back. I don’t know if I would’ve noticed the issue if he hadn’t pointed it out.”

“He’s his father’s son, through and through,” Pearl said. “But yes, he likes everything to be perfect.”

“Dune said the wind is in Sail’s favor too,” Caroline added.

“That’s good,” Galvin said. “Sail said he loves racing the wind.”

“Yes, yes he does.” Pearl smiled brightly.

In between races, Pearl expected her boys to show up, but with Sail not finishing where they wanted likely kept them, making sure the dinghy was ready for the next race.

When the horn sounds, anxiety filled Galvin. She began biting the inside of her cheek and picking at her cuticles. She hated feeling this way.

At the next horn, the three of them stood. Caroline shocked her when she started shouting and her New York accent emerged. Together, they cheered, clapped, and jumped up and down when Sail crossed the finish line in first place.

Pearl wiped tears from her eyes before hugging Galvin. “He did it.”

“He did,” Galvin agreed.

They waited a few before deciding to pack up. Galvin told Pearl she could show her where the guys were set up, but they didn’t have to.

“Sail.” His name came out of her mouth in a breathless whisper. He rushed to Galvin and scooped her up into his arms. “You did it.”

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