Page 53 of Bubbles at the Beach House Hotel

Seeing me, Cindy barked and raced up the slope to greet me.

I patted her and sighed with satisfaction as both Vaughn and Robbie looked up and acknowledged me with welcoming smiles. This is what mattered most to me—my family.

“What are you doing?” I asked, coming closer.

“We’re testing all the lines and sheets, making sure everything is in order after our summer use,” said Vaughn.

“I know the names of all of them,” said Robbie proudly.

“This boat is lucky to have the two of you love her so much. Are we going to take a sail this evening?”

Vaughn looked up at the sky. “We can get a quick sail in before dark. I thought about it earlier, and I’ve already stocked the boat with snacks, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a special bottle of red wine.”

“You’re wonderful,” I said as Vaughn wrapped his arms around me.

“Yay! Dad said I can be captain,” said Robbie.

“He’s ready.” Vaughn ruffled Robbie’s dark locks.

We put a life jacket on Cindy and climbed aboard.

“Toss the docking line aboard, matey,” said Robbie, laughing as he spoke.

“Aye, Captain,” Vaughn responded, waiting on the dock until Cindy and I were settled in the cockpit and Robbie had the engine running.

“Okay, all aboard,” said Robbie.

Vaughn tossed the docking line into the cockpit and stepped aboard just as the boat pulled away from the dock.

Vaughn sat in the cockpit beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Ah, this is it. Relaxing on the water.” Though he remained in his seat, Vaughn kept an eye on Robbie’s movements to make sure all was how it should be. But I knew from the looks he gave me that he had something important to tell me when the moment was right.

Once we motored out of the inlet and into the Gulf waters, Robbie faced the boat into the wind, and he and Vaughn raised the mainsail and then the jib.

I held onto the wheel while they did.

Robbie hurried back to me and took the helm so he could lay off the wind onto a port tack and the sails could fill. Vaughn sheeted in the jib and then checked the mainsail’s trim to eliminate any luffing. Then Robbie cut the engine.

We surged forward and heeled a bit as the wind pushed the sailboat ahead.

I was always thrilled with these first moments of quiet, hearing nothing but the sound of the boat cutting through the water with a soft hissing sound. The seagulls and terns flying in circles above us filled the air with their cries, which were carried in the wind.

I let out a long breath of satisfaction and turned to Vaughn, who gave me a wink to acknowledge how I felt. For him, sailing was the most gratifying way to relax.

I gazed at Robbie behind the wheel, a skinny but muscled boy who would soon become a man. Where had the time gone? I couldn’t help but think of my life with his father, who’d turned out to be someone I didn’t know, someone whose only unselfish act toward me was to give me Liz and then Robbie. My children meant more to me than even the best memory of our marriage.

“I’ve got something to tell you,” Vaughn murmured. “I’m thinking of doing more stints with the soap opera. It seemsThe Sins of the Childrenis going to go back to the time when I, as the mayor, was in love with Lily Dorio. It would be just a few episodes, but they think it’s important for their continuing storyline. What do you think?”

I let out a sigh that came from deep inside me. “You know how I feel about Lily Dorio. But I trust you to do the work required and then to come home. Will they promise to stop any rumors of an affair between the two of you?”

“They said they would. But it could happen with today’s social media being out of control. I’ll tell them no if you want me to.”

“Oh, Vaughn, I can’t let this stop your career. It’s a big part of who you are, and I respect that.”

He smiled at me. “Thank you.”

“Hey, Galley Cook, how about a can of soda?” teased Robbie, and I left bad memories of Lily Dorio behind as I went below to get Robbie’s drink.

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