Page 69 of Spindrift

“Itlooked like a good wind.”

“Itwas.” Emilia’s hair flew into her face as she turned to grin at Morgan. “Iforgot.”

“Forgotwhat?” She had to raise her voice over the roar of the engine as she picked upspeed. The fastest way to get to Pemaquid Harbor was cutting underneath theSouth Bristol bridge, but she wanted to go the long way around.

“Howfucking amazing this is.” Emilia’s gesture included the ocean, horizon, andsky.

“Isn’tit?” She wanted to put her arm around Emilia so badly it made her jaw ache.Shecould be about to tell you she just wants to be friends, her mind warned.Youneed to be prepared for that. Emilia shivered as wind straight off theocean sliced up the river.

“Yousure you don’t want a jacket?” Morgan asked.

“Itfeels good,” Emilia shouted back, but she took a step closer to Morgan.

Shecould slow the boat and insist on grabbing a coat. That, however, might temptEmilia to move away, and so she drove on, past summer cottages and darkeningpines. It was nearly high tide, and the golden water lapped at the rockyshoreline, hiding the ledges and snags beneath the surface.

Emilianever came so close that she invited Morgan’s arm, but her hair whipped theback of Morgan’s neck and her hip rested against Morgan’s in a way she didn’tthink someone about to ask for distance would permit. Morgan pointed out herfavorite parts of the landscape, but mostly they sailed in companionablesilence, as talking over the thrum of the engine was difficult. Porpoisessurfaced ahead and chased each other into the pooling gold of the sun’sreflection. Emilia leaned away to get a closer look, but she returned toMorgan’s side, and the warmth of her thigh brought more color into the worldthan Morgan remembered ever noticing.

Sally’srestaurant came into view too soon. Perched on a wharf hanging out over thewater, the light from its windows always made Morgan think of the sort ofkitschy seaside paintings she never bought but secretly enjoyed when she passedthem in any one of the art galleries that had sprung up along the coast inrecent years. Flowerboxes lined the restaurant’s railings, and the Cleat andEat sign attracted people from the summer cottages later on in the season. Now,though, only a few boats occupied the dock, and Morgan slid her boat into anempty berth.

“Thisis Sally’s?”

“Bestclam chowder in Maine. Everything’s good here, and fresh.”

Shewatched Emilia take in the cozy restaurant and the quiet cove beyond, wishingshe didn’t care quite so much whether or not Emilia liked the place.

“Howdid I not know about this?”

“It’sharder to get to by sailboat, and a real pain to get to by car.”

“Ilove it.” She turned to Morgan with the most open expression Morgan had seen onher face. “Thank you.”

“Noproblem. You can’t live here and not get the Sally’s experience, even if you’rejust here for a little while.” While she kept her words light, her heart feltheavy as an anchor.

Emiliawalked at her side up the ramp. Her hand brushed Morgan’s several times, andeach time she managed not to twine her fingers through Emilia’s, but it was aclose thing.

“Doyou want to eat outside or inside? It’s getting a little chilly,” said Morgan.

Emilialooked like the decision pained her.

“Therestaurant isn’t going anywhere. I can always bring you back later in thesummer.”

Ifthere was a later.

“Inside,then,” said Emilia, although she hesitated one more time as she looked at thewooden tables by the water.

Theair inside Sally’s hit them with a wall of warm steam from the kitchen. Morganexplained that they placed their order first, then chose a table, and broughtEmilia to the counter. The menu listed the seasonal offerings. Lobster, oysters,clams, scallops, catch of the day, crab, chowder, and the usual assortment of friedAmerican cuisine. If Emilia stuck around, perhaps she’d take her to thehigh-end Italian restaurant that served squid ink pasta and overpriced wines,just for the pleasure of staring at her across a candlelit table, but Sally’shad its own charm.

Emiliaordered a bowl of chowder after some deliberation. Morgan, grinning at theolder woman behind the counter, ordered the same, along with a side of steamedclams and two beers.

“Gladto see you, Dr. Donovan,” said the woman as she took Morgan’s card.

“Youdon’t—” Emilia began.

“Yougot drinks last time. How’s your flock doing, Sue?”

“Oh,the usual. Lambs all good this year. I’ll have you out soon to take a look atthem, along with Bruce.”

Brucewas Sue’s livestock guardian dog, although the dog was so old that the onlyreal deterrent from predators he provided was his bark.

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