Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
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.”
He kissed her hard as he spun her around.
“I’m so proud of you.”
“I haven’t won yet.”
“You’ve won here,” she said as she placed her hand over his heart. It may have sounded cheesy, but she meant it. He’d set out to do something and was on the path to success.
Sail held her hand as he went to see him mom. He gave her a one arm hug, seemingly not ready to let Galvin go yet.
“Great job, Sail.”
“Thanks, Mom. I still have more races, so we’ll see.”
“You’re going to do amazing.”
Sail nodded and then looked at Galvin, who rested her hand on his chest. “What did you think of your first regatta?”
“It’s very interesting, but definitely something I’m looking forward to attending again.”
“Tomorrow,” Sail said, smiling. “I gotta do it all over again tomorrow.”
“And he’s going to win,” Jack said, and he razzed Sail. Everyone laughed and cheered.
Crew and Tidal took off with their friends while Dune, Sail, and Jack helped pick up the area, carrying the chairs, cooler and bags back to the diner.
“We’ll be eating in,” Jack told Penny as they made their way to the biggest table in the diner. Thankfully, it was open, but something told Galvin Jack had made sure of it.
Penny brought menus but Jack said they were celebrating and having ice cream. She took everyone’s orders and brought drinks back right away.
Jack raised his glass. “To Sail, watching you out there on the water, doing what you once loved brought a lot of joy to me—”
“Me, too,” Pearl interrupted.
“Hell, me three,” Dune said, and everyone at the table laughed.
“Well, shit,” Sail added as he held his glass up. “Me, four!”
sail
. . .
The morning broke with an eerie stillness. The harbor, cradled between two islands, lay shrouded in a mist that hovered above the water like a breath held too long. Sail Carter stood at the edge of the stone wall, his eyes fixed on the horizon where the first glimmer of sun threatened to burn away the fog. The air was cool and damp, charged with the promise of wind.