My Very Own Pirate

I had seen Jerry at the fancy restaurant with the woman. I could tell that the woman had not been any relation of Jerry’s. No one acted like that toward a relation unless they had serious issues.

I had told him that fact three times before I started yelling it in his ear.

What was it with my choice in men? It was like I had this self-destructive part of me that didn’t want me to be happy in a relationship.

The phone hadn’t stopped ringing. It kept saying, I know you’re home, pick up. I would have picked it up, but I knew the only person who would be calling me was Jerry.

No, it had to be Jerry and his inability to realize that the relationship was over. At least I hadn’t given him more than a dozen dates, I thought.

The phone stopped ringing. I sighed in relief and hoped for a peaceful evening. The phone started to ring again. I groaned as I pressed my face into a cushion to muffle the scream.

“Answer the damn phone already,” the voice yelling through the door was that of the older woman who lived in the apartment below my apartment.

The manager also believed the woman and I was about two warnings away from being kicked out. I froze as if it would make the world go away.

The pounding on the door stopped and I could hear the woman leaving, probably to go tell the manager.

The ringing seemed to go on forever as I sat there as still as possible and tried not to breathe too loudly. I didn’t want to make any noise that would indicate I was home.

The ringing stopped just as I could hear some shuffling outside my door. The woman from downstairs was back and the building manager was with her.

“It was making a racket just a moment ago,” the woman replied, “Aren’t you going to do anything about it.”

“She obviously isn’t home to pick it up,” the manager said, “I’m sure she would’a picked it up if she was home.”

“She was making a racket not that long ago,” the woman said, “She’s in there.”

“It was her,” the woman said, “And that phone is making it hard for me to rest.”

“I can’t do anything about her phone,” the manager said, “If she ain’t home she can’t do anything about her phone.

“I want her out,” the woman’s voice got louder.

“She ain’t done nothing,” the manager said.

“Her phone is not letting me rest,” the woman shouted.

“You can’t do that,” the woman screamed.

“You can’t talk to me like that,” the woman screamed.

She started screaming at him, but the sound moved off.

The sound was just about gone and I was starting to relax when the phone started to ring again. I jumped at the first ring and quickly got to my feet.

I breathed a sigh of relief then the thought of whether I locked the door came to me.

I locked everything before going back to the living room and sinking down on the couch.

It was starting to get dark and I hadn’t turned any lights on or even finished closing the curtains.

I laid my head down on the cushion and hoped the world would just leave me alone for the night. My stomach growled, but there wasn’t anything in my kitchen that didn’t require cooking.

And then there was the possibility that Jerry might show up. He would keep knocking and begging through the door if he thought I was home.

The woman downstairs might successfully get me evicted, though I couldn’t think of any reason the woman has a problem with her. I had never done anything to the woman.

I heard a sound outside the window. I held my breath as I listened. Then I heard it again and again. It was rain hitting the window. I exhaled and started to breathe normally again.

My father had been a ship captain, whether it was his own boat or other people's. He didn't care as long as he could feel the water under his feet.

I had spent the first six years of my life on a boat. I had loved it, even the loneliness was easier to deal with when I was on the ocean.

The boat was never found, but a few pieces belonging to it were.

I had learned to accept this fate, but sometimes during stormy nights, I longed for the ocean.

“Erica,” Jerry’s voice came through the door as he knocked again, “Erica, please open the door. We need to talk. I know you are there, please just open the door so we can talk.”

I put the cushion on top of the other ear and pressed down so I couldn’t hear Jerry anymore. His words oozed their usual honey, but I could now hear the lies and the manipulation.

At least that told me why I had agreed to go out with him to start with. With many of the other guys I dated, the answer wasn’t so easy to figure out.

A flash of light filled the room. I removed the cushion so I could see more clearly. A boom of thunder rolled overhead. The rain was coming down harder than it had been before.

Another flash of lightning filled the room.

The picture looked the same as it always did, but the lightning had lit it up and I thought I had seen something that could not be there.

I got up off the couch and softly padded over to the picture. I gently touched each of my parent’s faces.

“I wish I had my own gentleman pirate,” I whispered.

The thunder and lightning ended and the air was silent and still. There wasn’t anyone knocking at the door and there was no blaring televisions. Just the sounds of rain hitting the window.

I sat down on the couch and closed my eyes. Thunder went overhead. Then there was a flash of lightning I could see with my eyes closed. The rain continued as hard as ever.

The sunlight was bright to my eyes, but I somehow felt better than I had the night before. Perhaps the storm had refreshed me, as it always did.

I went into the kitchen and opened the curtains in there as well. It filled the kitchen with a brightness that bounced off the cream-colored walls to get into all the dark corners.

I left the curtain closed as I stripped off my wrinkled clothes from yesterday.

When I was finished I toweled off and found some casual clothes. It was Saturday and I wasn’t needed at work today.

I looked at the stove clock for a minute before deciding I would do something different today and go out for breakfast. I almost never went out alone and found it uncomfortable those times when I did.

I went into the living room and picked up my purse off the table near the door. I checked through it to make sure I had everything before slipping on a pair of sandals. I unlocked the door and looked out.

I took the stairs and went out the front door without meeting anyone.

I looked around once I was outside the apartment building. Jerry wasn’t waiting for me and I didn’t see his car parked anywhere near the building.

The restaurant was crowded when I arrived. There were even a few people waiting outside on the sidewalk. Most of them were groups of four or more. They let me past and into the restaurant.

“How many in your group?” the hostess asked.

“Just one,” I answered.

“Okay,” the hostess said. The hostess pointed to something under the counter for the server who stood beside her.

We went along an area between two rows of tables to a raised area that was open and had several placed around in a circle.

He had his back to me as I followed the server into the area. The server picked a table at the end of the area. I sat down in the chair that faced the rest of the area and had my back to the wall.

“What can I get for you to drink today?” the server asked.

“Coffee, please,” I answered.

“Okay,” the server said, “I will be back in just a minute.” She left me alone, but she checked on some of the other customers on her way out of the area.

There were also the options like breakfast wraps, fruit salads, and even yogurt and granola. I looked them over and studied the pictures of each meal option. I finally decided on the bacon and eggs.

I closed her menu as the server came back with a pot of coffee in one hand and a plate of creamers in the other. She set the plate of the creamers in the center of the table.

She turned over the cup that was on the table and poured the coffee into it.

“Have you decided what you want?” the server asked.

“White or whole-wheat toast?” the server asked as she set down the coffee pot and pulled out her pad.

“White,” I asked.

“How would you like the eggs cooked?” the server asked.

“Sunny side up,” I answered.

“Anything else?” the server asked.

“Orange juice,” I answered.

“No, that is everything, thank you,” I said. The server noted it all on the pad before putting the pad away.

“Okay,” the server smiled as she picked up the coffee pot. I watched her as the server walked away. The server stopped at the man’s table to offer him a refill.

He accepted it. The server refilled his cup before moving along.

His nose matched his face in size and shape. His lips were on the thin side, but it may have been the mustache. The mustache and beard were only around his lips and were carefully groomed.

The man was wearing a black rain jacket over a white shirt. I could see the work boots and blue jeans under the table.

The hands that sat on the table looked rough and calloused even from a distance.

The man projected an energy of confidence even while relaxing over breakfast. That energy drew my eyes back to the man time and time again even though I was trying not to stare.

A man who looked that good couldn’t be available. He probably had a girlfriend and several women who irritated him by hanging around hoping he would look in their direction.

At this moment it didn’t look like I was ever going to find that guy.

I wanted to find some way to escape Jerry, but my back was to the wall and any way out would involve going past Jerry.

Jerry sat down in the chair across from me. I felt his knees brush mine and I pulled my legs back as far as I could from him.

“I went out,” I replied curtly.

“You should have told me while we were on the phone,” Jerry said, “We could have gone out together.”

“Because we are not together,” I said, “I told you that I had no interest in seeing you ever again.”

“I don’t want to sort it out,” I raised the volume of my voice without thinking about where I was, “I want you to go away and leave me alone.”

“This isn’t like you at all,” Jerry said.

“Now, Erica, I’m sure,” Jerry started.

“I believe the lass asked you to leave her alone,” the voice was deep with a thick accent to the words. I looked up to see the man standing behind Jerry’s chair. Jerry stood up and turned to the man.

I couldn’t tell when the man was sitting, but now I could see he was over six feet and a little wider than Jerry.

Jerry looked almost like a child compared to the man, but Jerry didn’t appear to have noticed this fact.

The man didn’t move and Jerry found himself just closer to the man than he was comfortable. Jerry didn’t back down. He probably thought it would show weakness and wouldn’t get the man to go away.

“You can suggest whatever you want, I don't have to listen to you,” Jerry shouted in the man’s face.

But everyone in the section was looking at the guys as well as several people who had stood up and were looking over from the other section. Several servers were also standing there.

The man appeared to be aware of the crowd and not worrying about them.

“All I say is that you are bothering the lass and should leave,” the man said. He was calm in the face of Jerry’s anger. I realized his accent was Irish.

“You’re disturbing everyone else,” the man said, “And the lass obviously has no interest in your attentions.”

Jerry lifted his arm, pulled his fist back, and let the punch fly. The man caught Jerry’s wrist before the fist connected. The man twisted the arm around so he had it pinned to Jerry’s back and Jerry was facing me.

They went down them with everyone’s eyes following them. No-one turned to look at me.

The fear and uncertainty of yesterday evening were coming back to me as if the storm never happened. My thought of going out to breakfast had been a bad idea.

I took a sip of coffee and just about spilled some on myself. I set the cup down and tried to force myself to relax.

He didn’t appear to notice I was staring at him trying to get up the nerve to go over and talk to him. I felt like I was frozen in my seat. I should go over there and thank him, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

I pushed my chair back and slowly got to my feet. I walked the short distance to the man’s table. I hoped my shaking knees weren’t obvious.

“I wanted to thank you for your help in dealing with Jerry,” I said.

“Someone needed to deal with the cur,” the man said, “A lady like yourself shouldn’t be stuck with such a problem.”

“Then he most definitely needed the lesson,” the man said.

“Thank you for your help in getting him to leave me alone,” I said. I smiled at the man before starting to turn around to go back to my own table.

“Certainly, I’ll join you,” I said, “Just let me get my coffee cup.”

“I’m Erica Gardner,” I said.

“Casey Boyd,” the man answered.

“What are you in town for?” I asked.

“I’m here to see a man about a boat,” Casey answered.

I had thought about getting both, but never truly had the money to afford either.

“It is the weekend and I have time,” I said, “Maybe I can help.”

“Help would be greatly appreciated,” Casey said.

“Where were you supposed to meet him?” I asked.

“Likely he moved,” I said, “When did you last speak to him?”

“A year and a bit,” Casey answered.

“Then any changes to his address should be in the phone book,” I said.

“Can I get you anything else?” the server asked.

“No, thank you,” I answered.

“And you?” the server looked at Casey, “A refill maybe?”

“I’m fine,” Casey answered.

“Very well,” the server said. She moved off.

“That sounds easy to search for him,” Casey said.

Casey nodded, but I felt like he hadn’t understood what I had just said. I started to eat my breakfast.

“What is your job?” Casey asked.

“I work as a clerk at an insurance company,” I answered.

“Paperwork,” Casey said.

“Yes,” I said.

“Not really, but it pays well enough for me,” I answered.

“You must have a hobby that interests you,” Casey said.

“I spend a lot of time reading,” I replied.

“On what subject?” Casey asked.

“Sailing,” I answered, “And other things that have to do with the ocean.”

“Dreaming of sailin’?” Casey asked.

“Isn’t far, why not go visit?” Casey asked.

“I don’t know,” I answered, “I’ve thought about it, but just haven’t gotten there.”

“Someday I’ll get back there,” I said.

“You can come visit my ship,” Casey said.

“Thank you for the offer,” I said, “I’ll think about it.”

“Where do ye find a phone book?” Casey asked.

“I will go check,” Casey said. He stood up and went toward the stairs. I ate as I watched him go.

I had introduced myself without embarrassing myself and he had willingly invited me to sit with him. And I was going to help him find the person he was looking for.

I would still have to watch out for him apparently, but he wouldn’t bother me this time. This might actually turn into a good day after all.

I moved my plate over enough that I had room for both the plate as well as the book.

“What is the man’s name?” I asked.

“Black Henry,” Casey answered.

“Are those his first and last names?” I asked looking up at Casey.

“Henry McGlint,” Casey answered.

“What was the address Henry McGlint was living before?” I asked.

“Bering Crescent,” Casey answered.

I looked at the entries, none of them were on Bering Crescent.

“You know where these places are?” Casey asked.

“I think I know where two of them are,” I said, “But I would have to find a map to figure out where the third one is. I have a map back at my apartment that we can use.”

“This sounds like a good start,” Casey said.

The server came past. She delivered plates to one of the other tables in the section before stopping at the table with Casey and me.

“Anything else that I can get either of you?” the server asked as she picked up my plate.

“The bill,” Casey answered.

“For me as well,” I said.

The server came back a minute later. She gave Casey his bill and me mine.

“You can pay at the front counter,” the server said before leaving us. Casey picked up his bill and looked it over. I dug into my purse and pulled out a tip for the server then I picked up my bill.

I waited behind him. When Casey was done paying he stepped out of the way, but didn’t leave. I stepped forward and paid my bill.

“Come back again,” the hostess said.

“Thank you,” I replied as I took the receipt and put it into my purse. I turned from the front counter and Casey moved to leave. I followed him outside.

“Which way to your apartment?” Casey asked. He had stopped and turned to me.

“This way,” I said before leading the way back down the street to my apartment building. Casey kept up with me.

“I lived in a house nowhere near water for thirteen years between living on the boat and where I am now,” I answered, “So, I got used to smaller spaces.

When I moved out from the house the only thing I could afford was an apartment and that is all I’ve been able to pay for since.”

“But when money is tight it can be the only option,” I said. Casey shook his head but didn’t say anything else.

Standing outside my door with the woman from the apartment below and she didn’t look happy.

“Your phone rang all night,” the woman accused me and stared me down.

“I’m sorry about that,” I said, “I was not home to get it.”

“It must have been someone else you heard,” I said, “I wasn’t home last night. I was home briefly in the evening, but went out.”

“You were home and your phone disturbed my sleep,” the woman said, “If it happens again I will get you evicted.”

“Hello,” the woman said, “I don’t believe we have met.” The woman smiled up at Casey and touched her hair to make sure it was in place. The look she was giving Casey made my stomach churn.

“I am Casey,” Casey said, “It is nice to meet you, mégère.”

“You’ll have to excuse us, mégère, we have business to attend to,” Casey said.

“Of course,” the woman said, “If you need any help I’m in 319.” The woman gave Casey a suggestive smile before moving past him.

I unlocked the door and opened the door to my apartment. Casey followed me inside the apartment.

“That’s the happiest I have ever seen her,” I said as I went through the stack of papers on the bookcase.

“I don’t believe we need her help,” Casey said, “Do you have the map? I wish to remove myself from this place as soon as possible.”

I heard him move through the kitchen to the bedroom. A moment later he stepped through the doorway from the kitchen to the entryway.

“Small,” Casey said, “But not much furniture.”

“Provides a little more space, but still too cramped,” Casey said.

“Here is the map,” I said, “We can go now.”

“Right,” Casey said. He headed for the door and I followed him. We left the apartment. I locked up behind us. We went down the stairs and left the apartment building.

“Which way?” Casey asked.

“Okay,” Casey said. He took my hand before stepping into the street. I wasn’t sure that this was a good idea, but I was being pulled along by Casey, who was strong enough I could not get free.

Casey dodged the traffic as he pulled me with him. We didn’t go straight across, but exactly the direction I had pointed.

We went down that street. As we passed other streets off this one, Casey would glance at me to make sure we weren’t supposed to turn off. I shook my head and we would continue.

We continued this. Casey set the pace fast and I would indicate which way we should when he glanced at me.

“This is better,” Casey commented as he looked around, “You can at least see there is a sky here. How much farther?”

“Two streets over,” I answered as I stopped to catch my breath, “A street called Spruce.”

I would have had no problem keeping up with Casey if I had kept going, but my schedule had gotten busier and I decided I didn’t have time.

When we reached Spruce Street, Casey slowed down to a more reasonable pace for me.

“Which house is it?” Casey asked.

We found the house halfway down the street. It was painted a dark blue with white trim. The placement of windows indicated there were two stories and a basement.

Casey headed up the driveway and I followed after a small hesitation. There were no signs of life as we went along the path to the door of the house. Casey knocked on the door.

“Yes?” the woman asked.

“We are looking for a Henry McGlint,” Casey said, “Is this his address?”

“We have the wrong address then,” Casey said, “Sorry to disturb you.”

“Sorry, I can’t help you,” the woman said before closing the door.

Casey and I went down the path to the driveway and down the driveway to the road.

“The far side of this neighbourhood,” I answered as I took out the map. I flipped through until I found the right page. I studied the map until I found both streets.

“Which way?” Casey asked.

When they reached the end of the street, Casey looked to me for which way we should go. I pointed him in the right direction and we continued.

We continued this way until we reached the street we wanted.

“This is the correct street,” I said with a little bit of gasping.

“Which house is it?” Casey asked as he slowed down.

We were just about to the end of the street when I saw the correct house.

“There it is,” I said pointing to the house.

The house was painted white with red trim. There was a garage back in the yard and was included in the fence. The driveway was gravel and the front path went straight from the curb.

One was a living room window based on its size and the other was a kitchen window based on the curtains that could be seen. Under each window was a box of pink and white flowers.

Casey was just about to ring the doorbell again when the door opened. The woman who opened it was probably in her sixties. Her hair was not yet completely white, but it was headed in that direction.

“Can I help you with something?” the woman asked. Her voice sounded younger than she looked.

“We are looking for a Henry McGlint,” Casey answered, “We were wondering if he lived here.”

“Thank you for your time,” Casey said, “We are sorry we disturbed you.”

“It’s all right,” Laura said, “I hope you find the man you are looking for.”

“That is two of the three,” Casey said, “Where is the third one?”

“I need to look,” I said as I took out the map. I flipped through until I found the correct page, where I studied it looking for the street. Finally, I found it.

“Where is it?” Casey asked.

“Very well,” Casey said. I put the map away before Casey started back the way we had come. I hurried to keep up with him.

“I’m sorry about going so fast,” Casey said, “But I’m in a mighty hurry to get this done.”

“If I start to push too fast, tell me and I’ll slow down for you,” Casey said.

“I’ll be okay,” I said.

“What do we do if this last house isn’t the one?” Casey asked.

“I’ve been too long at sea,” Casey said, “What’s the internet?”

“It connects pretty much all computers together and you can look up information on it that others have put up,” I answered, “All of it exists in cyberspace.”

“That is confusing,” Casey said, “What is cyberspace?”

All the information is stored on computer servers at various points all over the world. It is hard to describe it.”

“Perhaps I will understand better when you show me,” Casey said.

“Perhaps,” I said.

The door of the bus opened as I stood up. Two people got off before Casey and I got on. I put the fare into the box before moving to the closest seats on the bus.

The bus was about half full of people with older people towards the front and young towards the back. Casey and I were the only ones in their age range. There were about three conversations going.

Casey watched all the people on the bus with interest and didn’t speak to me. I watched out the window so I could tell when our stop was coming.

The bus stopped in front of a park with a metal fence near the curb and a playground just beyond that. I stood up once the bus stopped and Casey did the same.

I waited until the bus had closed the door and moved on before looking around for the street I was looking for. Casey waited for me somewhat impatiently.

“There,” I pointed at the one across the street and to the right of where we were. Casey took my hand before starting across.

We reached the other side of the street safely and walked along the sidewalk to the street we wanted.

Halfway between that intersection and the next one, I stopped. Casey stopped as well and looked at the house.

“Is this the next place?” Casey asked.

“Yes,” I answered.

The driveway was to one side of it all and led to a garage that wasn’t attached to the house or even the fence.

The ladder was set up still and there was a can of paint sitting on the front step. The trim was taped to avoid being painted by accident.

“This is not Henry’s house,” Casey said, “He doesn’t have children and he has no family with children.”

Casey and I backed away from the fence a few feet. A man appeared in the doorway of the house and came outside.

“Rock, sit,” the man called. The German Shepherd sat down and was silent.

Both had other stains on them as well as a few holes.

“It is okay,” Casey said.

“Is there something I can help you with?” the man asked.

“We are looking for a Henry McGlint,” Casey said.

“We thought we would try,” Casey said, “We will have to try some other way to find him. We are sorry we disturbed you.”

We reached the street with the bus stop, but I didn’t cross the street to go back to it.

“Should we not cross?” Casey asked.

“Okay,” Casey said. He didn’t say anything for a while as we walked. We crossed several streets before he spoke again.

“I didn’t have any other plans,” I said, “I hadn’t really thought about what I would do today before I offered to help you.”

“No one else to meet with and talk to?” Casey asked.

“Not really,” I answered, “Aside from a very bad choice in boyfriend, I don’t talk to many people outside of work.”

“A co-worker introduced us at a work function,” I answered.

“Perhaps you need to find boyfriends outside of work-related events,” Casey said.

“I know I should go out and meet people,” I answered, “But either I’m too tired or the people I meet don’t share my interests.

It has cut many a conversation short to be brought up. And I am not really interested in much else.”

“You need a boat,” Casey said, “Get away from the bad energy of the city.”

“I can’t really afford that right now,” I said.

“I will have to think about it,” I said.

“It is a beautiful sailing ship,” Casey enticed, “We travel all over the world and visit amazing places full of things you would never believe if you don’t see them with your own eyes.

The blue water reflects back the light as you look down and see dolphins.”

I was just about to the point of closing my eyes to visualize it all in my head when I saw the bus stop.

“All you have to do is say yes and then you can come and sail for a while,” Casey said.

“It is very tempting,” I said, “But I still need to think about it.”

“Okay,” Casey said.

We reached the bus stop and I sat down on the bench while Casey continued to stand.

He was part of my crew for several years. If he hadn’t fallen in love with that lassie then he might still be sailing with me and my crew. He only stays because she won’t leave.

But he promised the woman that he loved her and she came before the sea. She accepted it and he has been wishing to be back at sea ever since.

I stood up and Casey followed me onto the bus. I put the money in the box and we went to sit down. The closest seats were taken so we moved to the next row.

This bus had older people to the front and younger people to the back, but there were also a few who looked like university students who were sitting in between the two groups.

This bus was quiet with only one conversation going and that was a group of young people at the back.

More people came on the bus than got off until they reached the city center where more people started to get off at the stops than were getting on.

“Where we be headed?” Casey asked.

“A computer café,” I answered, “It is just around the corner.”

“Okay,” Casey said, but let Erica lead the way.

There were several windows and a door on the first level. The frequency of windows was cut in half for the second story.

I opened the door and stepped inside. Inside there was a low-level hum, but no loud conversations.

The interior was dim compared to the sunlight outside and it was much colder with the air conditioner blowing full blast.

Near the back of the shop was a computer-free counter and a man standing behind it. I went to the counter.

“How long?” the man asked when I reached the counter.

“Fifteen minutes,” I answered.

I clicked on the internet icon and the internet came up in a window. I went to a search engine and typed in Henry McGlint. The list of results came up.

“That’ll be him,” Casey said. I clicked on the link.

“Where he be?” Casey asked.

“It says here he lives on a boat at the port,” I said, “It gives the pier number and the name of the boat.” I wrote down the information.

“Well, I’m sorry about that,” I said.

“Nothing you can do,” Casey said, “But perhaps you have an interest in lunch before I go as a thank you for helping me.”

“Sure, lunch sounds good,” I said as I closed down the window and shut down the computer.

It had multiple stories and a staircase to one side of the building going up to the second floor. There were more windows on the first level and a sign over the door identifying it.

There were several things to prevent customers from actually seeing into the kitchen itself. The restaurant was about a quarter full.

She gave each of us a menu.

“Today’s special is two for one on medium-sized pizzas,” the server said as she filled the two water glasses on the table, “Anything I can get you to start with?”

“Okay,” the server said, “I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.” The server moved on, while Casey and I opened their menus.

We studied the menus for several minutes as we thought about what we wanted to eat.

“What looks good to you?” Casey asked once I had some time to think.

“The vegetarian pizza looks good,” I said.

“Okay,” I said as I closed her menu. Casey set his menu down on the table in front of him.

Before he could say anything the server came back to their table.

“What can I get for you today?” the server asked as she took out her pad and pencil.

“Two small pizzas,” Casey answered, “One seafood pizza and one vegetarian pizza.”

“No, that is it,” Casey answered.

“Okay,” the server took the menus and went off to take the order to the kitchen.

“I am surprised to find out Henry is living on a boat,” Casey said, “His wife was always set against the sea and boats.”

“Since it sounds like he has a shop on a houseboat,” I said, “Perhaps they came to a compromise.”

He wanted to, but he also didn’t want to leave his wife alone for that length of time.”

“He must really love her,” I said.

“Well, I appreciate you were here this time,” I said, “Otherwise Jerry would still be bothering me.”

“If you come with me on my ship then you’ll be too far away for him to bother you again,” Casey said.

“There is a limited time for you to think about,” Casey said, “After lunch, I have to get back to the port. Once I am gone so will the offer be.”

“I know,” I said.

“You want to be near the sea,” Casey said, “I can see that in your eyes. You miss the water and the feeling of being on a boat. What could be better than going aboard my ship?

The other option you seem to have given yourself is a boring job, a questionable social life, and an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t want to leave you alone.”

“I will give you my answer after lunch is over,” I said.

I willingly talked about the subject, even though I only knew about it through what other people had told me.

Ten minutes later the server brought our pizzas out. We continued to talk as we ate.

I relaxed and enjoyed them because he was telling them to try and encourage me to sail with him. I told him a few stories about work, but they weren’t as funny because he didn’t understand the mindset of an office worker.

I did find a story from when my parents were still alive to tell and that one went over a lot better. Casey found it funny because he could understand it.

We walked back toward the street my apartment building was on.

Jerry didn’t appear to be worried about Casey at all as he stood there with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Where have you been?” Jerry demanded.

“I told you this morning you should leave her alone,” Casey said.

I had turned around when I heard the scuffle to find Casey standing over Jerry.

“Let’s go,” Casey said as he took my arm.

“No,” Casey answered, “But he is not going to be happy when he wakes up.”

I didn’t say anything as we reached the other end of the alleyway. We exited out onto the street. No one paid any attention to us as we walked down the street.

I hadn’t said yes to Casey’s invitation, but it didn’t look like I had much chance to say no. Jerry would wake up and probably look for me. I hadn’t thought Jerry had been dangerous until he had pulled out that knife.

Casey didn’t say much as the bus started and pulled out of the station. He hadn’t said much since we left the alleyway, but I sensed it had less to do with attacking Jerry and more to do with my mood.

I wondered how I could have picked a guy that was so wrong. I didn’t remember any of the warning signs suggesting Jerry was abusive, but apparently I missed something.

But Jerry had been in that small percentage who couldn’t leave things alone even after all that. It scared me and I didn’t want to be close enough he could get at me again.

I would be a sea, which was where I had dreamed of being for a very long time. I would be away from Jerry and whatever he had thought up for revenge.

But even if I didn’t want to go with Casey, I could at least start over closer to the port where I was far more likely to get to go back to sea.

The sand had been soft. It all looked peaceful after the storm the night before.

Her brown hair was loose to frame her face and the eyes that were a vivid blue were closed. The stress that had been on her face all day was gone. Her lips the perfect shade of pink to be kissable.

Casey couldn’t understand why such a woman would let herself be attached to a cur like that. And the thought that the cur could take on Captain Bloody Boyd was just plain foolish.

Erica hadn’t said anything after that, but Casey had seen the incident had scared her. She had said nothing about it when he had taken her to the bus station and bought her a ticket.

Casey would try and show her that she could be so much more than a clerk.

Black Henry would talk to her and suggest she go on the ship. She would say she was thinking about it. Black Henry would tell her about all the places Casey could take her.

Casey couldn’t understand how someone with such dreams squashed them to live a meaningless existence. She could die and no one would remember her. That wasn’t the proper way to live a life.

Casey put his arm around Erica and she snuggled closer to him in her sleep. He sighed at the physical reaction that brought and stared out the window.

I felt the warmth leave and just about asked for it back, but the bus had stopped at the bus station and it was time to gather ourselves together and leave the bus.

“Have a good time,” the bus driver wished everyone as they disembarked.

“Thank you,” were the replies.

Casey and I moved away from the bus station toward the road.

The bus station was just outside the village that held the port and was about a ten-minute walk to the village.

The village was about three blocks across and six blocks long. The main street was filled with tourist shops. The streets off that one were mostly houses with the occasional commercial property mixed in.

There were a few cars moving along the main street and some trucks that had their own route around the traffic on the main street, but other than that there were very few vehicles. Most people were walking or cycling.

And beyond the docks was the vastness of the ocean. It was a gorgeous shade of blue stretching on forever.

Casey and I went down the hill and into the village. We reached the main street and followed it along to the docks area.

The docks off the main street were mostly passenger craft. To the left, most of the docks held cargo ships. To the right were mostly what could be classified as assorted others.

We were just about halfway down the row of piers when I saw the number.

“There is it,” I released Casey’s hand to point to the number.

“What boat are we looking for?” Casey asked as we headed down the pier.

We continued down the pier. There were a variety of houseboats tied to the pier. Some were large and some looked barely big enough for one person to live in. Halfway down the pier, we found the Spanish Fox.

There was a large door in the side with a smaller door beside it. There were no windows on the bottom level except one high up in the bigger door. The gangplank attached the houseboat to the pier.

“Ahoy,” Casey called.

His face was tanned and wrinkled like a man who spent time at sea. He squinted out between the lines in his face and when he smiled at the sight of Casey his eyes seemed to disappear altogether.

“I was expecting you shortly after the storm,” Henry told Casey as he led the way into the houseboat.

There was a door along the right wall that must have led to the upper level.

“I thought you were still in the city,” Casey answered.

Casey and Erica sat down in these chairs while Henry sat down in the one chair.

“What happened?” Casey asked.

Most of the street told him the same thing when he knocked on their doors. He comes back the next night and tries to burn the houses down. Two of the houses were lost and the rest just needed repairs.

We got the money from the insurance company.

We were thinking about plans when someone else comes along and wants to buy a house in the neighbourhood and are going to knock whatever house they buy down to build their dream house anyway.

I got Isa from a maybe to as long as it don’t move. So we moved in here and we’re happier for it. I left a message for ye at the Popping Parrot.”

I went straight into the city after that thinkin’ it wouldn’t be too much of a problem to find you.”

“But I weren’t there,” Henry said.

“No, you weren’t,” Casey said, “I met Erica there and she helped me find you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Erica shook his hand. His grip was firm, but brief.

“I’m surprised you came this far with him,” Henry said, indicating Casey.

“I was having my own problems and he helped me out with them,” Erica replied.

“You going on board ship with him?” Henry asked.

“You came this far,” Henry said, “Why not go the extra little bit? It might be fun.”

“It has been a long time since I have been on board a ship,” I told him, “And I am not sure I am ready yet.”

“Storm?” Henry asked.

“I wasn’t on the boat at the time, but my parents were,” I replied, “They didn’t come back.”

But the best way to keep fear from ruling your life is to keep living and let the fear find its own way. You step aboard the ship and you’ll feel like you’re home before the fear gets you.

“I’m still thinking about it,” Erica said, “And I still have some time before I have to make a decision.”

“I remember this one young feller,” Henry started. He was interrupted before he could get any farther by the door behind us opening. Casey and Erica looked over their shoulders.

She was wearing a pair of tight jeans with a white blouse open a button farther than most people would and she was barefoot.

“Erica Gardner,” Erica shook her hand. Her grip was softer than her husband’s, but she held on for longer.

“Are you lecturing her?” Isabelle turned to her husband and put her hand on her hips.

“I wouldn’t worry about telling tales,” Isabelle said, “You have business with Casey you have to work out. Erica can come up stairs with me and we can have a cup of tea while you two work things out.”

“Very well,” Henry said.

At the top of the stairs was a kitchen big enough to be in a house rather than a boat. There were cupboards on either wall and a table in the middle.

“You aren’t the first woman Casey has met in the city,” Isabelle said, “He and Henry are both lovers of women and charmers when they want to be.

The last one he was head of heels in love with and she had agreed to go with him on his ship, but they got as far as the village.

There was another one, who did go with Casey, but apparently fell for a man at the first port they stopped at. But that one Casey convinced her to go and Henry helped him.

I don’t know where he picked you up or what your motivation is, but both of them are likely to try and convince you to go with Casey. You should think very hard about it before you go.”

“Strong or weak?” Isabelle asked.

“Between the two,” I answered. Isabelle nodded and left the teapot alone.

“I figured Casey was trying to do that,” I said, “And with how Henry’s story started it sounded like it was along those same lines.”

“Henry is just sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong and Casey is letting him in hopes it helps his cause.”

“He assumed it was fear keeping me off ships,” I said, “But I think it is more uncertainty.”

“Uncertainty about what?” Isabelle asked.

“Does that mean you are actually going to go with Casey?” Isabelle asked.

“I’m thinking about it,” I answered, “Some issues came up with the comfortable life I had built for myself that have nothing to do with Casey, but he helped me out.

“But is going with Casey forward?” Isabelle asked.

“I don’t know,” I answered, “But if it doesn’t work out with Casey then I haven’t lost anything, but time.”

“And maybe break both your hearts,” Isabelle said as she poured both cups of tea.

“Somehow, I think you might be suitable for going with Casey,” Isabelle said before taking a sip from her tea cup to hide her smile.

It is true that I wanted to be on board a ship again and I wanted to see what Casey’s ship looked like. However, was I truly ready to go with him?

“How did you meet Henry?” I asked.

I had just been fired from my last job and I hadn’t been able to find another one, so I figured I might as well go along with her. She had an activity planned for each day we were here.

I decided she could do all these activities on her own. She shrugged and went out to do just that.

The second day I went out and found the Popping Parrot. There were guys around to dance with and people interesting to talk to. The third day of visiting the Popping Parrot, Henry walked in.

The rest of the guys in the bar were highly disappointed when it appeared we had found our matches. They moved off and didn’t hit on me or anything as I continued to go there and visit with Henry.

Isabelle held out her hand to show me her rings. One was a modern gold band with some diamonds in it, but the other was a gold ring with two sapphires on either side of an emerald.

She went home and that was the last time I talked to her. I invited her to the wedding, but she refused. I think she was jealous. She was also going on trips in an effort to find Mr. Right and I found him first.

Anyway, Henry and I married here about a month after he asked me. I had found a temporary job and found a place with cheap rent. I don’t know where he stayed, but Casey wasn’t around and neither was the ship.

It was a couple months later I found out about Casey and Henry’s love of the sea. I never cared for boats and water, but I married a man who would rather be at sea.

“I lived on a boat with my parents back when I was six,” I said, “I enjoyed it, but then they died and I haven’t been on a boat since. But that was so long ago.

“I guess we each have to find our way and what works for us,” Isabelle said, “I thought it might be a good idea to warn you about Casey and Henry before they convinced you to do something you didn’t really want to do.”

“You do seem to have a handle on what is going on,” Isabelle said, “I hope you make the right decision for you.”

“I hope so too,” I said.

The sounds of Casey and Henry coming up the stars could be heard. They arrived at the top and came into the kitchen.

“Would either of you like some tea?” Isabelle offered.

“No, thank you,” Casey answered.

“Did you finish your business?” Isabelle asked as she poured another cup of tea for herself.

“Yes,” Henry said, “He’s got his part and I got my money. All the business is done.”

“Well, it was nice talking to you,” Isabelle turned to me and held out her hand.

“I was very nice to meet you,” I replied as I reached out and shook her hand. Once the handshake was over I stood up.

“Always try to,” Casey answered.

“But only a few times seem to succeed,” Isabelle replied, “I will see you the next time you are through.”

“See you then,” Casey replied. It seemed like he would have tipped his hat, but he was not wearing one. He turned and headed back down the stairs.

“See you,” Henry called.

“Bye,” Casey called before we went down the gangplank. We continued along the pier and Henry watched us go until we went around a large boat and couldn’t see him.

“We can certainly do that,” Casey said.

He directed us back toward the main street. When we reached it he took my hand again, but there weren't as many people out walking around and so it was easier to keep track of each other.

The outside matched the rest of the buildings on the street with the brick exterior and plenty of windows, but difficulty seeing inside. We stepped through the door and into the cool interior.

Each section had a handful of booths built into the wooden walls and a couple of tables sandwiched in the centre of the area between booths.

The hostess smiled at us.

“For two?” she asked as she picked up two menus.

“Yes,” Casey answered.

We sat down across the booth from each other as the hostess placed the menus in front us.

“Your server will be Melody,” the hostess said, ’She’ll be right with you.” The hostess left us to go back to the front desk.

Casey glanced over the menu before setting it open on the table in front of him. He had obviously been here before and knew what he wanted. I studied the menu more closely.

I finally decided on what I wanted, so I put my menu down on the table.

“Yes,” I answered.

Just then the server showed up.

“I’m Melody,” she smiled at us, “What can I get for you?”

“I will have the pan seared halibut,” Casey said, “Skip the salad. And a dark ale to drink.”

“Okay,” the server turned to me.

“I will have the lasagna,” I said, “And water to drink.”

Casey didn’t say anything and I didn’t feel the need to fill the space with anything. There was a card on the table beside the salt and pepper shakers.

In 1905 a storm hit the coast with such force that several piers and at least one building was washed into the sea. A dozen people were injured and one was lost to the sea.

On the second day of clean up, Mrs. Kendall found an unfamiliar row boat on the shore. Inside was a man, whom she at first thought was dead, but soon realized he was alive.

No one in the village recognized the man. It was suggested he came off a ship that sank off the coast during the storm, but there was no other debris from a ship and there were no ships due to come in.

When the man woke up he was confused and lost. He spoke in a strange dialect and it took several minutes before he was understood. He thought the people dressed strange and spoke weird.

At first people thought he was crazy until someone realized he spoke and dressed like someone from 1651.

He died in the winter of 1908 after getting sick in spring of1907. He spent the years he was healthy trying to get home and the year he was sick talking about home.

His body was sent there and that is where he rests in peace.

I put the card back and looked around. Casey seemed to be watching me without openingly staring.

He didn’t make eye contact as he looked at the table and then at the wood pieces near the ceiling.

“How long before you have to get back to your ship?” I asked.

“Tomorrow morning,” Casey answered, “But I was hoping to get back there sooner. Have you made your decision yet?”

“Those terms are satisfactory,” Casey said.

“Good,” I said.

“What would you like to talk about instead?” Casey asked after taking a drink of his dark ale.

“Why did you become a sailor?” I asked.

“So, the freedom and the ocean didn’t attract you?” I asked.

“I didn’t know about any of those the first time I ever set foot on a ship” Casey answered, “After I had been on board then I found out about those things and I couldn’t get enough of them.

“So, what is your plan for your life? Is it just to continue sailing?” I asked

A little bit of time on land and a lot of time at sea is the only way to live as far as I am concerned.”

“And you wouldn’t stay on land if you fell in love?” I asked.

I nodded but didn’t say much since the server arrived at that moment with our food. We didn’t say anything as we ate the first few bites.

“Did you ever have plans for your future?” Casey was half finished in food before he spoke.

Like any other thoughts about traveling, it was easier to dream than do. Any plans for the future I made were like dreams.”

“Which is fine if you never intend to live,” Casey said.

“I lived,” I replied.

I wouldn’t consider that living. I call that existing and no one should settle for merely existing when they could be out there living.”

“I know what your suggestion in the matter is already,” I said.

It is better than living in the city and far away from it all. Whenever you talk about the ocean your eyes light up and you are more animated than you are any other time of the day.

I didn’t respond to that because I truly didn’t know what to say. If I didn’t go with Casey, what would I do? Even if I could go back to my apartment I didn’t really want to.

I had just enough in my bank account to pay next month’s rent and go grocery shopping. It wasn’t enough to get another apartment, or replace any of the stuff I left behind.

But if I did go with Casey on his ship, what would I do there? According to his stories he has a full crew and most, if not all, were men. Isabelle said Casey was looking for a lover and had chosen me.

Casey isn’t thinking about any of that, even though he is encouraging me to become who I want to be. The first time a guy has ever said that to me.

The men accepted her because she was there for a reason and had a purpose on the boat. I would lack that.

But then again he had done this before. He has convinced women to give up their lives to go sail with him. Isabelle said it was because he fell in love with them.

I could be out in the middle of the ocean in a relationship that had lost its luster and still have to see the guy every day because there was nowhere else for me to go.

How did I feel about Casey? When I saw him this morning I was attracted to him before he helped get rid of Jerry. I could have walked away at any point during the day, but I kept helping him.

I don’t really remember any of these feelings when any of the guys I’ve dated recently, but then I mostly started dating them because they seemed interesting to talk to.

Somehow it seemed to me that sometimes he was a gentleman with all the qualities of such and sometimes he was a pirate with other qualities.

I had asked for a gentleman pirate last night during the thick of the storm, maybe this was the answer to my request.

He said it was possible to come back if it didn’t work out, or he could leave me somewhere I wanted to be left.

Casey looked like he was about to ask what my answer was as he leaned forward and put his elbows on the table.

“So, what is the rest of the story?” I asked, picking up the card.

“Why do you think I know the answer to that?” Casey asked.

“Perhaps I thought the story was interesting and I wanted to see if you found it interesting as well,” Casey said.

“Because then you would have said something about the story and we would have discussed it for a couple minutes,” I answered, “What else is there to the story?”

“And there was,” I said.

“That is a brief outline of what happened,” Casey said, “They don’t mention the sailor’s son, or how the man affected the history of the whole village.

The bill arrived and Casey paid it without stopping his story.

“Edward Kelps was a very knowledgeable man for a sailor,” Casey continued, “He also happened to be on the run from a group of pirates whom he stole the treasure from.

The people of the village didn’t remove his clothes because they didn’t see any need to do so and they assumed he just happened to weigh that much.”

“Edward Kelps was quite accepting of his rowboat washing up on the shore,” Casey said, “The village needed help in cleaning up and he joined one of the crews helping.

Edward stepped in and paid for whatever supplies they needed. The people were grateful to him. He also paid for some other buildings to be built. The people of the village were extremely grateful to him for the help.

Finally he decided he was here to stay. He built himself a small house near the water and picked a lady among the people of the village that he liked to live with him.

I saw a hotel that didn’t look too expensive without looking cheap. I started toward it and Casey followed along because he was too engrossed in telling me the story that he wasn’t paying attention.

There were some difficulties rescuing several ships that had their mooring line snap. Edward was out there looking at the damage when this long boat was rowed into shore.

They landed and Edward charged at them. He managed to take out the group, but he was hit in the shoulder and then ended up in the surf.

His woman took over running the Popping Parrot as she could with being pregnant. She had to hire someone to help out, but the tavern was making enough money that she could afford it.

The line just isn’t Kelps because she gave the children her last name. And that is some of what happened with Edward Kelps.”

“Interesting,” I said,

“You don’t believe it,” Casey said.

“There have been more than a few curious things that have happened during storms,” Casey said.

“I am aware of storms at sea doing things,” I said.

“Why are we here?” Casey asked looking up the stairs of the hotel I had picked.

“Before the fog burns off,” Casey said.

“We’ll set an alarm,” I said.

“Very well,” Casey said as he allowed me to tug him up the stairs by the hand. We went inside to the front counter.

The front desk clerk gave the key card to Casey and we were told the room was 514, which meant the fourteenth room on the fifth floor. The elevators were just beyond the front desk. We went up to the fifth floor and got off the elevator.

I stepped in first and he followed with the door closing behind him. The room contained a bed, a desk, a chair, a night stand, a dresser with a television on it, and a bathroom just right from the door.

“What decision is that?” I asked looking at him instead of the room.

“Whether ye really want me?” Casey answered as he turned to me. He raised his eyebrow and I took a step towards him.