All Summer Long

by Melody Carlson

  “What?” Leo demanded after Tia relayed Natalie’s frantic message.

  “She wants you to turn the boat around.”

  “What about Melinda’s photos? The sunset behind the bridge?”

  “I know,” Tia told him. “But Natalie is sick.”

  “Is she seriously sick?” he asked her.

  “She’s throwing up.”

  “I know that.” He wrinkled his nose as he pointed to the splattered wastebasket.

  Holding her breath, Tia gingerly picked it up and set it outside. She’d have to bring some disinfectant spray and paper towels up here later.

  “I don’t want to be insensitive.” He kept his eyes on the water ahead of him, moving to give way to another yacht as he tried to allow sufficient room for a sailboat. “But how sick is she? Does she need medical treatment?”

  “Not really.” Tia shook her head. “She’s seasick.”

  “Then let her ride it out,” he said.

  “But she said—”

  “Look, I’m sorry she’s sick. But if it’s just plain old seasickness, it’ll pass. We need to finish what we started here tonight. It’s not fair for Natalie to spoil it. Right?”

  She gave him an uncertain smile. “Yeah . . . I guess.”

  “Tell her I’m sorry. Maybe you can get her to drink some Sprite or something. Get her outside into the fresh air maybe.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain.”

  He grinned. “Thanks, Tia.”

  Feeling encouraged and hopeful, Tia hurried back down to the stateroom. But when Natalie heard Leo’s response, she grew angry.

  “Did you tell him I’m dying down here?” Natalie demanded.

  “Well, you’re not exactly dying.”

  “I feel like I’m dying.” Natalie looked up with red-rimmed eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. “Doesn’t it look like I’m dying?”

  “Come outside and get some fresh air,” Tia urged.

  “I can’t have the others seeing me like this.” Natalie clung to the toilet. “It’s too humiliating.”

  “I’ll get you some Sprite and—”

  “I don’t want any Sprite!” she screamed. “I want Leo to turn this stupid boat around. Tell him if he doesn’t turn back I’ll—I’ll jump overboard.” She hunched over the toilet again, her shoulders jerking from dry heaves.

  Tia waited for her to stop. “You wouldn’t really do that,” Tia said quietly.

  “Oh, wouldn’t I?” Natalie’s eyes flashed. “If Leo doesn’t take me back, I’ll jump overboard and the Coast Guard can come pick me up.”

  “Natalie!”

  “Please, Tia. I can’t stand this. Please tell him to turn around.”

  “I’ll tell him, but I can’t promise anything.” Tia backed out again. “I need to help Melinda with the photos. Will you be okay for a few—”

  “I am not okay!” Natalie screeched. “Tell Leo what I said. And get my purse while you’re up there. It has my phone in it. If Leo doesn’t turn around, I’ll call 911 and ask the Coast Guard to rescue me from dying.”

  Tia just nodded, closing the door and hurrying away.

  “You gotta be kidding,” Leo said to Tia. “She really said that?”

  “I’m not making it up.” Tia pointed to the pretty beaded bag. “Should I take her phone to her?”

  “Not if she’s calling the Coast Guard. Does she realize she could be charged with a crime and fined for that?”

  “I’m not sure she cares.”

  Leo looked at Tia with troubled eyes. “What should I do?”

  “Turn back,” she said quietly. “We’ll lose some photos, but really, it’s just not worth it.”

  “Fine.” He looked both ways, then started to slowly turn the helm. “Turning back.”

  “I’ll explain to Melinda.”

  “But you tell Natalie that when she gets off, she gets off alone. She can’t expect me to go with her. Understand?”

  “Okay.”

  “Tell her it’ll be about half an hour before we get there.”

  By the time Tia made it to the dining room, several people were asking why the boat was turning around. “Natalie is seasick,” she said simply. “Leo needs to get her back on dry land.”

  She quickly relayed the news to Natalie, and before Natalie could complain again, Tia went back out into the dining room, quietly explaining the situation to Melinda.

  “Seriously?” Melinda scowled as she checked a shot on her camera. “Natalie is forcing us to miss the sunset?”

  “Not much we can do about it.”

  “Is she really sick or just faking for attention?”

  “She’s really sick. I guess her secret is out now.”

  “Her secret?”

  Tia nodded.

  “That she gets seasick?”

  “Extremely seasick,” Tia clarified. “Just being on Leo’s houseboat makes her sick. It’s a real thing, Melinda.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty weird. I mean, considering who Leo is . . . his love of boats and water. Don’t you think?”

  Tia shrugged. “Get as many shots as you can for now. Leo will take us back out once Nat’s off. We might still get some sunset time. And there’s still the fireworks.”

  The fireworks came sooner than expected for the Pacific Pearl. After Leo got the boat docked, he and Natalie exchanged some words—Natalie standing on the dock and Leo standing on deck, with everyone else watching.

  “You aren’t coming with me?” Natalie yelled at him. “You’re not taking me home? Don’t you care about me?”

  “Are you still sick?”

  “Well, no, but”—Natalie held out the skirt of her soiled dress with a crumbling expression—“I’m a mess and I—”

  “I’m the captain, Nat. I have to take the boat out to—”

  “Of course! You would choose your stupid boat over me!”

  “I’m not choosing, Nat. It’s just my responsibility to—”

  She shook a fist at him. “I can’t believe you refused to turn the boat around!”

  “I did turn the boat around.”

  “Not at first, you didn’t. You only turned it around when I threatened to jump overboard.”

  “Natalie, you’re being—”

  “What? I’m being sick, Leo? Do you even get it? You think this is my fault? Like I can help being sick?”

  “No. But we need to go, Nat. I’m sorry you’re—”

  “Forget it, Leo.” She held up her left hand with fingers splayed. “I just wish you’d given me a ring so I could take it off and throw it at you right now. I would!”

  “Natalie, don’t get so—”

  “Don’t tell me what to do, Leo. I’m done. The engagement is over. The wedding is off. I’m through with you! And I’m through with stupid boats!” She went storming off down the dock.

  “Leo,” Tia said to him. “If you need to go to her, it’s okay. We can do this another time. Everyone will understand. It’s not like they’re paying guests.”

  “Forget it,” he snapped. “It’s over. You heard her. We’re done.” He stormed across the foredeck. “Get ready, everyone. We’re outta here.”

  His makeshift crew and first mate scrambled to get ready, but it was their expressions that got Tia’s attention. Leo’s friends looked relieved, as if they felt this was a good change of events. As quickly as the Pacific Pearl had docked, she was taking off again. Heading back out into the sunset. But the mood on the boat had changed. The party vibe seemed somewhat subdued now. Although she tried to conceal it, Tia’s heart was no longer into it.

  24

  While Leo was at the helm, attempting to get the boat back out near the Golden Gate Bridge while there was still some good sunset color left in the sky, Tia quietly cleaned and disinfected the corner of the bridge where Natalie had “lost it.” As Tia slipped behind him to open the side windows wider to allow more air flow, she was relieved that Leo was so focused on navigating through the heavy nautical traffic that he didn’t seem to notice her. Sh
e didn’t know what she would say to him if he did. Judging by his troubled expression, it was more than just the busy bay that was bothering him. She felt truly sorry for both of them.

  Although Natalie’s dramatic meltdown had placed a temporary damper on some of the guests, it didn’t take long for most of them to return to their previous merrymaking, which hopefully made for some good photos. While the sunset was still glowing, Jake helped Melinda into Leo’s rowboat, which they’d been towing. He rowed the boat to various locations as she took some fast photos of the ship from different angles.

  “I got shots of the boat with the bridge behind it,” Melinda told Tia as she came back onboard. “I also got it with the cityscape and even some remnants of the sunset. Lucky for us, it was a nice long sunset. If these shots aren’t light enough, I can probably get Leo to take me out again later in the week.”

  As the sky was growing dusky, Tia started up the fire pit and laid out the makings for hot dogs and s’mores. With the Pacific Pearl slowly cutting through the bay, the real party began. Ties and heels were cast aside, and some got out musical instruments while others started roasting hot dogs. It wasn’t long until they were enjoying the fireworks shooting up high from various locations, reflecting across the dark, glossy water with the loud booms of explosives echoing off the nearby hills.

  Tia had just finished roasting a bratwurst when she noticed the soft blue light glowing from the captain’s bridge. Seeing Leo’s face illuminated by the instrument panel, she felt a fresh wave of compassion for him. Poor guy. Talk about a bad night. Ever since his public clash with Natalie, he’d been at the helm, alone and unhappy, and probably embarrassed. As far as she knew, he hadn’t even had dinner. Fixing him a generous plate of food, she turned to Melinda. “I’m taking this up to Leo. Want to come along?”

  “Not right now. I’m trying to get a good shot of the musicians around the fire with the fireworks shooting off behind them,” Melinda said. “Maybe later.”

  Tia went up by herself. “Thought you might be hungry.” She set the plate and an unopened can of soda on the countertop.

  “Thanks.” He kept his eyes forward.

  She moved back toward the door, sensing he wasn’t interested in socializing. “I’m sorry about what happened,” she said quietly. “I mean, with Natalie.”

  “Nothing for you to be sorry about.”

  “I know. I just mean I feel badly for you. And for Nat too.”

  He reached for the soda, popping it open. “By the way, thanks for cleaning up that stinking mess for me.”

  “No problem.” She opened the door. “Anyway, I was thinking that you shouldn’t give up, Leo. I mean, maybe you guys will patch things up and—”

  “Nope.”

  “But lots of couples fight.” She noticed Melinda coming up the stairs, still carrying her camera.

  “That’s right,” Melinda declared as she entered the bridge. “Lots of couples fight.”

  “I know that, Melinda.” He turned to glare at her. “This was different, okay? It was more than just a little lovers’ quarrel.”

  Melinda sat on the stool next to Leo, sneaking a quick candid shot of the captain at the helm. “Did Tia tell you what Natalie was up to?”

  Tia shot her a warning look as she opened the door, preparing for a fast getaway.

  “Hold on there, Tia,” Leo said sharply. “What’s Melinda talking about?”

  “Nothing.” Tia narrowed her eyes at Melinda.

  “What difference does it make now?” Melinda asked her. “They’re broken up.”

  “It was a private conversation,” Tia said tersely. “I told you that I didn’t want you to—”

  “But it was about Leo.” Melinda grabbed Tia by the hand, pulling her closer to the helm. “Spill the beans.”

  “Melinda.” Tia frowned. “You promised—”

  “This is my brother.” Melinda placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Why would I not tell him?”

  “Tell him what?” Leo snapped. “What’re you two yammering about?”

  “Just that Natalie planned for you to enroll in Stanford Law School this fall,” Melinda supplied.

  “What?” Leo turned to scowl at both of them. “How is that even possible?”

  “Tell him, Tia.” Melinda nodded to her.

  “I’d rather not.”

  “Come on.” Leo’s tone softened. “What did you hear, Tia?”

  “It wasn’t my intention to eavesdrop.” She quickly explained her post by the dining room that night. “I couldn’t help but overhear something.”

  “Out with it,” Leo commanded.

  Tia repeated the disturbing conversation. “I know Natalie meant it as a good thing,” she finally said. “It was supposed to be a wedding gift. A surprise.”

  “Yeah, right.” Leo whacked the wheel with the heel of his hand.

  “I need to go back down,” Tia said suddenly.

  Melinda grabbed her by the elbow. “Tell him about the seasickness secret first,” she urged.

  “The seasickness secret?” Leo scowled.

  “Come on,” Melinda told Tia. “Leo deserves to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

  “Fine.” Tia looked at Leo, knowing she would sound like a tattletale and that she could be making an enemy here. But maybe it didn’t matter. “Natalie told me that she’s been keeping her seasickness problem a secret from you. It’s not just a one-time thing. She gets horribly seasick whenever she sets foot on a boat. That’s why she doesn’t like being on your houseboat for more than a few minutes. It’s what happened in the rowboat the day you guys came here and she said she had food poisoning. It’s why she avoids this boat like the plague. Even when she takes Dramamine, like she did tonight, she can still get horribly ill.” She turned to Melinda. “There. Are you happy now?”

  “He has a right to know.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know why I have to be the one to tell him.” Tia reached for the door, this time without being stopped. “Excuse me.” As she went back down, she felt slightly betrayed by Melinda for dragging her into Leo’s mess. Oh, she understood why Melinda wanted her brother to know the truth, but why force Tia to be the bearer of such negative news? That didn’t seem right. Especially if and when Natalie and Leo got back together. Because despite Leo’s claim that it was over, Tia was not convinced.

  Tia was grateful for a nonworking weekend. It was a relief not to cross paths with Leo for a couple of days. When she “accidentally” slept in on Sunday instead of riding her bike to church like she’d told Melinda she planned to do, she didn’t even feel guilty. Well, not much anyway.

  When the workweek began again on Monday, there was plenty to keep her occupied—and distracted. This was the week to get the galley fully assembled, and she planned to be on hand to supervise every step of the way. When she wasn’t in the galley, she was in the stateroom, putting the finishing touches on the menus so she could hand them over to Melinda, who would then come up with some designs for Julie to choose from, plus add them to the website. Not only that, but Tia had waitstaff and kitchen crew applicants to interview and hire. There was a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it in.

  By the end of the week, the Pacific Pearl was almost completely transformed. The galley was finished and functional, with cabinets stocked and ready. The dining room was all set, complete with a bar on one end and an upright piano on the other. The windows were sparkling clean, the decks were shiny and bright, the heads were in great condition. All in all, the Pacific Pearl was shipshape.

  Except for the captain. Tia attributed Leo’s taciturn attitude to last weekend’s blowout with Natalie. It didn’t take a mind reader to know he was not okay with it. The best Tia could do was try to not cross paths with him.

  On Saturday morning, Tia was enjoying being alone on the boat. As if playing house, she went around sweeping up the last of the building debris, dusting and polishing, and basically just admiring the amazing transformation of the Pacific Pearl.
The plan was for Julie and Roland to come see the final results and enjoy a private dinner cruise with several of their closest friends tonight. The crew and galley staff would be minimal, but Tia wanted to ensure that everything was as perfect as possible. After a week of foggy days, it even looked like the weather was cooperating, because the mist seemed to be melting away by midday.

  “Hello?”

  Tia strained her ears to hear what sounded like a female voice.

  “Anybody aboard?”

  Tia stuck her head out of the dining room, where she’d been putting small flower arrangements on the four tables she’d chosen for tonight’s dinner—and there was Natalie, standing on the dock with a perplexed expression.

  “Oh, hi, Tia.” Natalie waved eagerly, smiling. “Is Leo around?”

  “Not right now.”

  Natalie’s smile evaporated. “Do you know where he is?”

  “No.” Tia shook her head.

  “Oh.”

  Tia waited for Natalie to say something . . . like good-bye. But she just stood there looking slightly lost and totally out of place on the scruffy dock in her white linen pantsuit. “Is there anything I can help you with?” Tia asked in a slightly formal tone, almost as if she was waiting on a customer.

  “Please, Tia!” Natalie’s voice broke as if she were on the verge of tears. “Can you come out here and talk to me?”

  Tia’s heart softened as she crossed over the gangway to the dock. “What’s up?”

  “It’s Leo. He’s avoiding me.”

  Tia’s sympathy faded. “Well . . . you guys broke up, remember? In fact, you’re the one who pulled the plug.”

  “I know. But I was so upset. I said things I didn’t mean and I—”

  “Look!” Tia held up her hands to stop her. “I am not going to get in the middle of this—whatever it is. This is not my problem.”

  “No, of course not. It’s just that Leo is ignoring my texts and my calls and he’s not home and—”