FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA
Page 7
“Want to join us for coffee?” he asked, indicating the group behind him.
Ten minutes later, sitting in the cockpit of the yacht, holding a mug of coffee, Polly wanted to pinch herself.
These fellow competitors of hers were all well known sailors and they were treating her presence amongst them seriously.
They all knew Tom and were pleased to hear that he hoped to be in Plymouth for the start of the race.
It was as she moved to make room for yet another sailor to join them for coffee that she glanced across the quay and felt the happiness drain from her.
Walking briskly towards the yachts was Dexter – and at his side a clearly angry Naval Officer. Polly’s heart sank. What on earth was Sebastian doing here? He was supposed to be somewhere in the Med.
Chapter Six
Looking at the rigid set of Sebastian’s body as he and Dexter marched towards the boats, Polly jumped up nervously.
If she wanted to avoid an angry confrontation in front of everyone, she’d have to move quickly.
“Thanks for the coffee guys,” she said. “I’ll catch you all later.” She leaped on to the quay and hurried to meet the two men.
“Polly, I haven’t issued an official pass for your fiancée because he assures me his visit is purely a short, personal one. For security reasons, please see that he leaves the competitors area by ten o’clock tonight.” Dexter’s tone left Polly in no doubt that he was not happy with her ‘unofficial’ visitor.
He turned and walked away, leaving her to face Sebastian.
Aware that everyone on the boat could overhear them, she kept her voice low.
“What are you doing here Sebastian?” she asked as calmly as she could. “I thought you were on a hush-hush exercise?”
“We had to put back into Gibraltar for some essential repairs and I managed to wangle a two day pass. Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“There’s the marina café,” she said. “I’m told they do a mean hot chocolate. While we walk you can start explaining – beginning with why you told Dexter I was your fiancée.”
“It was the only way I could persuade him to let me through to see you. He seemed to think you wouldn’t have time for visitors.”
“He was right. There’s still loads to do.”
“You didn’t seem very busy just now,” Sebastian pointed out peevishly.
“I only got here a couple of hours ago. The guys were just being friendly. So, what are you doing here?”
“I can’t talk to you on the telephone. And you’re not answering my e-mails,” Sebastian said.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing you for six months, Polly. I simply wanted to see and talk to you face to face before it’s too late.”
“Too late?”
Sebastian pushed open the café door and together they made their way to an empty table in a far corner.
“Too late?” Polly repeated. “For what?”
A smile fleetingly touched Sebastian’s lips as he took her hand in his.
“Polly I love you. I really don’t want to come over all heavy-handed, but this is no sport for a woman.” He waved his hand in the general direction of the marina.
“I’ve come to ask you to withdraw from the race.”
Polly stared at him in disbelief, pulling her hand away.
“I’m frightened for you.”
Polly took a deep breath. “I’m frightened for me too. But I’ve told you Sebastian, I’m doing this race. And there’s nothing you can say or do that will stop me.”
“You could at least have discussed it with me. I would have thought you’d care about how I felt.”
Polly sighed. “I’m sorry. I should have talked to you before. But everything happened so quickly after Tom’s accident there wasn’t time. Besides, I guess I knew what your reaction would be.”
She ran her hands through her hair distractedly.
“Anyway, we’re having a discussion now. Only it’s not a discussion is it? You want me to do what you want. Not what I want. Can’t you understand how important this race is to me?”
“It’s too dangerous. Why can’t you content yourself with doing smaller races? When we’re married we can go sailing together. I enjoy the sport as much as anyone. It’s not as if I’m asking you to give up sailing altogether – just this race. Please Polly – for my sake.
“For your sake?” Polly repeated incredulously.
“Sebastian this is the 21st century. Women make their own decisions, live their own lives.”
She took a deep breath.
“Who knows, the whole thing may scare me rigid and when I get back I won’t want to go anywhere near another ocean-going yacht. I’ll be ready to settle down, we’ll get married and have lots of kids.”
Sebastian sighed.
“But what if has the opposite effect? What if you want to do more and more competitive sailing? To tell you the truth, I’m not sure I want a wife who’s prepared to take such risks.”
They both sat silently, each deep in their own thoughts, as the waitress put their hot chocolates on the table.
Polly was the first to speak. She wanted to try and make him understand.
“Sebastian, I won’t pull out of the race. There’s too much at stake, both for me personally and because of the investment the yard has made in Clotted Cream.”
“Polly I love you. Can’t you see that I just don’t want anything to happen to you? I couldn’t bear to lose you.”
“There’s more than one way to lose me, and emotional blackmail is a sure fire one,” Polly retorted sharply.
She stirred an extra spoonful of sugar into her drink before looking directly at Sebastian.
“I’m really sorry you’ve had a wasted journey. I can only suggest you return to your ship and concentrate on your own life and career whilst I’m away for the next few months.” She paused.
“The separation will give us both time to really think about what we want.”
Sebastian shrugged his shoulders. “So nothing I can say will make any difference?”
“No. It would have been nice to have sailed with your support and good wishes but I’m going - with or without them.”
Sebastian put his hand lightly on her arm. “I wish you all the luck in the world, Polly. I think you’re going to need it.”
Without another word, he stood up and walked out of the café – and out of her life? Polly watched in silence, her emotions in turmoil.
Polly hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d told Sebastian there was still a great deal to do before the race.
But it wasn’t all work. As Dexter had predicted, there was a lot of partying, too.
The morning the engineer came to seal off Clotted Cream’s engine for the race, Dexter turned up.
“I wondered if you’d like a quick trip into Plymouth whilst Trevor does his stuff?”
“Yes please. I’d been wondering how I’d get into town.”
“I’ll meet you in the car park in, what?” Dexter glanced at his watch. “Ten minutes OK?”
If Polly had expected Dexter to mention Sebastian’s visit on the short drive into town, she was disappointed. She briefly contemplated apologising for the incident, then dismissed the idea. Dexter had probably already forgotten about it.
Once in town she whizzed around, picking up some essential underwear and a couple of T-shirts. Finally she treated herself to a lipstick and some perfume.
Coming out of the large department store, she spotted Dexter emerging from the toy shop opposite, deep in conversation on his mobile.
He waved and crossed over, snapping his phone shut.
“Finished?”
Polly nodded. “I’ve all the essentials for the Southern Ocean now!” She laughed.
“Well here’s another one.” He handed her a package.
“No, don’t open it now,” he said quickly as she was about to pull the wrapping paper off. “Wait till we get back.”
“Thanks.”
“I’d like that.”
Once back, Dexter made straight for his office and Polly reached Clotted Cream in time to see Trevor leaving.
“You’re now officially ‘engineless’,” he said, pointing out the seals he’d placed on the engine and the prop.
“It’s wind power only for the next six months.”
Waiting for Dexter under a star filled sky early that evening, Polly began to wonder if he’d forgotten their supper date. She smiled happily as she finally saw him heading towards her.
“Hi. Sorry I’m late. Thought we’d walk down to the Barbican,” Dexter said. “There’s a good bistro down there.”
“Sounds great,” Polly said picking up her fleece.
Conversation, as they walked, was about the race and boats in general. By the time they got to the bistro Dexter had Polly laughing about an incident involving him and Tom a few years ago.
The laughter set the tone of the evening that passed all too quickly for Polly. It was midnight as Dexter helped her back on board Clotted Cream and jumped down into the cockpit himself.
“Would you like a coffee?” Polly asked, suddenly feeling shy at their closeness.
Dexter shook his head. “No thanks. But I do want to ask you something.”
Polly waited.
“Are you engaged to Sebastian?” he asked quietly.
“No.” Polly shook her head.
“In that case, I don’t have to feel guilty about kissing you goodnight.” He gathered her into his arms and gently kissed her.
Back at the yard, life was settling into a new routine and Cassie was busy catching up on some of the things that had inevitably been pushed to one side.
All the new handrails were in situ on the barge and Anna had helped Mai finish the decorating. There were just two weeks before the first clients for the sailing school were due.
The fact they still didn’t have an instructor was a problem that Cassie knew she’d have to tackle once Polly had set sail.
Tom had completely taken over the organisational side of the Round Alone race for Polly and everything seemed to be running smoothly.
Cassie knew he and Mai were desperate to get back to River View, but even when he was out of the wheelchair and on crutches it would be weeks before he could manage the spiral staircase there. In the meantime he and Mai were making the best of living in Cassie’s spare room.
As the weekend of the race approached, the main discussion at the yard concerned Tom. He was determined to go to Plymouth to see Polly off and badgered the Doctor for permission until he finally said yes.
Doug had offered Tom a berth on Megabyte for the weekend, which Mai had regretfully turned down on his behalf. He’d cope on board for a few hours, but any longer would pose problems. But at least he’d be there to see Clotted Cream sail over the start line.
Cassie and Anna had gratefully accepted Doug’s offer. Despite her apprehension about what the coming months might bring, Cassie was looking forward to the weekend, to spending time with Polly before she left on her big adventure.
The part of the marina where all the competitors’ yachts were berthed was heaving with people when Cassie and Anna arrived. However, with their passes that Dexter had arranged, they had no difficulty in finding their way to Megabyte’s mooring. Doug welcomed them on board and his daughter Vanessa showed them to their cabin.
“Dad’s arranged a small party for tonight,” she told them as she opened the cabin door.“He’s hoping you’re free to join us.”
“That would be lovely,” Anna said, but Cassie didn’t commit herself. She’d find out what Polly was doing first.
Having unpacked her small suitcase, Cassie went for a wander around the quay.
Polly was just finishing a TV interview when Cassie reached Clotted Cream.
“Hi Mum,” Polly called out. “Come on board and I’ll make you a coffee.”
Cassie looked around the cabin that was to be Polly’s home for the next six months, trying to imprint every little detail in her memory so she’d be able to bring it all to mind when she thought about Polly in the coming weeks.
By necessity, the cabin was functional and business like, and Cassie smiled as she saw the pictures and mementoes of home Polly had pinned around the chart table.
She couldn’t help laughing when she peered into Polly’s sleeping quarters and saw Fred Bear’s head peeping out of the sleeping bag.
Fred Bear had been Polly’s companion since Miles had given him to her for her first birthday. Since then he’d gone everywhere with her.
Today he had a companion of his own. A cuddly black and white Emperor penguin was alongside him in the sleeping bag, its yellow beak gently nudging Fred Bear’s ragged ear.
Cassie picked up the toy.
“Love the penguin. Where d’you get him?”
“Dexter gave him to me as a Good Luck token. He’s called Nero,” Polly said. “Isn’t he gorgeous?”
“A very handsome fellow,” Cassie agreed putting Nero back down with Fred Bear.
“Have you heard from Sebastian since his visit?” she asked quietly.
“Not a word. Not even one of his reproachful e-mails.”
“He’s just worried about you Polly.” Cassie looked at her daughter.
“He rang me, you know - after he left you.”
“And?”
“He was very upset. He said you didn’t love him enough to do what he asked. I did try to tell him that loving someone doesn’t give you control over them.”
“What did he say to that?”
“Muttered something about me sounding like you and hung up.”
There was a short silence.
“Did you ever ask Dad to stop sailing?” Polly asked eventually
“No. It was his life.”
“Did Dad ever ask you to give up something he didn’t approve of?”
Cassie shook her head. “He never had cause to. I’ve never been the adventurous type. I just wanted to be with him.”
“Would you if he’d asked?” Polly persisted.
“I don’t know love. It was a long time ago. Things, attitudes were different,” Cassie paused. Now was not the time to tell Polly that she’d loved Miles so much she’d have done anything he asked.
“You’re doing what you want to do Polly. Give it your best and enjoy it. Put all thoughts of Sebastian and marriage out of your mind. There will be plenty of time for that afterwards.”
“Mum, I need to tell you something in case...” She hesitated. “Sebastian’s ring is in the top drawer of the cupboard in my room. Would you make sure he gets it back if……?”
Cassie interrupted quickly. She didn’t want that thought put into words. She pulled Polly quickly to her and gave her a big hug.
“Of course love. But nothing is going to happen. You’re going to sail around the world and come back a heroine.”
Saturday morning - race day - dawned grey but dry. A brisk easterly breeze was blowing, which promised good sailing for the yachts as they crossed the start line.
Cassie, standing on Megabyte’s deck early that morning, sleepily took in the activity all around her. Having promised Bill and Liz a full report of the weekend, she was determined to soak up the atmosphere.
Just then, Anna appeared at her side.
“Compliments of the chef. Breakfast will be on the upper deck in five minutes madam,” she said, as she handed Cassie a welcome mug of tea.
“How’d you feel?” she asked. “Are you seeing Polly this morning before she’s towed out?”
Cassie shook her head.
“No. She did ask if I wanted to go out with the crew to the start, but I’m too much of a coward. Besides I hate crying in public.”
She took a deep breath. “We said our goodbyes late last night.”
There was a short silence before C
assie pointed along the quay, “There’s Tom and Mai. Doug said they were breakfasting on board.” She waved to her son and daughter-in-law.
Getting Tom and his wheelchair on board proved more difficult than Doug had anticipated, but Dexter appeared in the nick of time. His extra strength was enough to propel Tom up the steep gangplank.
“Thanks mate,” Tom said gratefully. “Have you seen Polly this morning?”
Dexter nodded. “She’s fine and raring to go. The shore crew are all on board ready for the tow out. It’s all systems go.”
Declining the offer to join them for breakfast Dexter took his leave.
“I’ve got to shepherd some VIPs to the launch in about ten minutes,” he explained.
As he turned to run down the gangway he smiled at Cassie.
“Don’t spend the next weeks worrying. Polly will be OK. She’ll be phoning you from Cape Town before you know it.”
While they were having breakfast, the crew slipped Megabyte from her moorings and slowly they began to make their way, with the flotilla of boats that was already building up, out into Plymouth Sound.
Several of the yachts were already in the start zone. They saw Clotted Cream being towed out and Polly gave them an excited wave before she and the crew began hoisting the mainsail.
As Megabyte’s hull cut her way through the rough water there was an air of anticipation on board despite the uncomfortable motion of the choppy water.
The large crowd of boats intent on giving the racing fleet a good send off, was churning the sea into a jumble of mismatched swells, wakes and waves.
As the time drew nearer for the start of the race, everybody watched as the boats did some tactical sailing in a bid to capture a good place in the start zone. Every skipper wanted to be first over the line when the gun went.
For Cassie one of the worse moments came when the support boat draw up alongside Clotted Cream and she saw the crew all hugging Polly goodbye, before climbing over the rails and leaving her on board alone.
Surreptitiously, Cassie wiped a tear away with the back of her hand and hoped that nobody had noticed.
With only ten minutes to go now, she knew that nothing would stop Polly from crossing the start line and she watched with mounting anxiety as Polly manoeuvred Clotted Cream into what she hoped would be a good position for the start.