“Polly would you like this? I know one day you’ll have a wedding ring of your own but maybe you’d like to wear this on your right hand? After your little speech last week I thought you might appreciate a tangible heirloom from your Dad and me. And never doubt that he would be as proud of you as I am.”
Polly slipped the ring onto her finger and Cassie took a deep breath.
“I think we’d better start getting ready. Otherwise I’m going to be late for my wedding.”
“Brides prerogative!” Polly laughed and took the breakfast tray away.
Two hours later Polly looked at Cassie.
“Mum you’re beautiful. And your outfit is perfect. Right the cars are here. Gran and I are off to church with Tom and Mai and Alice. Gramps is waiting for you downstairs.”
Half an hour later, standing in the church porch as Polly handed her the bouquet, Cassie glanced into the chapel. James was waiting by the altar, his back towards her.
As though he sensed her watching, he slowly turned and smiled at her. Cassie felt the now familiar lurch of her heart as she smiled back.
“Ready Cassie?” Bill asked taking her arm.
Cassie nodded. Yes she was finally ready to make her way down the aisle towards the man she loved.
As Polly took her place behind her, Cassie couldn’t help glancing at her daughter and wondering, in the midst of her own happiness, which path her daughter was going to chose - career woman or wife?
Three days after Cassie and James left on their honeymoon, Anna drove Polly to Plymouth to collect Clotted Cream. Polly had been hoping that Dexter would be able to join her, but the night before, he’d phoned to tell her he couldn’t make it.
Anna turned the car on to the main road.
“Do you have any idea where James has taken Cassie?”
“A place called Udaipur in north-west India. Mum rang to let us know they’d arrived safely and said it’s the most amazing place.
They’re staying in a marble palace built so close to the edge of a huge lake it’s like being on board a boat when you look out of a window. It’s apparently incredibly romantic.”
“It sounds the perfect place for a honeymoon. How long will they be away?”
“A week. They’re due back on Sunday,” Polly said.
Anna glanced at her god-daughter.
“And what about you and Dexter? You seemed very happy together at the wedding.”
“Well, we’re certainly trying to make a go of things,” Polly replied. “But even now I’m back on dry land we’re still miles apart most of the time.
She sighed, remembering the last time she and Dexter had seen each other. They’d wandered off together into the secluded rose garden of the stately home where James and Cassie had held their wedding.
She’d gone willingly into Dexter’s arms and returned his kisses with a fervour that surprised both of them.
“Oh Polly, what are we going to do?” Dexter had murmured, holding her close.
Standing in the circle of his arms Polly had looked up at him.
“We simply won’t let life drive us apart.” Her tone was defiant.
Now, though, she wasn’t so confident. She glanced at Anna.
“Do you believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder? Or do you agree with Dexter it can sound the death knoll for relationships?”
Anna took a few moments before answering.
“I think it depends on how strong the relationship is in the first place - and whether not being together all the time suits both parties. It’s when resentment creeps in that trouble starts.
“Things have a way of working themselves out,” she added comfortably. “You just have to decide on your priorities.”
An hour later, Anna dropped Polly on the quay alongside Clotted Cream. Climbing back on board the yacht was like returning home.
Everything was so reassuringly familiar. Polly took a deep breath. Oh, it was good to be back on board.
Motoring out of the Sound into the Channel, Polly took an easterly bearing before cutting the engine and starting to hoist the mainsail. She intended to enjoy a final solo sail before handing the boat back to Tom.
Standing at the tiller holding the yacht on her course up the Channel, Polly tried again to think coherently about her future.
Everybody, including Dexter, kept telling her to do what she wanted. The trouble was she no longer knew what that was.
But as she enjoyed the familiar sensation of Clotted Cream riding the waves, Polly realised she couldn’t give up her involvement in the yachting world anymore than she could give up Dexter.
What was it that Cassie had said about compromise?
It was the final evening of their honeymoon and Cassie and James were enjoying a romantic moonlit dinner on a raft moored several yards out into the lake.
On shore the floodlit marble palace was reflected in the quietly lapping waters and there was the gentle sound of a sitar drifting out on the breeze towards them.
“Cassie, we have to talk about the future,” James said, filling her glass with champagne.
Cassie looked at him and waited.
“This letter arrived last Saturday as I left for the church. I’d completely forgotten about it until this evening.” James handed Cassie an envelope.
“It’s from an old Naval friend congratulating me and…well read it for yourself.”
Cassie quickly scanned the short note.
“It’s a year’s contract to help run…” she glanced back down at the letter, “ - La Marina des Oiseaux.”
James was watching her anxiously.
“It’s right down on the Med. Close to the French/Spanish border. I haven’t been there for years, but it’s a very beautiful part of the world.”
“Do you want this job?” Cassie asked quietly.
“Well it’s the only firm offer I’ve had since my redundancy. And yes, I do quite like the idea of a year down South, but it’s no longer a decision I can take alone. The new Mrs White has a major say now.”
He reached across the table and took hold of her hand.
“Cassie, I only opened the letter two hours ago so I haven’t had much time to think about it either. But it did cross my mind that maybe we could sell my boat, buy a bigger one, sail down there and live on board for a year. Then when the contract ends, we’d sail back to England. It would be an adventure for our middle years.”
“I thought you’d virtually decided to take early retirement,” Cassie said slowly.
“I still can, but I do feel as though I’ve been thrown on the scrap-heap too soon at the moment,” James said his tone thoughtful.
There was a short silence before Cassie replied.
“Well, it would certainly be a completely new start to our married life together. It’s a long time since I lived on board a boat but, like you say, it would be an adventure to remember together.”
She picked up her wine glass and took a sip hoping James wouldn’t notice her shaking hand. She re-read the letter.
“Your friend says the contract would start in a couple of months. That doesn’t give us much time to organise everything.”
She did a quick calculation of dates.
“It would mean leaving immediately after Alice’s christening.”
Cassie took a deep breath.
“OK. You‘d better tell your friend you’d like the job. Tell him too Mr and Mrs White would like a berth reserved in the marina for their as yet un-purchased floating home.”
Now she was back on dry land Polly was inundated with requests for interviews. The latest one for a local radio station near Bristol, meant that afterwards she could visit Dexter and see his family farm for the first time.
Once her initial nervousness disappeared she found she thoroughly enjoyed talking about her round the world experiences.
Suzie the producer, switched her microphone off at the end.
“Thanks Polly. That was great. You’re a natural. Will you come back at the end of the m
onth and take part in a discussion with some teenagers? The schools around here followed your trip and I know some of the girls look on you as a role model.”
“Gosh that’s scary,” Polly said. “I’d love to, if I can fit it in. Let’s take a look in the diary.”
Half an hour later, having agreed to do another two programmes, Polly set off for Dexter’s family farm.
Not far from the north Somerset coast, the farm sat at the end of a long track with woods behind it. In the distance across the fields the occasional glint of the Bristol Channel could be seen.
After coffee in the farmhouse kitchen with his parents, Dexter found her a pair of wellingtons and took her on a tour of the farm.
When they returned he stopped in front of some outbuildings on the edge of the farmyard.
“Well, apart from my surprise in here, I think you’ve seen everything Home Farm has to offer.”
The building Dexter had stopped in front of had large double doors. He lifted up the closing bar up and swung the doors open.
Inside, shored up with lengths of timber, was a forty-foot fibreglass sailing boat.
“I bought it with the proceeds from my flat in the States. I thought in the dim and distant future you and I would enjoy sailing her together.” Dexter said.
“She only arrived two days ago. The hull is basically OK but the interior needs a lot of work.”
He looked at Polly.
“It’s my project to keep me out of mischief and occupied while you’re busy sailing the seven seas. Hopefully it will stop me missing you too much.”
Polly was quiet for a moment as she walked around the hull.
“Lovely lines. She should be quite fast. Can we go on board?”
“There’s a ladder around the other side. I’ll give you a hand up.”
Sitting next to Dexter on one of the bunks in the cabin Polly spoke.
“I’ve been thinking about missing you, too. And I’ve decided to do something about it. But first I need to ask you something.”
“Ask away,” he said, giving her a hug.
“You know how you helped me with taking over Clotted Cream after Tom’s accident, sorting out the media business and recently drumming up sponsors for me? I was going to ask if you’d continue to do that, be my manager if you like. But now you’ve got the boat as a project you’re going to be even busier…” Her voice trailed away.
Dexter pulled her closer. “Polly, I’d love to be your manager. The farm has to be my main priority for the next few months, but I’ll definitely be able to help you. There’s no time limit on restoring the boat.”
“Thank you.” Polly smiled happily. “Now the other thing is, I’ve got to find somewhere to live. I know I can still stay at Boatyard House, but Tom and Mai would probably appreciate having the place to themselves. I was thinking I might move nearer here - Bath or Bristol, maybe.”
“We’ll have a look in the local paper later. See what’s available for rent. You really have been thinking about things, haven’t you?”
“Yep. There’s something else too, but until it’s finalised I’m not telling you what it is. By the way, I’m going up to London next week to see the sponsors.”
“Do you want your new manager to come with you?” Dexter asked.
Polly shook her head.
“Not on this occasion thanks.”
“Now tell me your plans for the yacht.” She deliberately changed the topic of conversation before Dexter could ask for details about her planned meeting with the sponsors.
The weeks leading up to the weekend of the Christening passed in a blur of activity for everyone.
The whole family greeted the news that she and James were to live in France for a year with enthusiasm.
“Good for James,” Toms said. “We’ll definitely be down to see you both.”
Polly had hugged her. “It’ll be great Mum - all that sunshine. I’ll be visiting too.”
Bill and Liz were quieter in their good wishes.
“I’ll miss you,” her mother said, holding Cassie tightly. “Are you sure it’s only for a year?”
Only for a year or not, there was a lot of organising to do. One of the first things Cassie and James talked about was what to do with Solo.
“There’s no problem with the quarantine laws these days, so she can always come with us,” James said. “She’d soon get used to the boat.”
But Cassie was doubtful. She felt Solo would be happier staying on land. Bill said he’d be happy to keep her down in the yard.
“She’s a good guard dog that one.”
But Cassie couldn’t bear the thought of Solo being in a kennel on cold winter nights.
Solo solved the problem herself by disappearing from River View Cottage one afternoon while Cassie and James were busy packing. When a distraught Cassie finally tracked her down she was asleep in the small garden of Boatyard House.
Mai had put Alice outside in her pram for a sleep and Solo had taken up position alongside.
“She really took to Alice while you were away. She’s very protective towards her. We’d love to have her - not just while you’re away but permanently,” Mai said. “If that’s possible?”
“That would be wonderful,” Cassie said. “I was worried about leaving her but I know she’ll be happy with you.”
Bill had agreed to sell them River View Cottage and there was all the legal side of the purchase to be seen to before they left.
Then there was a question of finding a suitable boat for the trip down to the Mediterranean. Days were spent looking through sales brochures and scouring the yachting press.
Finally, two weeks before they were due to leave, they found the perfect vessel.
Moored in Fowey it was a 42ft motor sailer, more than capable of coping with the trip down south. The good news as far as James and Cassie were concerned was that she was in a totally seaworthy condition.
When they looked her over they couldn’t believe how lucky they’d been to find her. Cassie had smiled when she’d first seen the name ‘My Dream’. It couldn’t have been more appropriate.
She and James motored her back and moored her on one of the boatyard pontoons.
Now ‘My Dream’ was anchored outside River View Cottage being loaded up for the voyage.
With just a week to go before the christening, Polly was on her way to see Dexter. She’d had news about her sponsorship and wanted to tell him face to face.
She phoned from a service station on the outskirts of Weston to let him know she was coming.
“Nothing’s wrong is it?” he asked worriedly. “You’re all right?”
“I’m fine. I’ll see you soon.”
Dexter was waiting for her at the top of the farm drive. As she stopped the car he looked anxiously through the car window.
“Shall we go for a walk?” she suggested.
Taking her hand, he led her in the direction of a small wood in the distance.
“Right Polly, what’s this all about?”
“I’ve had a phone call from the sponsors. There’s a new contract for me in the post. Actually it’s on its way to you for checking and final approval.”
Dexter waited.
“You’ll notice a few adjustments when it gets here and I wanted to tell you about them myself.”
Polly took a deep breath.
“The last few weeks have been really difficult trying to decide what to do. I love you. I love sailing. I couldn’t bear the thought of not being with you, but I also couldn’t bear the thought of not sailing competitively anymore. So, I’ve taken Mum’s advice and compromised. I’ve decided not to do any more races like the Around Alone or the next Vendee Globe.”
She glanced at Dexter trying to judge his reaction, but his face was expressionless as he waited for her to continue.
“Instead I’m going to concentrate on shorter races like the Route de Rhum and the Mini Transat. I’ll still be away at times but it won’t be for months on end. I’m also going to tr
y and increase my media work. Suzie at the local radio station up here is keen for me to present a sporting quiz programme.
I’ve still got my book to write and there are lots of talks lined up for the next few months.”
“Why didn’t you tell me what you were trying to do?” Dexter asked.
“I thought you might say I was silly not accepting such a fantastic offer. Besides I wasn’t sure whether the sponsors would agree to altering the contract.”
Dexter was silent for a moment or two.
“It’s wonderful news, Polly, I’m really pleased it’s all working out,” he said eventually.
“But what?” Polly said. “I can definitely sense a ‘but’.”
“I just wish you hadn’t made these decisions behind my back. I know you meant well Polly but if we’re going to have any sort of future together we must talk to each other. No secrets about anything. Promise?”
“I promise. Am I forgiven?” she asked quietly.
By way of an answer Dexter pulled her into his arms. “It’s going to be wonderful to have the time to get to know each other properly,” he said.
The day of the christening dawned bright and clear.
Cassie gazed out of the window of River View Cottage at ‘My Dream’ gently bobbing up and down on her anchor. Tonight, she and James planned to sleep on board ready for a dawn start tomorrow on the early high tide.
Cassie suppressed a sigh. James was so enthusiastic about his new job that most of the time he carried her along with him. It was only when she was on her own that she grew apprehensive.
Although she was looking forward to the year ahead a tiny part of her was afraid they were doing the wrong thing.
As though sensing her thoughts, a sleep tousled James appeared in the kitchen and put his arms around her.
“Morning wife.Penny for them?”
Cassie shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to voice her worries, but of course, James realised she was concerned about their decision.
“Cassie, my love,” James began, holding her close. “I know it’s a big step we’re taking but it will be all right, you’ll see. It’s only natural for you to miss the family, but you and I will be together. This is our time. And I promise you Cassie, come what may, I’ll always be there for you.”
FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA Page 17