Full Circle

by Linden Carroll

  She stayed to watch him for a moment longer as he staggered up the path with a basket laden with vegetables and Kali getting under his feet at every opportunity directing operations. What an incredible man, what stamina with all the trials in his life, still so handsome sporting a full head of silver hair with undertones of the original blond. Still longer, she lingered just watching him. No man could ever match up to him. Finally reaching the kitchen, he set his basket down on the counter and she wrapped her arms around him in tender embrace.

  “What’s all this about?” He was smiling at her, his crooked smile peeling the years away from his rugged features.

  They heard Bob and Cathy chortling away before she could reply. The two were in the hallway by this time, obviously enjoying one of Bob’s lurid jokes. Their moment was gone, as all moments must.

  “We’d better break this up my lady,” and winking down at her, “Won’t look good if the host and hostess are upstairs or something.”

  Bedlam ensued; the best kind of bedlam as when one’s dearest friends are coming to visit.

  Amy came rushing down the hall drying her hands again with Alex in hot pursuit. Bob and Cathy managed to get stuck in the corner of the hall with the suitcases, Kali succeeded in getting under everybody’s feet again; hugs all around and laughter permeated the walls.

  Later when they were are all sitting down, Bob held the floor as usual.

  “Just as well we’re all down here for a fresh start, I was going to have to do major renovations converting to North Sea gas or oil now that Margaret Thatcher has shut down all the mines. Anyway, all the easy coal has already been taken and what with the miners’ impractical demands, mining just isn’t a viable proposition any longer. So taken all round, the move has worked out really well for me. I prefer gas anyway.”

  “Yes, so do I,” Cathy piped up, “guess who will be going house hunting tomorrow? Isn’t it exciting? Perhaps you’d like to come with us Amy.”

  Nodding, Amy directed her gaze to Alex.

  “Alex have you told them about your boating friend’s place?”

  “I was about to princess but I can’t get a word in edgewise.”

  They all had a laugh and Amy rushed to get more refreshments from the kitchen followed closely by Alex. He swept her off her feet.

  “You look particularly delectable today, my princess.”

  “As do you my prince. Now you’d better get back in there to our guests and tell them about your friend’s house. Do you think you can take some of this food in for me please?”

  Alex continued where he had left off and they were all back in the lounge munching on their goodies.

  “As I was saying, Rudy and Zoe have this really great place just up from the water but it’s only good for two and now that she’s expecting they have to sell. It’s a tiny little cottage not far from here with a great view of the water as well; would be perfect for you two. Do you think you might like to take a look at it?”

  The following day saw Bob with an agreement in place. Alex was secretly impressed because while he knew the price of the cottage was fair, it was still substantial because of the location. Old Bob’s business with a bit of this and a bit of that certainly brought in the bread by the looks of it and big dividends to boot. He gave Bob a knowing wink when his friend showed him the contract.

  “Just reciprocating, Bob. Remember how you winked when I deposited my first sum of money in the bank from my cache in the tree. Have to say old friend, I’m impressed.”

  “As I was and am with you, really impressed that you can come up with the kind of cash that you’ve been talking about for starting up a tour boat business. The moorage costs alone in this area are enough to scupper anybody. You’ve never looked back that’s for sure. Good on you lad.”

  “Well I know it’s expensive but look what you get, easy access in and out at any tide and only a short hop to open water.”

  The two friends were really enthusiastic about starting the tour business. Alex hadn’t realised that Bob was out on many boating trips with Harry over the years and more than qualified when it came to running a vessel, having remained certified and abreast of the boating industry trends and regulations over the years. He was also unaware of just how serious Bob had been about retiring to a seafaring community down south. The correlation of their plans was a revelation to both, a real bonus to be travelling the same course.

  They spent the rest of the day on the boat with Alex, giving Bob a full tour. Even though the vessel was Amy’s favourite of all the ones they had seen; he wanted Bob to have a preview before the final purchase and had put a hold on it, pending the completion of the sale.

  It was a two engine powerful cruiser which could accommodate eight comfortably with a couple of bathrooms and en-suite off the master cabin, very spacious with a large viewing lounge and saloon, an aft deck and even a roomy fly deck for those with stronger stomachs. Bob was really impressed. Alex grinned all over his face.

  “What do you think about this high pressure diving compressor for deep-sea diving? I thought it would make a great optional extra if we ever took out some diving enthusiasts.”

  Bob slapped Alex on the back and grabbed his hand and began shaking it vigorously.

  "Yep, no argument there, looks like you’ve thought of everything and this vessel would certainly handle some long distance cruising if required. I’m really taken with the clear visibility from both helm positions. I think this is a really good choice, you certainly know how to pick ’em.

  On a more serious note, Alex, you’ve waited a lot of years for this and I must confess, so have I. I thought we might never get the opportunity to work together on a venture such as this and I feel really good about the whole thing. Just want you to know I’m thrilled to bits and so is Cathy. Her mouth has been going non-stop she’s so excited about this new phase in our lives."

  “I agree, absolutely. It’s a really special time for all of us.”

  *****

  Alex received an excellent price break from the vendor, nevertheless still ended up spending a prodigious amount of money but he didn’t care and filled with exuberance, rushed home to relay the day’s events to Amy.

  He found her in the bedroom sitting on the edge of the bed, her little treasure box on her lap. He recognised the little box. The first time he set eyes on it was when he rescued her from the street. She had taken it out of her knapsack all those years ago when he first met her. He remembered again his little tin box which he too had kept all these years. It had held his most precious possessions when, as an orphaned boy, he was forced to take to the streets to avoid being sent to an orphanage or worse exported as a pauper to one of the commonwealth countries.

  She was reading something.

  “Alex, sit down for a minute. I want you to read dear Frank’s note which he wrote to me just before he passed. Look at this little rhyme, I didn’t show it to anyone at the time as you know there was so much going on for all of us. What a dear sweet man he was. I think about him often.”

  She patted the bed beside her and the two sat closely while Alex read the words of an old man who had loved him and the teen girl as if they were his own.

  ****

  The following days were a frenzy of madness. Cathy and Amy were engrossed in setting up Bob and Cathy’s new house. Alex and Bob were wholly absorbed in plotting routes and putting their business in place. They both agreed that their tour radius initially would be around the Isle of Wight and later provide customised tours allowing stops en route at selected towns, each with a charm of their own and offering individual attractions. Their main focus would be on towns such as Cowes, the International Sailing Centre and host of world class regattas, Newport with its main shopping centre and the Victorian town Ryde with its miles of sandy beaches and the oldest pier in the world. The island offered so much diversity.

  They would be arranging for brochures to be printed up soon and getting their accountant/bookkeeper on board. The business would be run
initially from Alex’s office in the house and their plan was to eventually have a formal office a little later down the road. When the accountant issue had come up, Bob had immediately put Alex in touch with Mani, his own accountant. Alex was more than a little pessimistic about the business arrangement.

  “Now Bob, I’m sure that Mani is one of the best but I have some concerns.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Bob was interrupting again.

  “And I’m pretty sure what they are. Listen Alex, I’m strictly legit now. No more subversive stuff, strictly kosher. I’m not an idiot. I know we’re reaching out to the upper echelon on this tour business; the last thing I’m going to do is jeopardise it. Mani knows the score. There will be no, absolutely no fiddling with the books, strictly above board we definitely don’t want to get caught with our pants down. Don’t worry lad, I’ll not let you down.”

  The freckled nosed kid was grinning broadly right back at him.

  “It’s a funny thing Bob, those words seem familiar. Wasn’t it some snotty nosed street urchin that said the same to you some thirty odd years ago?”

  True to form their guffaws almost brought the roof down.

  Chapter 17

  Peace

  “Wake up sleepy head.”

  Amy wore a pair of faded, torn pale-blue jeans with a rose coloured shirt, exactly the same as all those years ago when he first saw her except she was no longer a street waif, now she was a beautiful mature woman, freshly scrubbed from the shower, glowing and carrying his breakfast tray to him.

  “Remember our first meal, how you laid the table for me in the old theatre with all the trimmings?”

  Alex was struggling with a wealth of pillows in an effort to sit up.

  “Oh I remember alright and how you ribbed me about being your king taking you back to my castle.”

  She was laughing and he laughed with her, joyous, boundless laughter.

  ****

  The next day was a flurry of activity with everything being scrubbed and cleaned including poor Kali and baking galore wafting delightful odours from the kitchen. Alex; however, was having a hard time. He sat nervously in the little sun room, book unread lying in his lap; his mind back in the past.

  They had been barely 16 years old when their daughter was born. So many years of their lives had passed, so deeply their transgression had been carried on their backs through each one, weighing on both so heavily. His dear Amy’s life’s project had been to inflict more abuse on her poor body and mind and his only recourse work, work and more work until he almost dropped, taking life threatening risks just for the hell of it. He had loved her more than life itself.

  Head in hands, he felt the onset of despair but his spirit rallied. What about all the wonderful people he had met over the years? What about the travel and most of all what about the final, wonderful bonding with his soulmate and the beautiful human being they had both created?

  Fiona was coming and would be here soon. Finally he was going to meet his daughter, his one and only sight of her had been as a newborn when he had held her in his arms so briefly. Through the years, that moment and her warm baby freshness had stayed with him to haunt him. He was more nervous now than when he skippered his first boat. What would she think of him? Would she consider him a successful father? He didn’t think he could stand another minute of waiting to find out. Getting to his feet, allowing the book to fall to the floor, he started pacing. He could see the ocean as he slipped through the French doors onto the little patio. How calm and tranquil the water was today, unlike me, he thought, his mind in turmoil.

  Hearing voices, he turned. The sight before him took his breath away. Amy, exquisite in her floral print dress, so typically English. Anybody looking at her would recognise her British heritage, even without her opening her mouth. A gorgeous, almost identical younger version of her moved confidently across the room smiling warmly. He didn’t know whether to shake her hand or what? Quite unabashed, she threw her arms around his neck and the two clung to each other for a few moments, both faces awash with tears. Amy looked on, grinning like a Cheshire cat then all three were talking at once. After all, they had to catch up on the last 30 odd years. Fiona was staying for a few days and they had a full agenda, particularly as she was anxious to see their boat moored at Lymington.

  “Fiona, perhaps you would like to go out on her tomorrow. I’ll invite Bob and Cathy, they’re dying to meet you. Would that be okay with you? We could all take a picnic and have a run up the coast. In fact we could actually go over to the Isle of Wight and stay a night. What do you think of that?”

  “Oh how fabulous, Dad, yes I’d love that and it’s absolutely terrific that I get to meet your friends. What a super surprise.”

  Alex started at the word ‘dad’. My God, how strange, I’m only a few years older than my own daughter… mind boggling.

  The next day saw the group piling down the steps to the harbour staggering under the weight of their picnic and overnight supplies, as they had unanimously agreed on a night stop off the Island.

  Fiona didn’t have to wonder which boat was her dad’s. There it was with huge black script lettering ‘Amy’s Choice’. Alex had insisted that Amy pick out the one she really wanted and she had no hesitation in picking this triple decker with spacious sleeping arrangements and plenty of room on the main deck and lounge for tourists.

  “All aboard then.”

  Alex was inordinately proud of his cruiser and delighted that Fiona, who was squealing enthusiastically, took to it immediately, as he helped her up the gang plank. Cathy eased her brightly clad, rubenesque figure up the incline with Bob’s hand firmly on her elbow, the pair of them giggling as always like a couple of school kids looking as if they’d just won first prize and Amy bringing up the rear, positively galloping up after them with Kali, now the seafaring hound of the south coast.

  Their trip took them around the east coast of the island past Ventnor, Shanklin, Sandown and finishing at Ryde where they enjoyed ambling through the Victorian architecture, finally quenching their thirst with a lager and lime on the patio of a gracious old pub which accommodated dogs, the owners welcoming them with a large bowl of water for Kali on the patio. It was a happy group that revelled in the comfort of ‘Amy’s Choice’ that evening. All equipment had checked out on the vessel and it had been an excellent trial run in readiness for business. Bob and Alex breathed a sigh of relief as they had both been keeping their fingers and toes crossed that nothing would go wrong.

  ****

  The new business took off like a house on fire and they were booked steadily throughout the major part of the year. Customised tours had been incorporated, taking in the many functions and regattas and even dinosaur and fossil hunting expeditions that the Isle of Wight offered.

  Somehow or other Alex and Bob managed to search out and sign the lease of their new business premises. The retrofit and set up of their new office space to receive and provide information to the general public was a major achievement considering how busy they were with the tours. The new coloured signage was eye catching and very professional and as the graphics company had a business branch dealing with professional business cards, stationary, etc. Alex was able to score a ‘wicked’ deal by having all the company’s paper needs handled under contract.

  Cathy now ran the front office assisted by Zoe who was her backup. Zoe was fortunate to have her mother around to help out with her young son and she loved working in the office to keep herself ‘centred’ as she called it. Having always been employed in various offices, she was very accomplished; a successful arrangement for all concerned.

  Rudy also became a valuable contributor to the business assisting Alex and Bob. As a licensed yachtsman with many years’ seafaring experience, he was a major asset to the business and both Alex and Bob considered themselves extremely fortunate to have been able to entice him into the company. They were all compatible with each other and made a great group both businesswise and on a social basis, enjoying many gra
nd get-togethers alternating around each of their homes.

  ****

  The days, months, years all rolled into one. Poor old Kali had passed on years before to be superseded by her relative of two generations hence. Almost identical in looks but finely made, hence her name ‘Willow’, a gentle creature, the same as Kali had always been.

  ****

  That night sitting next to each other gazing into the flames of the fire in the little parlour, they were close, closer than they had ever been before, almost as if they were one; each locked in thought. They had been enjoying some wine; their empty glasses caught the fire light casting an iridescent glow. The old dog’s feet twitched as she slept, in her own world of good smells and thousands of squirrels and rabbits.

  Alex noted for the first time how worn and frail his sweet Amy was. Her earlier years of hardship and abuse of her body were definitely telling on her. He gently moved a lock of hair from her eyes and tenderly put his arm around her shoulders.

  “Amy, you have never forgiven yourself or me for our indiscretion. Please put it aside, I implore you. It was so long ago, so very long ago.”

  She returned his affection suddenly putting her arms around him and holding him tight and for the first time she addressed the turmoil each had lived with for so long.

  “Alex, I want you to know I have always loved you ever since I first set eyes on you. You were the only one for me. I have always wanted you to hold me, love me but never to make love to me ever again and I’m sorry, so very sorry. The guilt of our irresponsibility weighed so heavily on me that something froze inside me and died. So long ago, so much time wasted, so much regret. Please forgive me. I’ve wasted our lives and precious time we could have spent together.”

  “Don’t Amy, please don’t lash yourself like this. It’s done and over. We’re blessed, we’ve had these wonderful years together and have a beautiful daughter who loves us in spite of all and although we’ve been apart, we have always been together in spirit. Our love has always been deep and everlasting.”