Chapter 20

Paul rose from the bed while his utterly sated wife drifted back to sleep. They woke a while ago, then after making sweet morning love, Andi insisted they talk about Yi. After deciding, he let Andi slip back to sleep as he showered, dressed and went above deck. He found Yi curled up on the salon couch where they left her a few hours before. With the AC turned off and the warm breezes coming through the salon windows, the little black dress she wore for most of the night was barely enough blanket for her. He found a blanket in a cabinet and covered her up, then went into the galley.

There were a few dishes that needed washing, so he put on the coffee and washed the dishes, emptied the dishwasher and started making preparation for breakfast. Eggs, corned beef hash, biscuits and sausage gravy. He wanted to make their passengers happy before they spring the news on them.

The sound of Paul bustling in the kitchen woke Yi. She blinked her eyes and took a few moments to orient herself, then sat up and stretched, yawning. She let the blanket fall into her lap, and she knew full well this put her breasts on full display. Paul continued working in the galley and never turned around. “Where do you keep the flour on this boat?”

With a frustrated growl, Yi stomped into the galley, holding her dress up to cover herself. She produced a large plastic canister marked flour and thumped it down on the counter. “Would you like me to find some water for you too?” she said, standing uncomfortably close to Paul.

“If worse came to worst, I can always lower a bucket over the side,” he replied, meeting her stare.

She dropped her dress and summoned up all her courage. “Like what you see?”

Paul never lowered his eyes. He simply tapped her on the forehead. “I love what I see. I see a bright, smart, witty mind that won’t back down from a challenge, and won’t take no for an answer.” He then without breaking eye contact tapped her on the chest between her delightful breasts, “I love this warm, friendly, funny heart, and am glad that we are such good friends.” He then gave her a kiss on the forehead.

She gathered up the dress that was pooled around her ankles and ran to the steps that took her down to her cabin. Paul had the distinct feeling that she was crying. As he turned to pour some coffee, he noticed Andi standing at the galley counter. “She’s crazy about you, you know.”

Paul frowned. “I’ve known her since she was a teenager.” He stepped around the counter and scooped his luscious young wife into his arms. “I’m crazy about her too, but she’s like a niece to me. I suppose that would crush her if I said that.”

“Oh, yes it would,” said Andi.

“However, I’m much crazier about you,” he said as their lips parted from their morning kiss. “Do you want me to go talk to her?”

“Oh, hell no. You sent her off like a schoolgirl with a crush,” said Andi.

“Well ... yeah. What could I do?”

Andi let out a growl of frustration. “Men!”

“What?” he shrugged. “What did I do? What could I do?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll fix it. You just get breakfast ready.” Andi stepped out of the galley to go console Yi when she noticed an object that Yi probably dropped. She grabbed it and headed below deck, blowing a kiss to Paul as he repeated himself.

“What did I do?”

“Men!”

Below deck, Andi knocked softly on Yi’s cabin door. “Yi? Can I come in?” There was no answer.

There was no other place to go at the base of these stairs other than the head. The door for that was unlatched, and the head was empty. She tapped on the cabin door again. “Yi? I’m coming in.” The cabin door was unlocked, and she opened and went in, but the room was empty. Andi eyed the watertight door into the engine room and spun the wheel to open it.

Inside the engine room, Andi found Yi wearing just a t-shirt and leaning against one of the diesel engines, crying. Andi went straight to her and wrapped her arms around the weeping girl. Yi tried to push her away, but like Yi, Andi is a woman who won’t take no for an answer. Eventually Yi stopped fighting and allowed Andi to hold her close, then Yi clung to her and wept, “I’m sorry,” over and over. When Yi’s tears eased, Andi led her out of the engine room and into her cabin.