Chapter 2

The classiness of L'Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington, Minnesota made Sandy uncomfortable. She felt like the poor bumpkin cousin visiting the big city snooty family. Casual Island clothing didn't fit the ambience. It was the one expense, and a rather expensive one, which Jordan McAndrew didn't cover. Not a typical shopping lover associated with her gender, she found it kind of fun, almost a fantasy moment, when she spent a day at the fanciest stores in downtown Minneapolis to pick out a couple of power suits, an evening gown, a little black dress and a couple of business casual outfits. Once inside her room though, she took advantage of the comfortable bed and the large space and especially the fine French cooking and great service, all of which she silently thanked Jordan for buying her.

And the one entire day she planned to spend with Jordan she happily could dress down. If he expected her to get fancy for sailing, to wear some cute sailor outfit or something, he was going to be disappointed. She hadn't done much sailing since her father's death when she was in her mid-twenties. Before that she had been his first mate on many long excursions around the Islands while he did research or brought along friends or relatives or fellow struggling intellectuals for fishing or sightseeing expeditions. She knew how to dress for comfort and warmth when sailing.

The sun just started to bleach away the dark purple and red of a lingering night when Sandy shut off the lights and closed the door behind her. She wore a peacoat, a clinging long sleeve sweater shirt and jeans. A ragged canvas bag stuffed with a clothes change and a floppy hat pulled on her right shoulder.