London Harmony: Flotilla (11 page)

I had strain creasing my brow? I realized my brow was creased and let it relax. Huh. Then I hopped up and said, “Of course.” I strode to the children's door and said in a singsong tone, “I wonder if there are any roos about in here. I was rewarded with giggles that turned into playful screams as I stepped in, growling like a bear.

It wasn't until late that night, after reading them to sleep, that I grudgingly retired back to the Flotilla. After of course Steph and I curled onto the couch, and I listened to her tell me of the joys and shames of her life. It seemed we were getting into the pattern of alternating between sharing secrets about ourselves with each meeting.

When the taxi dropped me at the Flotilla that night, there was a large black SUV, which was identical to Paya's sitting in one of the reserved spaces with a giant red bow and ribbon on it. I stared at it all the way into my cabin on the Persephone.

There was a key and a note on the conference table. I picked them up and read the loopy writing that was one of Paya's trademarks. “Your company car is in the car park, this should make it easier for you to do my evil bidding. -Paya”

I chuckled at the note then smiled at the keys. I had never owned a motor vehicle before. I had just got my license when the shit hit the fan at home. It was the last thing I had done for me, before my family turned on me.

Then my smile faded as doubt crept in. That SUV out there was a monster, would I be able to navigate in it?

***

Paya worked me double-time the next day to make up for what she called my slacking. But I knew the truth, that she was more than happy to lend me to Steph any time she rang.

I dove on my mobile that night when it rang, I barely glanced at Steph's name on the screen when I answered, “On my way.”

I caught her giggle as I rang off and juggled the keys I already had in my hand, hoping for her call.

That was my new normal after that. A hard and satisfying day's work followed by a relaxing night sharing supper and reading the roos to sleep each night. And two days a week I found myself in surreal voice lessons with Teri. Tabby often dropping by to listen. I've no clue what those birds are about.

As the weeks progressed, I found myself waking on the couch with Stephanie curled into me more often than not. And the minx was definitely flirting with me now unless I was completely daft and off the mark. Though surely it was just all play.

I found myself feeling genuinely happy and noted that the permanent crease in my forehead was gone more often than there when she was around.

That brought us to the night of her slip. We had just finished our fizzy drinks; no wine since I was driving now; and stood and stretched. She held my hand as I made my way to the door and bundled up against the cold.

It had been another night of discovery as we shared our dreams of the future with each other. Every night was a different topic that brought us that much closer together. I shrugged into my heavy coat and wiggled my eyebrows at her as I said, “Unto the breach.”

She grinned and rolled her eyes at my drama as she said, “See you tomorrow. The munchkins want us to read Peter Pan.”

I nodded, “Of course.” Then I froze as she leaned in for her customary peck on the cheek which had been seeming more tender recently. But this time, I found her lips on mine. It was over as quickly as it had happened. I virtually stumbled out the door in my happy daze, and she shut it behind me like she hadn't noticed.

It was when I was getting dizzy that I realized I hadn't been breathing. I exhaled and took a breath. I smiled to myself and rationalized, it was just reflex from years of marriage, and she'll realize what she did and apologize later. I secretly wished it hadn't been a slip.

But the next few days followed the same pattern, and I longed for our goodnights. Being the coward I am, I never asked nor brought the subject up. She was always holding my hand and always gave me a goodnight kiss that seemed to linger longer and longer each night.

We were half way through Peter Pan, the roos sitting and dozing in each of our laps one evening when Paya rang. I answered in my best approximation of Tabby's voice, “Hiya, Paya!”

I had to smile at her titter on the other end before she said, “You keep missing Thursday Night, Tabs says she'd love to see you there this time.”

I sighed, we had this conversation before, I said, “I've important business tomorrow night.”

She said loud enough for Steph to overhear to my extreme embarrassment, “You can get nookie any night woman.”

I spluttered, “I... she... I'm reading to the roos.”

She said in a sage tone, “Is that what they are calling it these days?”

I squeaked trying to defend myself but failed miserably as I sat back with a burning blush on my cheeks and Stephanie started chuckling in pure amusement. I scrunched my nose at her and said, “Oh shush you. You know what she's thinking.” She feigned innocence with a shrug. I had to smile at her, it was hardwired into my DNA at that point.

Paya chimed out, “Then bring yer girl and the little ones. June and Vannie would love to have them over at Tabby's Water Witch.”

Then before I could protest, she said, “See you after you sink the Persephone then.” And she rung off.

I blanched. That's right, tomorrow was the day the Flotilla took to the waterways, and Captain McCray was going to make me pilot the barge under his watchful eye. In other words, so that he could step in if I were about to do as Paya said and sink the Persephone.

A warm and reassuring hand was on my arm, and the object of my affection said with surety in her voice, “You'll be brill. If not, remember to wear your life preserver.”

I snorted and said, “Smartarse...” Then looked at the sleepy children and quickly rephrased, “Smart butt.”

She rolled her eyes. I was such a bad influence on the roos. Just yesterday we caught Natalie saying, “Bloody hell,” for the first time. I wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere, but Steph just chuckled at my reaction.

She sighed as we tucked the children in and closed the book. I kissed each goodnight on the forehead and melted a little inside when Nat said, “G'night Auntie Kanga. Love you.”

I whispered into the air, “I love you too little roos.”

Steph dragged me into the main room and sighed in resignation as she said, “I guess that means you'll be heading out already, you've a big day tomorrow as the Master of the Persephone.”

I nodded reluctantly, and she just hugged my arm as I went to collect my coat from the hook by the door. I said, “You heard the evil one?”

She nodded with an impish grin and I shook my head at her playfulness and asked, “You'll come?” I added, “She's been trying to get me to this Thursday Night thing for weeks. I think it is like some sort of shindig they throw each week.”

She burst out in a giggle and cocked an eyebrow as she asked, “Shindig?”

I tried to hide my returning smile and said, “Shut up.”

She nodded and giggled into my lips as she kissed me while she opened the door, “We'd be delighted to be your dates.”

Then she shoved me out the door. I blinked. “Dates?” I savored the warmth that always spread through me at her touch and felt the buzz of our kiss tingling down to my toes. I smiled and skipped down the corridor to the stairs. What a spectacularly awesome night it was indeed.

I was virtually yelling at Captain McCray, as Paya was almost doubled over in laughter, “Bloody Hell, I'm going to slam us into the pier, do something, man!”

I glanced over at the hysterically giggling Indian woman and hissed, “I will hurt you, woman!”

The captain was shaking his head and laid a hand on the white knuckles I had clenched around the throttle lever in a death grip as I steered the non-graceful barge toward our doom at the Flotilla pier. He said as he pushed my hand and the lever forward just a tiny bit more, giving us more speed, “Just as we talked about when you shadowed me on the other exercise outings today... Treat her like a lover, just coax her a bit and she'll do the rest. You're doing fine.”

I asked the man, “Do your encounters with your lovers all end in screaming and fiery deaths?”

The bloke actually looked amused, and Paya burst into another uncontrollable bout of laughter, holding her gut. I looked slightly away from the pier and squinted my eye as we came screaming into the Persephone's slip and... didn't slam into the dock.

We bumped it gently, like a whispering kiss. Ok, so maybe we weren't going as bat out of hell as I thought. And fine, maybe I had taken an inordinate amount of time slowing us down and tiptoeing the barge up to the dock. It was still terrifying to me. But after we touched, I was filled with an elated feeling of triumph as I slammed the throttle to the center, cutting the powerful diesel engine.

I shouted out the window, “Mooring lines!” And watched as some of the residents hopped to the pier and secured the ropes to the big metal bollards, then the gangplank and railing were lowered. We'd docked, not died as I had predicted.

I turned to look up at a smug looking Captain McCray, and I said, “That was brilliant! Let's do it again.”

I was worried Paya was going to pass out from lack of oxygen to her brain as she started another giggle fest. I kicked a foot out to knock the chair out from under her, and she fell to the desk. I gave her an evil grin as she tried to compose herself. I said, “It's not that bloody funny.”

She nodded and gasped out as she stood, “Yes. It is. Your face... the panic...”

I nodded. “Yes yes, all very amusing. I hate you.”

She nodded back. “I love you too Ange.”

I went through the mooring checklist as I tried not to smile at the pixie. The Captain then took the checklist clipboard from me, signed off and without so much as a good day, stepped out of the pilot's house and headed back to his Tennessee.

I finally grinned at Paya and said with excitement in my voice, “I piloted the Persephone.”

She nodded. “Yes, I was there. You did a brill job. McCray is over the moon that he'll have a second pilot for the Flotilla now, it will speed up exercise days, having two barges out at once. I think he'll just shadow you one last time before letting you solo.”

I tilted my head. “Why don't you take one out? I've heard you can pilot these whales.”

She shrugged and said, “Always had too much work to do.”

I countered, “And now, you have me.”

She nodded at that, forehead creased in thought, then she smiled, “You're right of course. We can have ourselves a convoy on the Thames then. I'll let the captain know.”

I smiled. That would be a sight to see. Three of these massive barges at a time, with essentially floating condos on them, casting their wakes in the Thames with all of London looking on.

I glanced at the time as the sun hung low on the horizon. It had been a hectic day. First, we hammered out details for my outreach program, I was stoked just knowing that it was coming to fruition and that Paya and Tabby were treating it as something as important as I believed it was. Then we joined the captain to start the process of taking each barge out into the waterways.

As exciting as all that was, I was still more excited that I was going to see Steph and the roos in a bit. I so looked forward to our nights, though they most likely meant more to me than Stephanie. I hesitated at that thought. The exasperating woman was such a confusing contradiction to me. Half the time I swear she was flirting with me, and our kisses felt way more than platonic to me.

I said to Paya, “I have to pick up Steph and the little ones for this Thursday Night thingy. I'll see you there?”

She nodded with a smug smile on her face. I'd think she was teasing me if that wasn't her default look, which was frustrating in itself because it always looked so cute on the manky bint. Then I paused and asked before I went out to check the mooring lines; I felt responsible for the Persephone now, she was my girl; “So is this like a casual thing or do I need to look like you.”

She looked down at her typical posh outfit and asked as if wounded, “What's wrong with this?”

I chuckled and said, “You always look like you're ready to model for a fashion cover at any moment.”

She stuck her tongue out and said, “June and Jen have infected me with their love for fine clothing, you can blame them.” Then she shrugged. “Thursday Night is about as casual as things go.”

She followed me out and down to the deck as I checked to see that the mooring lines were properly secured. I asked absently, “Harry coming?”

I knew it was the wrong thing to ask immediately as she absently started twisting her engagement ring absently on her finger. The friction had been building in recent days as his company started putting more pressure on him to move to France so he was more accessible to them.

She just nodded and gave me a weak smile. I laid a hand on her arm and gave a reassuring squeeze. “Things will work out as they ought.”

She nodded, patted my hand and then straightened, letting her insecurities wash away like water off a duck's back. “See you tonight then.”

I watched her deftly hop to the pier instead of using the gangplank and then I turned and headed back up to my cabin. Letting my worry for the woman who had saved me, froth in the corners of my mind. I wished there was something I could do to help, but of course, there wasn't, and I hated feeling helpless when people I loved were in emotional turmoil.

I smiled at the thought. Yes, I loved the sneaky lady, she was like the big sister that everyone wished they had. She was part of my new family. A family that was seeming to grow and flourish. Steph, the roos, and even Tabby and Teri were part of it. Captain McCray was the grumpy uncle of few words in our group.

I threw on some casual clothes, opting for some dark slacks and a cream blouse that Paya had given me because it was too big for her. I realized my wardrobe had grown exponentially with her around and had moved more toward the upscale side. She was fairly odd when shopping, she'd always grab things off the rack in her size that caught her attention, without trying them on.

Every manufacturer's sizes vary. One benefit is that when she finally tries them on at home if they are too loose on her small frame, they seemed to make their way into my cabin since I am taller and a little more... pronounced in the chest than my fearless leader.

I smoothed the light material to my sides as I looked at the woman in the mirror, Running my fingers through my honey blonde hair. I shrugged. I guess she'll just have to do. I absently wondered what Steph's type was. It hit me that I haven't even seen a single photograph of her ex. She's probably the chiseled jaw, five o'clock shadow kind of gal.

I sighed and pulled out my mobile as I head to the door to put on my heavier jacket, the black one which Steph liked, since it was already getting a bit nippy out. On the first ring, she answered in a cheery tone, “Hey, Kanga.”

I chuckled out a, “Not you too.”

She countered, “What? I think it's adorable.”

I blushed and spoke through my smile, “Be there in ten. The roos bundled up? It's going to be a cold one tonight.”

She said in an amused tone, “Yes, mum.” Then added, “Should I take snacks for the car or will there be food at this gathering? I didn't have time to fix supper since I just got home.”

I wasn't sure and passed that along, then I stepped outside, shutting the cabin door behind me. I had an odd thought, that the door had never been locked. I wondered if there was even a key for it. It showed just how amazing the Flotilla really was, with everyone looking out for us that we didn't feel the need to lock up. All the other cabins had self-locking doors to protect our residents.

I said, “See you in two shakes.”

I swear I heard the smile in her tone as she said, “Ta.”

I echoed, “Ta.” Then rang off. I was excited to see her again. How pathetic was I? My heart always raced at the thought of seeing her. I felt like a lovesick schoolgirl.

When I arrived, I buzzed myself in with the spare keycard Steph got for me, and when I stepped up to the flat door, I knocked in a shave and a haircut pattern. I grinned at the squealing that it incited on the other side. The door opened, and I saw a grinning Steph holding an upside down Wil, who had only one shoe on.

She gave me a peck on the lips in greeting and shoved her squirming package into my arms. “See if you can do something with this. I need my jacket.”

I nodded and threw a giggling Wil up over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes while Nat closed the door behind me. “Come on big guy, let's find your other shoe.” I looked around, and it was apparent the conundrum, the other shoe was nowhere to be seen.

We went into their room and started hunting. Natalie was unusually quiet, and I paused and turned dramatically and cocked an eyebrow at her. This caused a giggle fit from the little one who was acting far too innocent. I asked in an expectant tone, “Nat, is there something you'd like to share with the class?”

She finally broke and said between chuckles, “His feet are stinky so his shoe went home.”

She kept glancing at their rows of stuffed animals. I said, “Ah ha!” As I unceremoniously dropped Wil on his bed and stepped over and took his missing shoe off the head of their stuffed skunk.

Both the roos were bouncing on his bed when I turned back. I smiled and growled like a tiger to their giggling delight, then I sat on the bed and patted my lap. Wil climbed aboard, and I put his shoe on, tying the laces, then I examined their coats to check they were properly zipped.

I turned to look at what had Nat's attention, to see Stephanie just leaning against the door frame with the warmest smile and most thoughtful look on her face. I smiled, she looked great in her jeans and her puffy jacket. I asked, feeling self conscious suddenly, “What?”

She shook her head and just held her hand out toward me expectantly. “Nothing, we better get a move on.”

I stood, hoisting Wil onto my hip and took her offered hand. She led me out, and Natalie grabbed a belt loop on my hip and we walked to the door and out to the corridor like a family. I had this odd feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt... loved.

Once we were all strapped in and on the road, singing like fools to the music over the radio, I navigated us to the little marina where the Water Witch was moored. I had dropped Tabby off there once when she hitched a ride with me from the Conservatoire where Teri had been putting me through vocal torture.

The Water Witch was a sight to see. The biggest houseboat I had ever laid eyes on, with one wall constructed of huge glass panes to give the optimal view of the river and the London skyline. It was pretty close to the size of the Persephone herself, yet only Tabitha and Teresa lived on her. There was a huge upper deck that was ideal for gatherings.

As we pulled into the marina car park, which was overly crowded for some unknown reason until I glanced at the Water Witch and saw one of the aforementioned gatherings on her upper deck. I blinked. There had to be at least thirty or forty people milling about up there. Just what the bloody hell was this Thursday Night thing?

I glanced around before shutting the engine off. It seemed people lined the other boats in the marina, and there were some people gathered on the docks in front of the little marina office with folding chairs. Alrighty then. I looked over at a smug looking Stephanie then squinted at her and asked, “You know what tomfoolery is afoot here don't you? You've been to one of these Thursday Night things?”

She nodded and Nat said from the back as she struggled to get out of her seatbelt, “Everyone's been to a Thursday Night.” I could hear the implied, “Duh,” in her tone as Steph nodded and snickered.

Steph opened her door and slid out saying, “Just hush, and you'll get to experience it yourself. I'd hate to ruin the surprise of it all. Paya brought me and the munchkins to one of these a few weeks before you surfaced.”

I sighed, the evil bird wasn't going to clue me in it seemed. I hopped out and retrieved Nat, who I slung up onto my shoulders while Steph carried Wil on her hip. We naturally gravitated together, and she absently clasped hands with me and started leading us to the crowded houseboat. A huge part of me sighed inside, and I felt a weight chased from my mind with her at my side.

As we reached the aluminum gangplank, someone above us squeaked. I glanced up, and there was a breathtaking goth woman looking down at us, with raven black hair and lips. She blurted out behind her, “The babies are here again!” Then down to us, she said, “Get up here ladies.”