We laughed and I told my parents the story of the first turkey we’d met on the island.

  “You have the start of a wonderful home,” Takumi told my family.

  They beamed.

  “I know you have lots to do today, but I have a surprise for you in the harbor.”

  “You sailed here on Whistler?” I said.

  “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.” He made a face. “But you might want to bring your wheelbarrow.”

  We hiked to the cliff above Scorpion Anchorage. I was right. Anchored, right there in the bay, was Whistler.

  “You went off and left her unattended?” Dylan growled.

  “Don’t worry, Sassy and Kevin sailed with me. They’re keeping watch.” Takumi headed down the hill.

  “So, the Marines are on board. Guarding it.” Dylan looked at Dad.

  “Yes, they are.” Takumi stopped and stared at Dylan.

  I grabbed Takumi’s hand and we ran ahead. The boat sparkled. The gunshot wounds had been repaired. The paint didn’t match completely, but it looked so much better. There were even more wind and solar power devices on the boat.

  Sassy and Kevin were up on deck.

  “Hi, guys! Good to see you,” Kevin said. “These must be your parents.”

  Kevin showed my dad around to deck. I heard him point out the new lines and jib sail. Sassy talked to my mom.

  “I need a few of those?” Dylan pointed at the additional solar panels.

  “Sorry,” Takumi said. “Those are already installed on Whistler. But, I brought you some. In the closet are six solar panels, a marine radio, and a large rechargeable battery. I’ll try to bring more solar panels next time. The Navy fixed the wind speed and depth finder.” Takumi led the way below deck and proudly pointed out the new navigation system and power additions.

  Takumi stood beside me. “Can we talk?” he whispered.

  “Of course.” I let him guide me back up top and to the bow.

  We looked out at a spectacular view of the ocean. I closed my eyes and breathed in the clean fresh air. I’d missed it.

  “I like your parents and the farm your family is building.” Takumi stared at the sea. Then he turned and faced me. “Toni, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a lot of time. Whistler needs to head back tonight. A sickness is spreading across one of the ships we were planning to rescue. Their water supply is tainted.”

  I was stunned. “You’re leaving right away? But, you just got here.”

  Takumi stared into my eyes. “Sail back with me. Give working with the Navy a try. We can come back here when the mission is complete. If you hate being with the Navy, I’ll give up sailing, and become a famer. I promise.”

  I shook my head. “Takumi, I miss the sea. And, I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a farmer. I’m really beginning to dislike dirt. But being bossed around on my own boat? I’d hate that even more.”

  “What if you got to be the boss?”

  “What?”

  “Kevin, Sassy, and some of the Marines who rescued us told Major Conrad how well you handled Whistler. He’s had trouble finding experienced sailboat captains. He offered us a deal. If we agree to join the U.S. Military for three years, we can captain Whistler. And, at the end of the three years, we can have Whistler back. No strings attached.” He held my dirty hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “We would get to be together and co-captain Whistler?”

  Takumi grinned. “He said you could even try it for a few days. Before you have to commit.”

  I threw myself into his arms and kissed him. “Yes. I’ll go with you.” I glanced around, my mind spinning with all the things I needed to do. “But first, we have to tell my parents.”

  ****

  Six months later, Takumi and I were on the deck of Whistler. I had the wheel. We were heading out on our fourth mission. So far, the flotilla had rescued more than five hundred people.

  It was a crisp and cool night. The ocean swells were calm. The breeze was steady.

  “Captain Toni?” the corporal assigned to us approached. “You’re wanted on the radio.”

  “Please take the wheel, corporal. Keep her on the same heading,” I said.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  I rolled my eyes. I would never get used to Military protocol. I pulled Takumi down to the cabin with me.

  The radio hand piece was laying on the chart table. “This is Captain Toni, come in. Over.”

  “Captain Toni? How about Aunt Toni? Over.”

  “Dylan! Did you have your baby? Over.”

  “Yes. A healthy boy. Eight pounds, six ounces. And Zoë is doing great. We sailed the day-sailboat to the medical clinic this evening. An hour after we docked, our son was born.”

  “A boy,” I mouthed to Takumi.

  “What’s my nephew’s name? Over.”

  “Cole,” Dylan said softly. “Are you okay with that? Over.”

  Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t speak, and handed the mic to Takumi.

  “This is Uncle Takumi. Toni is choked up, but she loves the name. Your brother would have, too. Over.”

  “It was Zoë’s idea. I have to get back to my family, but I wanted you guys to be the first to know. Over.”

  “We are so happy for you. Give Zoë and baby Cole lots of kisses from us. Thanks for letting us know. Over and out.”

  We left the wheel in the hands of the corporal and sat onto the starboard side of the bow. The jib billowed off to the port.

  “Dylan’s a father. That sounds so strange, but not as strange as it would have sounded a year ago.”

  “He’ll be a good father.” Takumi grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry you weren’t there for this. Do you ever regret coming with me?”

  “Never,” I said. “And Zoë was thrilled I left. She got her baby’s room.”

  Takumi chuckled. “You don’t feel the need to find a good anchorage and stay in one place?”

  I stared at Takumi. “When we’re together, I am anchored. You are my rock, Takumi. My home.”

  He kissed me. “I’m glad. I don’t think I’d make a good farmer.”

  I laughed. “Me neither.”

  We stared up at the cloudy night sky, each lost in our own thoughts. I kept thinking about baby Cole. I couldn’t wait to meet him. I wondered who he looked like.

  Takumi sat up. “Look!”

  The clouds were parting. For the first time in eight months, blue sky and stars

  appeared overhead. The gap in the clouds grew. A full moon peeked out, and then lit the sky. Its light reflected off the sea.

  “How beautiful,” I whispered. “First a new baby, and now the stars and moon.”

  “It’s a sign.”

  “It is.”

  “I wish we had something to toast with,” Takumi said.

  “We have our water bottles.” I picked mine up and handed him his. “Okay. You go first.”

  “To a long life, full of love, and adventure.” Takumi clinked his bottle against mine. I kissed his cheek. We snuggled and watched the light glimmer off the moonlit sea. “Your turn,” he said.

  I thought for a moment, then raised my bottle. “To Whistler.”

  The End

  www.brendabeem.com

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for reading Anchored. I do hope you enjoyed it. Word of mouth is so important to the success of any novel. I would be very grateful if you’d tell your friends and family about the Knockdown Series, and take a moment to post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews only need to be a couple of sentences.

  For updates on the series, or survival tips (should a mega tsunami be headed your way), visit my website:

  http://www.brendabeem.com

  I love to hear from my readers. You can email me at brenda@brendabeem.com or friend me on Facebook.

  Evernight Teen ®

  www.evernightteen.com

 

 

  Brenda Beem, Anchored

 

 

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