Once they were all seated, they waved back at the pier. Seth had joined the group at the firepit and he called out, “Have fun!”
“Are you going to ski, Skipper? I can handle the boat,” Marlowe said as they pulled away from the pier.The smell of fuel hung in the air and water churned from the high-powered motor.
“Had my turn earlier with Seth,” Skipper said. “He gave me a pretty good workout.”
“Well, if you decide you want to go again, I can handle the boat.”
“So can I.” Izzy spoke up. My, wasn’t she getting brave? She’d handled Billy Hanson’s boat years ago and nearly took down the boathouse one time coming in too fast. Good thing Billy had been right there to help. But she’d learned from that. Rotating her chair, Marlowe smiled back at her. The boat had picked up speed and the noise of the motor made conversation impossible.
Clouds drifted by overhead, although the cooling breeze didn’t carry any hint of rain. Some gulls circled up above, cawing with excitement when they spotted a tasty morsel and dipped to snatch it. Stretching out in the sun, Izzy whipped off her T-shirt and slathered on skin block. It had been so long since she’d sunbathed. She must look like a ghost.
Up front Skipper stared out over the lake. The breeze had kicked up some waves but not enough to make skiing impossible. This was going to be fun. At least, that’s what Izzy told herself while her bouncing stomach told a totally different story. After a while Skipper idled the boat. “Marlowe, you first up?”
“You bet.” Jumping up, Marlowe shed hershirt and came back to grab one of the life preservers. She fastened it around her waist.
While the boat idled, Skipper came back and eyed the skis laid crosswise across the back. “Two skis or the slalom?”
Marlowe’s surprised laugh was more of a bark. “Are you kidding? I haven’t skied in years. I’ll start with two skis and see how it goes.”
Izzy felt like giving a fist pump. If Marlowe was nervous, Izzy felt a lot better.
“Don’t they ski in Florida?” Skipper threw an amazed glance over his shoulder.
“The ocean is a whole different experience. Native Floridians might fish but you don’t see a lot of them skiing.” Marlowe always spoke with authority.
“Okay.” Skipper turned back to scan the water. “After a while I’ll circle past the house. If you feel like dropping a ski there, we can go back to pick it up for Izzy.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Looking tan and fit in her two-piece suit, Marlowe lifted one leg over the side, found the short ladder and sank back into the water. “Cooler than I thought,” she called up.
“Beginning of summer. You’ll get used to it,” Izzy assured her. But she casually dipped one hand in and the water felt freezing.
Skipper came back to lift the skis down to Izzy’s sister, one at a time. Marlowe had no trouble jammingher feet into them. While Skipper went back to the front, Izzy stood up, found her balance and tossed the tow rope to Marlowe. Then Skipper edged the boat away until the rope was taunt and Izzy sat down. Marlowe had her skis positioned in front of her with both hands on the tow rope handle. Her position was perfect and she gave Izzy a thumbs up before yelling, “Hit it!”
The boat leapt forward when Skipper pushed it into high gear. Of course Marlowe found her balance and was up in seconds. Sighing, Izzy would have felt better if her sister had some trouble getting up. Slicing out to one side, Marlowe eyed the wake made by another larger boat. Cutting back in, she slid across the bubbly, bumpy wake like it was nothing. Watching her, Izzy tried to still the nerves skittering through her stomach. Would she be able to do this?
Of course I can. How she wanted to wear that confident smile now on her sister’s face. After she’d drifted away from Billy Hanson’s gang, Uncle Monty would rent a boat for a couple of weeks. They’d trailer it to one of the lakes. Sometimes it was Lake Charlevoix and other times they took it to the smaller Walloon Lake. Skiing was easy and all three of them had great fun, although Aunt Cate never tried it.
Now they all lived here, and Izzy’s mind took a crazy giant leap. Maybe they should buy a boat. As a group they might be able to afford it. But herfather’s practical nature took over. Izzy remembered her dad saying that a boat could be an anchor around your neck because of all the maintenance. Dad had always been always right. But maybe he would have enjoyed a boat ride now and then. Uncle Monty didn’t start renting the boat for them until after Mom and Dad were gone. Her aunt and uncle always had gone out of their way to make sure they were having fun.
Maybe she’d enjoy this day for her parents. They’d like that, and she hugged the idea to her heart.
“This is so great.” Keeping her eyes on Marlowe, Izzy stepped up and took the seat next to the captain. Today Skipper’s sunglasses had a blue tint. With his hair ruffling in the breeze, he looked so handsome, just like the boy she’d fallen in love with years ago. Some distant feeling awakened inside, playing through her like the forgotten lyrics to a favorite song.
Looking over, Skipper found her staring. “What?”
“Oh, nothing.” She swung her eyes back to Marlowe. Her sister was having no trouble at all but it was important to keep her in sight. When another boat roared past, it kicked up a wake that would have terrified Izzy. She found herself holding her breath. But Marlowe just gave a wild howl and flew over those wakes, her skis slapping the water with a broad thwacking sound.
Skipper had Marlowe in his rear view mirror. “Your sister is really something.”
Izzy sighed. “Everyone tells me that. You know, now that Marlowe’s here.”
“Hey.” Reaching over, he tilted her chin with one finger. “You have your own good qualities, Izzy. Always have.”
“Oh Skipper. I know.” She felt his touch in every cell of her body. His hand fell away and she turned her full attention to Marlowe.
Standing up, Skipper pointed back to the shore and Marlowe nodded, lifting one of the skis. Dare devil that she was, Marlowe was signaling that she wanted to drop a ski.
“Isn’t she crazy?” Izzy looked back at her sister with awe.
