Georgie shook her head. “No, just the two of us. It’s been a while since we caught up outside of work.”
That would be a way to kill a couple of hours, and Penelope enjoyed spending time with the younger woman. She relaxed a little. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
“How about nine-thirty at Ningaloo Cafe?”
Penelope nodded. “See you then.” She waved as Georgie turned to go. Behind her, Sam stood in the doorway of his house. He lifted a hand in a wave.
The mortification flooded back, and Penelope nodded and scurried away.
Chapter 2
Sam woke early on his first work day in Retribution Bay. Had he made the right choice buying the boat? It had been a spur of the moment decision, much like most of the big decisions in his life. Though this one had been expensive. Rob could sell guns to pacifists and he’d made the life sound so appealing. Sam loved the ocean.
He’d make it work. That’s what he did.
And he’d have Rob to help him until November.
Sam scanned the living area as he waited for his coffee to brew and his eyes rested on the stack of flat boxes, the only evidence he’d just moved in. He’d put a note on social media to see if anyone wanted them before he recycled them. He still felt kind of bad about Georgie’s friend, Penelope. He’d been joking with Georgie and hadn’t expected the petite red-head to take offence. He’d have to track her down and apologise. She’d been so proper, stiffening like a new recruit trying to impress a commanding officer. Georgie had mentioned afterwards that Penelope was a little straight-laced.
He grabbed his coffee and gear bag, and walked to the marina. The sky was an endless blue, and the air was still. Perfect conditions for a day on the boat. Rob was opening the gate to the pens when Sam arrived. Sam shook his weathered hand.
“Good to see you,” Rob said.
“Likewise.”
Rob showed him onto the Oceanid. “We’ve got a full boat today,” he said. “Weather looks to be good. Water should be pretty clear.”
Sam took a moment to run his hands over the cool metal railing. This was his now. All twenty-two metres of her. A new life. “What do you do if the water isn’t clear?”
Rob shrugged. “Depends. The sharks are usually visible no matter the water clarity and most people are just thrilled to see them.” He opened the cabin and went over to the coffee machine in the corner, switching it on. “The whales are a different story. Sometimes we have to cancel and reschedule.”
One of the female crew members, lean with short blonde hair, strode in and grabbed the keys hanging on the wall. “Hey, Sam.”
Sam racked his brain for a name and Rob helped him out.
“Gretchen’s got the bus today.”
Sam nodded. “Nice to see you again, Gretchen.”
“We’ll chat when I get back.” She jogged out.
Rob stood and gathered his notes. “We’d better get to it, so we’re ready when the customers arrive.”
“We leave from here?” Sam asked. Last time he was in Retribution Bay, they’d left from the boat ramp on the western side of the peninsula.
“It’s humpback season now,” Rob said. “They hang out in the gulf so that’s where we go.”
Right. Of course. He should have realised. “What do we need to do?”
Over the next hour, Rob took him through the engine room, explaining the maintenance schedule and the paperwork they needed to record for Parks and Wildlife. As more crew members arrived, they readied the snorkelling equipment and prepared morning tea. The business was a well-oiled machine with everyone knowing their role.
Then Gretchen arrived with the customers and Rob did a quick welcome, introduced the crew, and explained the timetable for the day before heading up to the top deck to get them on the way. Sam followed.
“It won’t take you long to get used to how the boat handles,” Rob said, giving him the wheel as below Gretchen cast off the lines.
The thrum of the engine under Sam’s hands warmed him. He’d spent the past few months getting his captain’s ticket and steering a number of different boats, but this was different. This one was his.
They were heading to a snorkelling spot first so they could assess how well the customers could swim before heading out into deeper water after the humpback whales.
