“So do I.” Nick glanced up apologetically. “And I’m sure they’re about to add to yours.”
Captain Wright sobered. “Let’s talk in my cabin.” He opened the door to the small but ample room and ushered Nick inside. “What’s going on?”
“My father is dying. The housekeeper begs me to come for a final visit.”
“My problems are simple in comparison. My brother-in-law is sending me to Toronto for a special shipment. It’ll only tie us up for a few days, but it’s enough.” The captain smiled. “You must go to your father.”
Nick had never tried to hide his circumstances from the captain or his daughter. “I don’t know that he wants me there, sir. He did disown me and put me from the house.”
“Ten years ago. That’s a long time to rethink a decision. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if your father is hoping to make things right before he dies.” The captain gave a sigh. “And even if he doesn’t, it might ease your mind.”
“You talk like you know how this goes.”
Captain Wright looked up and nodded. “I do. When I was young, I used to fish with my father. We had the best of times. I always thought I’d grow up to be a fisherman like him, but I fell in with the wrong people. I did a lot that I’m not proud of, and my father told me I would have to part company with my friends or sever ties with the family. I was young and insolent and didn’t want to be told what to do by my father, so I severed the family ties. The years passed, and I learned soon enough that my father only desired to protect me. I saw the true ambitions of my friends and put distance between us. I thought several times of going home to apologize.”
“But you didn’t?”
“No. I let the time get away from me, and then word came one day that my father had died. I hated myself all the more and gave up on trying to be a good man. I convinced myself that I must be rotten to the core and again chose friends who were just as mean and coarse as I was. Despair can be a crippling affair.”
“Yes.” Nick folded the letter and put it in his pocket. “If I go, can I ... would you...”
“Take you back as my first mate?” The older man smiled. “I would. After all, you are a bit more than that to me—are you not?”
It was Nick’s turn to sigh. “I hope to be. Thank you, sir. I think you know that it means a lot to me. I care deeply for your daughter, and I know she won’t be parted from you and this ship.”
“It does my heart good to know you care for her, Nicodemus. You are a man of God, and I know you wouldn’t try to lead her astray. She is worldly-wise in many ways, yet naïve and easily misinformed in others. Both of my daughters are precious to me, and I would hate to see them mistreated. Caroline is to sail with us to Duluth when the time comes. For now, she’ll join us on this short run to Toronto. She’s desperate to be out of her husband’s clutches, and given all that he’s done to her, I’m just as anxious to have her gone.”
“I’m sorry there are problems in her life that have sent her back to you, but I know you are glad to have her.”
“Her husband beat her. I certainly can’t leave her to be a victim of his abuse.” Captain Wright’s expression grew sad. “My wife and I worked hard to teach our girls the meaning of marriage and the commitment a couple make not only to each otherbut to God when they wed. Yet here I am, taking her away from her husband. I never should have let her leave to live with her uncle. I should never have let her marry a man I knew nothing about. I only wanted to give her what she wanted—to show her how much I loved her.”
“Sir, I don’t know exactly what the problem might be, but I believe children become adults and make their own choices.”
“That’s true enough, but if I could go back, I would do things differently. I don’t know about the road traveled by you and your father, but I can honestly say I would do it all differently if I could. Since none of us can, I am encouraging you to go home and make things right, at the very least. Who knows, you might even find the need to remain there. I wouldn’t fault you if you did.”
Nick shook his head. “I could never leave Elise. Not for long.”
“You should tell her what you’re going to do. She’s in her cabin with her sister.”
“Thank you. I’ll see if she might walk with me in town, if that meets with your approval. She can go with me to get a train ticket.”
“Keep your faith, Nick. God isn’t through with you yet.”
Nick nodded and stepped into the galley. He was glad no one had come for snacks or coffee. Not that there were any to be had. He walked to Elise’s cabin and knocked on the door. When she opened it and gave him a smile, Nick felt as if everything would be all right.
“I have to tell you something and wondered if you’d go with me for a walk.”
“Of course. Let me get my hat and coat. The air’s turned chilly.”
He waited while she gathered her things, and they walked through the ship together.
“Where are we going?” Elise asked as they made their way down the gangplank.
“First to the train station. Then I thought I might buy you dinner ... if you’d like.”
“I’d like that very much, but why are we going to the train station?” Her expression was worried.
Nick hesitated to tell her the reason, knowing she would be upset. “I ... I need to go home. To Boston. My father is dying.”
