‘Yes, she seemed a bit agitated.’ Captain Mary paused, taking the time to mull over what to say next. ‘She kept apologising to me – I’m not sure why. She said she was really enjoying her work, but that she kept “messing things up”.’ Captain Mary looked directly at Jack, her grey eyes probing. ‘I know you two have been sharing a room. Is there anything you think I should know about?’ The question hung in the air, heavy with implication, and Jack knew that he had to come clean.
‘We slept together last night.’ Jack hung his head in shame, missing the look of surprise that flashed across Captain Mary’s face.
‘It won’t happen again. It was a mistake, and we both regret it.’ As he said the words, he willed them to be true. Even if he didn’t fully believe them now, he could come to.
Sofia had obviously come to the sensible conclusion, the one he had been too infatuated to come to. As much as there might be something between them, the job was what they were here for, and what was the point in sabotaging that, especially when they were both adamant they wanted to do the full season? Both of them had taken such big risks to choose this life. If they had wanted a happily ever after, the white picket fence, neither of them would even be on the boat.
‘I’m so sorry, Mary, I know there’s no excuse, but I promise that it’s just sex, one stupid night. After we dock today, we’ll be back in separate rooms and I will barely see her.’ Jack spoke with a calm certainty that he did not feel.
‘Well.’ Captain Mary was momentarily lost for words. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’
Jack’s heart sank. He’d thought she already knew. He had shot himself in the foot, his own guilt exposing him as he had thought it would. He kept his expression placid.
‘I’m going to have to think about all this, Jacky. You’ve already had a warning, and I don’t like the idea of this becoming some sort of pattern.’ Captain Mary frowned at the thought, and Jack could see the disappointment in her face.
‘I’ll need to have a word with Sofia too of course.’ She sighed heavily. ‘It’s a shame, she has such promise.’
‘Please, Mary, it wasn’t her fault. She probably hasn’t even read the small print about crew relations. You gave me and Petra a caution; she deserves one too,’ Jack pleaded.
Captain Mary nodded curtly. ‘You make a good point, Jack, but this is my boat and I will run it at my own discretion. It would do you well to remember that, on this vessel, I am foremost your captain. Please address me as such.’ Her tone had taken on a steely edge.
‘Yes, Captain.’ Jack stood up straight, staring straight ahead, an impervious expression on his face. As she walked away he tried to untangle the chaotic jumble of thoughts in his head. Striding back to the cabin in his officer’s uniform, he gave off an air of composure, a swan whose legs were kicking furiously under the surface.
Chapter Thirty-Three
When Sofia woke up in the bottom bunk, the sheets beside her still warm from Jack’s body, she smiled into the darkness. It usually took her body some time to feel comfortable enough to sleep through the night with a man in her bed, perhaps it was an instinct to be on guard. With Jack she had slept soundly; in fact it was his absence that had stirred her. She figured he must be on deck. She slipped on her shoes and a jumper and left the cabin.
Out in the mist she couldn’t see him. She did a circuit of both decks and then decided to head to the kitchen to make coffee; perhaps he had already come back inside by now, or popped to the bathroom.
She made coffee for two, in a Bialetti on the stove, the smell reminding her of home. Thinking about sharing her pre-dawn morning with him in the bunk made her heart beat a little faster. She was impatient for the water to boil.
Holding the two mugs, she skipped down the corridor. As she turned the corner she almost spilt both down the front of Captain’s Mary’s uniform.
‘A close call there.’ Captain Mary chuckled. Sofia burned with embarrassment. She felt flustered, caught out in her pyjamas, the two cups in her hand a telltale clue as to her indiscretions.
‘Oh sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going!’ she babbled. ‘I thought I might as well make one for Jack, as I was in the kitchen anyway. Not sure where he’s gone but I’m sure he’ll be back any moment.’ The words tumbled out.
‘I’m sure he will. He likes the dawn, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. How is the room sharing going anyway?’ Captain Mary seemed politely curious. Sofia blushed.
‘It’s going well,’ she said brightly. ‘He’s umm, very knowledgeable about the boat and everything, so we’ve had some good chats about the yachtie life.’ Half true, she thought.
‘He’s a great boatsman,’ Captain Mary said. Sofia could hear the pride in her voice. ‘And a hard worker. He can be a bit shy though, as unlikely as it seems, so it’s nice he’s been opening up to you.’
Sofia looked down; she couldn’t meet the captain’s eyes. ‘Yes, he’s been... very welcoming,’ she enthused.
‘And how are you finding your time on the boat so far? You seem to have taken to the lifestyle like a duck to water, pardon the pun.’
‘I mean, it’s been amazing. Thanks again for the opportunity. I know I have messed up a lot but everyone has been so helpful, and I’m learning.’ She laughed anxiously. ‘I won’t be making the same mistakes again.’
The captain seemed taken aback. ‘Messed up? I have only heard glowing reviews from the guests and crew alike. I think maybe you need to stop being so hard on yourself, Sofia.’ The captain laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘Learn to live a little, as they say.’ Her tone was sincere but Sofia let out an involuntary snort.
‘Sorry, I don’t know where that came from. It’s just... that’s not the first time I’ve heard that. Jack said it to me a little while ago.’
There was that proud smile again. ‘Yes, well he does sometimes provide a few kernels of wisdom. You could say he’s learnt from the best.’ The captain smiled broadly at her before walking off.
Sofia stood still for a moment, running through the conversation. She’d slipped up by admitting to messing up, remembering too late that the others, especially Jack, had covered for her. Overall though she’d played it pretty well, she thought. Back in the cabin, Jack was still nowhere to be found, although the bathroom light was on, so he must have been there sometime this morning. She sat on the bunk and sipped her coffee.
She knew they had to talk to the captain, but she was feeling optimistic. It was clear to her that Jack loved his job, and he understood how much her career meant to her, so maybe they could prove to the captain that being together wouldn’t affect their work. With his established relationship with the captain, she felt that together they could come up with a plan. This didn’t have to be the doomed ending she’d feared.
