Jan read the names of the boats, Money Pit, Miss Lucy, Retirement Plan, but none were the one she was looking for. Where could they be?
Snuggling into her jacket she stared off towards the inner coastal waterway praying the yacht, Cash Flo would soon arrive. Her brother Charlie had signed on as the cook for the wealthy investment banker he’d met at the Blackbeard’s Tavern a month ago. The trip was only supposed to last a week. It was going on three.
“Still no sign of the Cash Flo?”
Jan knew without turning it was her ex, Matt Rains. Matt was a fisherman, he earned extra money working as a guide for wealthy men wanting the true experience of fishing or hunting on the inner-coastal. He’d been her boyfriend all through high school, but he’d broken up with her just before leaving for college.
Her last year of high school was consumed with caring for her family. Her mother’s illness and death left Jan with little choice but to care for her younger brother and help her father with the restaurant. Her dreams of going off to college and getting away from Beaufort had drifted away like debris on the tide.
Ignoring Matt, she wished he would just go away. Six years with not a word of condolence or anything. It wasn’t as if he’d come back for her. She blinked away a rebellious tear. No one meets the love of their life at fifteen.
“Has there been any word?” Matt asked falling into step beside her as she marched down the boardwalk.
“Not since the first week.”
“There’s a storm coming in,” Matt said looking at the darkening sky.
It was one of the reasons she was starting to get uneasy about Charlie being out so long.
“Have you contacted the Coast Guard?”
“And say what? My baby brother, who is eighteen years old, hasn’t come home?” She snorted.
“They could check with the yacht see if there’s a problem.”
“They were just going to travel down the coast and back. A week-long trip.” Jan tried to keep from shouting.
“Where was the last place Charlie mentioned?” Matt followed her into Blackbeard’s Tavern.
Ignoring him, Jan put on her apron and tied up her hair. He followed her into the kitchen. “I want to help Jan.”
“Why? We don’t mean anything to you?”
“I thought we were friends,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Yeah, I thought we were more but we’re both wrong.” She turned away before he could see her tears. “I’ve got to get ready for lunch.” She went to the sink and began scrubbing her hands all the way to her elbows as if she were going into surgery.
“Why didn’t you ever write to me?” He asked.
Whipping around, she glared at him. “You broke up with me.”
“I tried to stay friends. I wrote to you…”
Shaking her head, she dried her hands on the towel one of the line cooks offered. “I never heard from you after you went away to college.”
“You never got my letters? The condolence card I sent?”
“I never received anything, no letter, no card, no phone calls, nothing. When your grandparents moved into that retirement home, I lost my last contact with you.” Her voice cracked.
“That explains why you’ve been so hostile since I returned.”
“I don’t have time for this, I’ve got work to do.”
“All right, but meet me after lunch, I’ve got an idea.”
“Matt…” she started to argue but when she turned around, he was already gone.
Matt was waiting for her when she left the restaurant. “I think I know where Charlie and the Cash Flo are?”
“What, how did you…”
Taking her arm, he pulled her to his boat. “Come on, let’s go see if we can rescue the boy.”
“Rescue?”
Matt gave her a rueful grin. “Yeah, he probably won’t agree that it’s a rescue, but I think he needs us.” He released the lines and leaped aboard.
“What are you talking about?” She followed Matt into the bridge.
The small fishing yacht pulled away from its slip. “The Cash Flo has been partying down in Wilmington. There’s been a few complaints, some drunk and disorderly tickets. Charlie’s underage and that could get him into some trouble.”
Jan wanted to throttle her brother but knew the owner of the Cash Flo was the one with the money, he would think nothing of corrupting a young guy like Charlie and leave him hanging.
Matt didn’t say anything until they were cruising through the Innerbanks. “I never stopped loving you.”
Jan’s heart stopped. She couldn’t look at him.
“Jan?”
“It’s been six years. We were children.”
“We’re not children now.”
“No. We know better now.”
“How about a fresh start?”
“I have responsibilities.”
The arrived at the marina where the Cash Flo was last seen. The boat was gone.
Jan wanted to cry.
“Let me go inside and see if the harbor master knows where they’ve gone.”
Jan followed him inside.
“Jan, what are you doing here?” Came a voice she recognized. “Oh God, I’m so glad you came.” Charlie pulled her into an embrace.
He little brother was nearly a foot taller than her own five foot six, but she still felt protective of him. Returning his hug, she asked, “Why are you here?”
Blushing, Charlie shook his head. “I’d had enough of the party and decided to jump ship. Unfortunately, I left without any of my things. Mr. Humphry’s has been letting me work for him until I could get the money to go home.”
“Why didn’t you just call me?”
“I’m a grown man, I can’t expect my sister to rescue me every time I do something stupid.” He noticed Matt and frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“He’s the one who figured out where to find you.”
Charlie glowered. “Thanks, but we don’t need you anymore.”
“Charlie, that’s uncalled for.”
“I listened to you cry over him for two years. I know he broke your heart. I’m not going to let him hurt you again.”
Jan frowned. “Do you remember any letters or cards from Matt?”
Charlie looked away.
She sighed. “Oh Charlie, why?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Gritting her teeth, Jan said, “We’ll talk about this when we get home.” Matt was setting up with the old man. “Do you have anything you need to get?”
Charlie shook his head but kept his eyes on the floor.
“Fine, then let’s go.”
They followed Matt to the boat. The trip home was a quiet one. Matt put his hand over hers and gave a gentle squeeze. He made no attempt to defend himself or berate Charlie.
When they arrived in Beaufort, Jan thanked him.
As he helped her from the yacht, Matt asked, “Fresh start?”
Meeting his eyes, Jan nodded. “Fresh start.”