FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA Read online

  She hesitated, looking at Polly thoughtfully, before saying, “If you have any doubts, say no. And remember it’s not just Sebastian you’d be marrying but in his case, the Navy as well. A different way of life. Anyway, I thought you had plans of your own to do some more professional sailing?” she said.

  There was a short silence before Polly answered. “I did. I do.”

  “Well how will that fit in with Sebastian and the Navy?”

  “He loves sailing too,” Polly said quickly. “Wants his own boat,” she paused, “but he thinks it’s just a hobby for me - not a career option.”

  Mai looked at her. “Surely that’s for you to decide, not him?”

  Polly shrugged her shoulders. “Lack of sponsorship will probably do the deciding for me.”

  Now, as she put on her amber earrings, she thought about their conversation.

  She was in love with Sebastian, there was no doubt about that. He was so handsome and charming and her heart quickened at the sight of him. But did she want to spend the rest of her life with him?

  She clearly didn’t feel the way Mai did about Tom. She was looking forward to some time on her own whilst Sebastian was away on his latest posting.

  It was ages since she’d had a proper sail in It’s Mine! her battered 25ft sailing yacht.

  She always seemed to be too busy these days. Her time taken up with work or with Sebastian and the various functions he wanted her to attend with him - functions that she knew would only increase once she was a Naval wife.

  Mai had clearly been happy to give up the lifestyle she’d carved out for herself and throw her lot in with Tom and his ambitions.

  Polly sighed. Would Sebastian expect her to do the same once she was Mrs. Grove? Would her own desires have to be sacrificed for his? More importantly was she prepared to make the sacrifice? She and Tom were planning to compete together in next year’s Round the Islands race and if she could raise the money she dreamt of being the next Ellen MacArthur and sailing around the world single-handed.

  But with the next Vendee Globe just four years away so far nobody she’d approached had shown a flicker of interest in sponsoring her.

  She might be five feet nothing but she knew she was as good a sailor as Tom.

  Picking up her bag she went downstairs to wait for Sebastian. Cassie and Mai were in the kitchen poring over a large sea chart.

  Polly recognised it instantly as a chart of the Southern Ocean - an ocean that would play a large part in Tom’s life in the coming months.

  “We’re trying to work out some alternatives for Tom,” Mai said. “But in the end it will clearly depend on the prevailing weather.”

  Just as Polly had leaned over to take a closer look, a car tooted outside.

  “That’ll be Sebastian,” she observed. “I’m off. Don’t wait up Mum.” And Polly was gone.

  Mai and Cassie looked at each other.

  “D’you think she will…?” They both asked the question together before laughing wryly.

  “Oh Mai, I do hope not,” Cassie admitted. “I like Sebastian but I’m not sure he’s the right man for Polly,” she sighed. “I wish Tom was home. She listens to him more than me. He’d stop her doing anything foolish.”

  “A few more days and he will be. And if she does get engaged tonight…well engagements can always be broken can’t they?”

  Cassie smiled affectionately at her daughter in law, feeling comforted. Tom had certainly made a wise choice when he’d married Mai.

  “Have you thought anymore about staying on here when Tom gets home rather than moving back to River View?” Cassie asked.

  The small cottage Tom and Mai had been living in since their marriage was just a hundred yards along the riverbank from the boatyard.

  Mai shook her head. “When Tom is away I’m glad of the company down here but when he’s home well…” She smiled shyly at Cassie.

  “It’s nice to be on our own - especially as Tom is going to be away for months soon. I’ll certainly be back then if I may.”

  Chapter Two

  Anna, when she arrived mid-afternoon on Wednesday insisted they ate out that evening.

  “Don’t want to dress up, so nowhere posh. Just somewhere we can sit and catch up on the gossip without interruptions. Oh, and please may we go by launch? It’s ages since I’ve been out on the river. I want to take deep gulps of sea air and blow all the cobwebs away.”

  Cassie had laughed at that, remembering how much Anna had hated fresh air when they were growing up.

  Now as they sat sipping a glass of wine, waiting for their lasagne in the Bistro behind the harbour, Anna asked, “What’s the news from Tom?”

  “Expects to be off Lands End sometime late tomorrow. So, fingers crossed, he should be home Friday afternoon,” Cassie said.

  “When does the race itself start?”

  “Six weeks on Sunday. Will you still be here? I warn you though, the next few weeks will be hectic. If you’re around, you’ll get roped in.”

  “I’m not going back,” Anna said quietly.

  “Never?” Cassie was astonished.

  Anna shook her head. “I’ll have to collect my things of course, and tie up some loose ends, but otherwise no. I’m going to find somewhere down here to live.”

  “Why the sudden decision?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it for ages and now David has officially taken over the farm, I’m free to do my own thing. And I want to come back.”

  “Are you sure? When Harry died I asked if you were going to come home and you were emphatic your place was with the farm. What’s really changed?”

  “Foot and mouth,” Anna said quietly. “For hundreds of farmers it killed more than the livestock. It certainly destroyed my spirit. Harry and I put so much of ourselves into the farm, I simply can’t face doing it all again without him. David is resilient and young enough to cope but I’m not. So I’m coming back to my roots.”

  Cassie was silent for a moment. “Well I wish it was for any other reason but I’m so pleased to have you back,” she said finally. “And until you find somewhere you like, the spare room is yours. No arguments.”

  “Thanks Cassie,” Anna said gratefully. “Now you haven’t mentioned my God-daughter yet? What’s Polly up to these days?”

  “Can you believe she’s considering a proposal of marriage?” Cassie said. “And also getting extremely frustrated at not being taken seriously by race organisers and sponsors.”

  “Who’s the boyfriend? The one I met last time? Sebastian something? Very good-looking naval officer?”

  Cassie nodded. “That’s the one. He asked her on Monday and apparently she’s agreed to think about it whilst he’s away on a tour of duty.”

  “Hmm. He’s quite a catch – though I can’t see Polly as a Navy wife, somehow.” Anna said. “She does like doing her own things doesn’t she? Besides, what about her sailing?”

  Cassie sighed. “Can’t find enough sponsorship to do much at the moment. She’s helping with the barge and when Tom gets back she’ll work with him on preparing Clotted Cream for the single-handed. I think she’s crewing in a couple of races later in the season but I also know Sebastian is putting pressure on her to give it all up.”

  Anna pulled a face. “That’s a bit old-fashioned, isn’t it?”

  Cassie agreed.

  “If Polly finds some sponsorship and can prove herself as a yachtswoman, I reckon she’ll carry on racing whatever Sebastian says. But,” and she shook her head, “if not, I’m afraid she’ll end up just getting married.”

  “Polly’s got too much spirit simply to give in,” Anna said confidently. “Besides, the fact that she’s considering the proposal makes me pretty sure she’ll turn him down... I didn’t have to think twice when Harry proposed. Did you when Miles…?”

  “No. If he hadn’t I was going to propose to him on February 29th,” and Cassie smiled remembering how much she’d wanted to marry Miles.

  “Perhaps you’re right. Having
to think about it must mean she’s not sure. What a dilemma - settling down or sailing the high seas. I’ll worry whatever she decides.” Cassie smiled ruefully before finishing her wine.

  Wandering through town later, Anna stopped outside the estate agency and took one of the free advertising papers out of a rack.

  “Bedtime reading,” she said stuffing it into her bag.

  “I think we’d better be heading back,” Cassie said. “The wind’s gusting and the tide will be on the turn soon.”

  In fact they were lucky to make it home before thirty-six hours of bad weather set in. As Bill had predicted they were suffering the tail end of the storm from Biscay.

  The next day, as the gale raged outside, Cassie worked in the office, clearing paperwork so that she could devote as much time as possible to Tom’s preparations over the following few weeks.

  Polly and Mai roped Anna in to help with finishing the barge. In the evening the four of them sat around the large wooden table in Cassie’s kitchen drinking wine and stuffing the barge brochures into envelopes ready for posting.

  Although nobody said anything, everybody was anxious to keep their minds off the bad weather Tom would be experiencing on his way home.

  Late on Thursday evening Mai got an e-mail from him saying he was in the Channel and hoped to be home within twelve hours. Everybody breathed a collective sigh of relief and went to bed. Happy in the knowledge that Tom and Clotted Cream were almost home.

  It was mid-day Friday before Clotted Cream sailed into her home port. James rang Cassie to give her the welcome news.

  “I’ve just been out and given Tom my official routine check and he’s now on his way up river to you. Said he hasn’t slept for forty-one hours because of the weather. He looks all in but everything else is fine.”

  “Thanks James. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  Cassie replaced the phone and went down to the barge to find Mai and Polly. Together they waited on the landing slip and watched as Tom negotiated his way to Clotted Cream’s berth.

  At last the yacht was secured and Tom waved as he clambered into the launch for the short journey to shore.

  Over sandwiches and coffee Tom told them a little about the sea trials.

  “It’s all in the log but basically we’re going to have to do some work on the hydraulic pulleys. And the self-steering gear wants some fine-tuning. Other than that it’s a question of checking her over, provisioning her for the first leg and getting her round to Plymouth for the start.”

  Cassie looked at him. A week’s growth of stubble covered his chin; his favourite Guernsey sweater showed signs of having been lived in for several days and his hands looked sore and weather beaten from over exposure to sea-water. But despite his obvious tiredness his enthusiasm still came through.

  Not for the first time she was reminded of Miles. Single-minded determination definitely ran in the Lewis family.

  “By the way I had an e-mail from Dexter. He’s coming to pick up my entry forms himself. We haven’t got room in River View Mum, so is it all right if he stays here for the night?”

  “When’s he coming?”

  “Sometime tomorrow.”

  Cassie nodded. She’d always had an open house policy as far as Tom and Polly’s friends were concerned. “He hasn’t been here before has he?”

  “No. It must be three years since I last saw him. We crewed together in the Fastnet and then he went off to America and became more involved in the business side of things. Pity really. He’s a good sailor and a nice bloke.”

  Tom stifled a yawn. “I’m absolutely pooped but before I give in and go to bed, I want to have a look at the barge. And before I forget, we’ll need a family conference over the weekend to try and sort out the final preparations for the race. OK?”

  Cassie nodded. “Fine.”

  She stood by the kitchen door, watching as Tom and Mai walked hand in hand down towards the barge, Polly striding out ahead of them.

  “I like Mai,” Anna said unexpectedly at her side. “She and Tom are good together. But it’s hard standing back isn’t it?” and she gave Cassie an understanding look.

  “Come on,” she continued, “I’ll give you a hand clearing up and then I’ll show you the details of the house I’ve found.”

  Twenty minutes later Anna handed Cassie an estate agents blurb. “What d’you think?”

  Before Cassie could say anything, the kitchen door flew open and both women turned in surprise as Polly ran in.

  “Mum. Phone 999. Tom’s had an accident on the barge. We need an ambulance quickly.”

  In fact it was the air ambulance that landed in the field at the river’s edge and took Tom off to hospital, leaving Cassie shaking and not believing what had happened.

  Used to the narrow steep steps leading down into Clotted Cream’s hull, he’d apparently misjudged his footing as he’d turned to descend the barge’s wider companionway. He’d made a grab for the handrail which disastrously gave way.

  He’d fallen backwards down the flight of steps, ending in an unconscious crumbled heap at the bottom.

  James arrived just as they were lifting Tom into the helicopter and had a quick word with the crew before running across to Cassie.

  Cassie waited for him fearfully. “Did they tell you anything?”

  James shook his head. “They want to get him to The General as quickly as possible. The hospital is already on standby to receive them.”

  James had no intention of telling either of the women what the paramedic on board had actually said about Tom’s condition.

  “Is Bill coming to the hospital with you?”

  “No. He and Mum are staying with Polly. She’s in a bit of a state.”

  “I’ll drive you and bring you back,” James said. “Come on. We’ll take my car.”

  The forty-minute drive to the hospital seemed to take forever. After an initial unsuccessful attempt to break the silence, James switched on the car radio, leaving Cassie and Mai to their own thoughts, and concentrated on his driving.

  Casualty was crowded, but the senior nurse led them to an anteroom and said the Doctor would be with them shortly.

  “I’ll go and find a coffee machine shall I?” asked James.

  “That would be nice. Black no sugar for both of us,” Cassie said, glancing at Mai who was sat on the edge of her seat nervously twisting her wedding ring round and round.

  The Doctor arrived just as James was passing round the thin polystyrene cups.

  “Mrs Lewis?” Both Cassie and Mai turned at the name, coffee forgotten.

  “I’m Dr. Webster,” he said talking to Mai. “We are about to take Tom up to theatre. As far as we can tell at the moment, he is suffering from some internal bruising and both his legs are broken. Once he’s been operated on, we’ll move him into Intensive Care over night.”

  He glanced at Cassie and then at Mai again. “I’m afraid only one of you can see him for five minutes before he goes to theatre.”

  Mai was on her way out of the room instantly.

  Cassie stopped the Doctor as he went to follow her.

  “He will be all right won’t he?”

  “A lot depends on his internal bruising and of course, it will be several months before he’s walking again, but yes, hopefully he will make a full recovery.”

  The storm finally blew itself out during Friday night and Saturday dawned calm and bright.

  Anna was the first up and Cassie found her in the kitchen busy organising breakfast.

  “Just coffee for me. Any sign of Mai or Polly?” she asked leaning against the Aga.

  Anna inclined her head in the direction of the boatyard.

  “Polly’s wandering around out there somewhere. She said something about giving It’s Mine! a scrub to take her mind off things. I’ve taken Mai breakfast in bed and given her strict instructions to stay there. She looks terrible. You don’t look too good either,” she added frankly.

  Cassie ignored the comment.

  �
��D’you think it’s too early to phone the hospital?” she asked instead.

  “I’d give it another hour.”

  Cassie drank her coffee and nibbled at the piece of toast Anna pushed across the table to her.

  She’d always been terrified at the thought of something happening to Tom at sea but had never dreamed an accident would happen on home territory.

  “I can’t wait an hour,” she said suddenly. “I’m going to phone now.”

  Anna watched her anxiously as she waited to be put through to Tom’s ward and asked to speak to the sister in charge.

  “I’m Mrs Lewis, Tom’s mother. Could you tell me how he is please? And when I can see him?” She listened attentively.

  “I see. Thank you.”

  Putting the phone down she turned to Anna.

  “He’s as comfortable as can be expected. He’s still quite heavily sedated.”

  She turned as Polly opened the kitchen door. “Morning love. You all right? You look like I feel. Shattered.”

  Polly nodded as she helped herself to a mug of coffee. “I am. D’you think they’ll let me see Tom today?”

  Cassie shook her head.

  “Sorry love. I’ve just phoned the hospital. Mai can go anytime and I’m allowed five minutes this afternoon but nobody else.”

  The morning passed quicker than Cassie had expected. Both she and Mai were kept busy answering phone calls from people anxious to know how Tom was. News of the accident had certainly spread fast.

  It was after one when Cassie, Mai and Anna finally set off for the hospital, Anna going along just to keep Cassie company on the drive back. Bill and Liz had volunteered to collect Mai when she was ready to come home.

  Tom was semiconscious as Cassie walked into the small ward and smiled weakly at her in greeting.

  “Hi Mum.”

  Carefully she leant over and gave him a gentle kiss on his bruised face.

  “Oh Tom. It’s good to see you. Mai’s waiting outside but they said I could have five minutes first.”

  Not wanting to tire Tom out before Mai got to his bedside, Cassie left before her time was up. To have seen her son and reassured herself that he would be all right was enough.