Learning to Love (New Zealand Sailing #1)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Ellie

Hearing his voice and knowing he was in one piece was a huge relief. Seeing him afterwards on the five o'clock news bruised and battered, broke my heart into tiny pieces. Is this how it's always going to be with him? Hope and agony, agony and hope. One step forward, two steps back.

Tayla got home just before five, and held me tightly as we watched Sam and Corey talk briefly about the accident. “It's a dangerous sport. There are sharks in that water.”

I gasp and tears threaten to escape again. I give Daisy a big hug.

“Why couldn't you have found a yogi? Or a chess player? Or a real estate agent?” Even through my shocked state she manages to cheer me up.

“Anyway, we'll see what condition they're in when they walk through that door. I can't believe they're still coming, to be honest”.

After I got Sam's call earlier, I started frantically preparing the dinner in advance, and everything was ready, just needed to be reheated.

I see Tayla's made an effort, wearing a colorful strappy summer dress, showing off her tan and pink hair. I wonder what Corey will think of her. More importantly, I wonder what Corey will think of me. I've decided to stay casual in some denim shorts and a loose blouse.

Sam's SUV that I cheekily nicknamed The Spaceship pulls up onto our driveway, and the boys get out of the car and start walking towards our front door.

Corey is only just slightly shorter than Sam, with dark hair and sharp features. He's wearing a short sleeve shirt, shorts and flip flops. He's taking in the street and houses with a wistful look. Daisy lets out a friendly bark.

I can't wait for them to knock, so I open the door as they're climbing the front stairs. The sight floors me. I saw them earlier on the news, and I thought I'd be prepared for the extent of their injuries…

First up, my Sam has his right hand in a bandage. He's trying to cover his arm by wearing a long sleeve shirt. He's got a cut right across his left eyebrow. His eyes are feverish, maybe from exhaustion, adrenaline or both.

Corey has a mark on his left cheek, like he's just been on the losing end in a fight.

“You guys look like you've come straight from a boxing match.” Tayla tries to diffuse the situation.

“Sea punched us good today. I'm up for a rematch”. Corey picks up the gauntlet. Daisy goes straight to him, and wags her tail. He pats her on her back, gives her a few rubs and she sighs contentedly. It looks like he's made another conquest.

I hug Sam hard. There are no words that could express what I feel right now. The couple of hours when he was out of reach have been hell. His lips touch my forehead, then he kisses me slow and sensuously on the lips. Feels like time stands still, and it's just him and I for a short while.

Corey clears his throat pointedly.

“Ladies, this is Corey. Corey, this is Ellie, and her flatmate Tayla”. Sam makes the introductions without looking away.

I slip out of Sam's embrace and shake Corey's hand. Tayla, a shade braver than me, kisses him on the cheek.

“Don't let the wine warm up, will you? We're parched”. Tayla gestures towards the empty wine glasses. Corey takes a hint, and pours just the right amount of the New Zealand Pinot Noir.

“Let's eat outside, more room to breathe. It's such a nice evening”. I lead them to our deck table, which is much more spacious than our kitchen table, and we spent ages choosing the right tableware, and serviettes to go with the occasion.

I'm really proud of our outdoor space. It's only a rental property, but Tayla and I have put our heart and soul into this place. We have an avocado tree, which is great because we're both avo fiends. In one corner we keep some seasonal flowers, but it's mostly a veggie garden. Saves on costs, and it's good for the environment.

Corey looks around with an impenetrable smile. “I was telling Sam on the way here, this area, and this sort of house, reminds me of my nana's house up North”.

“Ellie is from up North”. Sam picks up my hand and kisses it.

“I wouldn't go as far as to say that. Matakana is still in Auckland”. They all burst out laughing at my quip, but it's all in good spirit. I'm used to this type of reaction, because even though Matakana is over an hour away from Central Auckland, it's still part of the greater Auckland area.

“So you're a country girl.” Corey takes a sip out of his glass of red wine.

“Nah, not so much. I grew up in Auckland, then my parents bought up there, and we moved when I was 14. I moved back for university”.

Tayla senses I'm getting uncomfortable and she intervenes.

“And that's where we met!”

Corey's attention moves to her, which I'm thankful for. Sam continues stroking and kissing my hand from time to time, as if to show support.

“What's your story?” Corey's question intrigues Tayla.

“My story? I'm from Christchurch originally, but then I moved to Dunedin with my aunt. I came to Auckland for university, and never left. Ellie and I studied child psychology together, but we chose different career paths. She's a daycare teacher, I'm an educational psychologist visiting various schools across Auckland.”

Corey looks suitably impressed. Now's my cue.

“You guys must be starving after such an eventful day. Let's start eating!” I get up, and turn down Sam's offer of help, as his right hand is bandaged up. Tayla joins me, and we leave the boys behind, while we pick up the good from the kitchen. Daisy stays behind by Sam and Corey's side, like the traitor that she is.

“So, what do you think?” I quiz Tayla as soon as we're out of earshot.

“Your guy, he's not much of a talker, is he?” We both laugh at that, because she couldn't be more true. Sam isn't a man of many words, which is why it's always odd seeing him on TV or watching back any interviews.

“No, he isn't. He's a man of action”. We laugh again. It could be the wine, or just the relief at what the day had in store for all of us. “What about Corey? I think we've made a good impression so far, and by we I mean you”.

Tayla seems to find this hilarious. She's always had bad luck with guys, they've mostly been players, or just not ready to commit to a stable relationship, which is what I think she'd be in to. Would Corey be a good fit for her? I don't know.

“Let's go back before they send a search and rescue party for us”. I pick up the lasagna, while Tayla juggles the salad bowl and garlic bread.

The moment we step outside I can sense a change in mood. From lively it's gone to below freezing. Sam is angry, and Corey has a mutinous look about him, keeping his arms crossed as if to keep the world at bay.

Oh boy. Tayla and I exchange glances. I wonder what happened, what could they have possibly argued about, after it seemed to go so smoothly.

We place the food on the table, and I try to sound cheerful:

“Bon appetit! Serve yourself, have as much as you like”.

Corey goes first, and puts a chunk of lasagna on his plate. Changes his mind, and adds a bit more. I help Sam, painfully aware of his right hand.

We all eat in silence for a short while, but Tayla's brow furrows by the minute and I think she's about to implode. She takes a sip of her wine, and takes the bull by the horns.

“So, what did you guys talk about, while we were getting the food? It seems like you're in a bad mood”.

Sam finishes chewing, swallows and takes a sip of his wine. Corey looks away in the distance, looking like he's wishing to be as far away from this place as possible.

“Corey was talking shit yet again about my relationship with Ellie, and I won't have it, more so not in your house”. Sam's words make me feel small. Corey is such an important part of his life, most weeks he sees him more than me. On one hand, I would hate to be the reason he'd lose a friend and sailing partner. On the other hand, what if Corey's planting doubts in Sam's mind about me, about us?

“Well mate, you can fuck right off. You don't come to our house, eat our food, and dick us about with your I'm-better- than-you attitude”. Tayla looks Corey straight in the eye, leveling a challenge.

Corey seems to realise he's been out of line. “Sorry, ladies. I've had a very difficult day today, and I'm still sore. Probably best to go home and have a rest, as we have a big day again tomorrow. The food was really delicious though”. He gets up from the table, and Sam gets up with him.

We walk to the door, and I'm still shell-shocked by what happened. It was supposed to be the start of a great friendship, at least that's what I'd imagined. Now it's painfully obvious Corey wants me out of Sam's life.

Sam embraces me and kisses me again, only for the second time tonight. He whispers in my ear “I'm sorry. I can't stay tonight, I have to drive Corey home. We'll speak tomorrow, then I'll see you on Saturday. We need to plan something nice together”.

As Sam's car pulls away from our driveway, I blow him a kiss, and he smiles back at me. I wonder if Corey will succeed at breaking us apart, or will we go the distance. A shiver runs right through me, and I close the front door, and help Tayla tidy up.

Sam

When Corey suggested Ellie and Tayla may be gold-diggers, at their house, while we were there as dinner guests, I nearly lost it. I'm a very calm guy, it takes a lot to ruffle me, but I felt like punching the fucker's lights out, throwing a 15 year friendship out the window.

“Corey, you're way out of line. They work for a living. They do important stuff, teaching and raising children. What do we do, mate? We piss around on million dollar boats all over the globe. If you ask me, we're the gold-diggers. So fuck you. There, I said it.”

I couldn't tell from his expression, but I think my words affected him. After we left the girls, we drove in silence for most of the way, until we got closer to his place.

“I'm sorry, mate. You're right. I was an ass, and that's the only thing I'm going to say about it. Keep seeing Ellie, get married for all I care, and raise sheep in Matakana”.

We laughed together at that. Between the two of us, Corey's the most likely to drop competitive sailing altogether, go back home and raise sheep. I hadn't even thought about what I'd do if I retire. Would I even retire? I could be 80 and still sailing small boats. Or doing fishing tours in O'Neill's Bay. I smile at the thought. Would Ellie like to move to O'Neill's Bay?

Thursday passed quickly, but it also brought some fantastic news. Coach gathered the whole team and told us in brief that the boat could be rescued.

“Another couple of days, and she'll be right. Looked worse than it actually was. Credit to Kiwi engineering”. His words made my heart soar. We still have a chance at the Yacht Racing Cup next year. I didn't blow it for everyone. There were shouts of joy from the rest of the team.

“On Monday I expect everyone back on board, but it doesn't mean you're on holiday until then. You all need to keep in shape, check your weights and keep training”. Coach runs a tight ship.

Corey came by after this. “How about you and I go out on the water together, to train for the Olympics?”. With one thing and another we'd neglected our training, but I had to see the doctor about taking the bandage off my right hand. Can't sail one handed, I'm not James Bond.

The doctor all-cleared us, and Thursday and Friday, Corey and I were back on the water, sailing our small yacht at fine speed like we've done for years. The wind in the sails, the sharp turns, the sea spray, the seagulls' cry and the vast ocean have been a part of me for all my life. When I'm on the water I can't imagine giving this up, to be on land forever, it's in my blood.

I need to show Ellie this part of me, make her see how much more there is out there on the ocean.

We messaged and spoke on the phone every day. Knowing she's ok calms me, but I can see how this could be a weakness. The less weaknesses I have on water, the safer I am, and the safer I can keep everyone else. I need to tread carefully, though I feel I'm lost at sea already, at her mercy.

On Saturday morning I'm raring to go, like boats lining up for a race. I'm taking her to a special place. I told her to get dressed up for hiking, but to also carry a swimsuit. Being from Auckland she may be familiar with where I'm taking her, but I console myself with the fact that she hasn't been there with me.