Owen McCuen

It was like a great unwinding.

I knew Tim and his family needed it, what with his business problems and all, and Tyler finishing his last grueling year of college.

Tammy had moved to a long bench seat, reading a book.

What do you say we have some lunch, I said.

Your turn this time.

She nodded it was a good idea and went below.

Twenty minutes later, she appeared with sandwiches and snacks.

Everyone came aft, got their food, and returned to their previous spots.

The seas had become a bit choppier, but no one noticed except perhaps Grace.

I smiled at her, letting her know everything was going smoothly.

I put the tiller pilot on the wheel to keep us going in the same direction and settled down to eat.

Thumbing through a chart as I munched, I confirmed our direction would take us near a large island.

That would work out well.

We could anchor and spend time on a beach.

Maybe stay overnight.

Conversations got a bit livelier with a lot of questions about sailing.

I mentioned again we had the perfect day and pointed out another sailboat a mile or two to the west.

I watched it and felt the comfort of the ordinary.

Another group of sailors enjoying themselves using a fair wind to go somewhere special.

I sipped my drink, glancing at our sails now and then to be sure they were correctly trimmed.