Page 34 of Learning to Love
The silver lining.
We drive three hours North towards one of our training facilities. It's going to be a grueling few days. We haven't trained in a month, and it will show. To take my mind off being away from Ellie, I devise tactics for maneuvering the boat at high speeds.
The journey passes quickly,and I sleep soundly that night, dreaming of Ellie.
The next day, our boat and the British boat are out on the water. I wave at Luke Bailie, the British team skipper, from a distance. He nods and waves back.
We're relentless, sailing for hours, testing the boat's limits until we can't push anymore. At the end of each day, after communal dinner, we crash in our bunks and drift off into dreamless sleep.
On day four, the weather makes it impossible for us to train. Gales and summer storms batter the area, and we stay indoors mostly, discussing tactics and technical plans.
Coach enters the room and claps his hands. “Boys, the weather’s packing in for the week. We’ll go back early tomorrow morning. No point hanging around here. I know some of you are pining.” Coach winks at me. I roll my eyes. I thought I'd put this to rest.
At the same time, my phone, Corey’s phone, and Florian’s phone vibrate. We reach for our phones in our back pockets, puzzled.
Corey reads out loud. “Congratulations! You have been selected to participate in the Round the World Ocean Race, departing from Malaga, Spain on March 1st.”
I’ve got the same message blinking up at me, but I’m struggling to process it.
Corey and Florian jump up, whooping and making a victory dance. “Yeah boi! We’ve done it!” The other teammates and Coach cheer them on.
“You coming, Sam?” Florian doesn’t let up.
I smile sadly. “Of course. How could I not? It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.” I'd signed up for this a while ago, just before I met Ellie. It's an amazing opportunity for any sailor, so why do I feel like I've been split in half?
Corey knows something’s up. He looks at me pointedly. “This isn’t about Ellie, is it?”
I look straight at him, not saying a word.
Corey laughs. “There are stopovers after each leg every three to four weeks. She can come to Brazil, Hong Kong etc. Like an exotic holiday every month for a year. I’d be up for that.”
I push away from the table to release some of my pent-up frustration. “When you put it like that… maybe I’ve got a chance. I’m doing it anyway.” I’m being quite belligerent now. “I’ve wanted to do this since I was a kid. How many people can say they’ve sailed around Cape Horn?” My rhetorical question touches many of the team.
“Well, if you change your mind, I want to go in your place,” Matt chimes in.
Florian looks at him strangely. “No fucking way. It’s Sam’s place. He earned it, just like Corey and I earned ours.”
Things are turning sour so I put my hands up. “Guys, I’m going, alright. Ellie’s just going to have to deal with it, and so will I. We’re grown-ups. Sailing is what I do, and tough luck.”
My words seem to calm their spirits, and they continue chatting about what life at sea will be like. Conversation soon turns to belting out old bawdy sea shanties, to Coach’s great delight.
I don’t join in the singing, and I can’t help but fervently wish this damn kombucha type health drink would turn into some strong whisky. Not allowed to drink while in training. But today I definitely need a double.
Where’s that St. Brendan pendant? Here it is. I’d left it behind in my wallet today, and now I’m holding it, thinking how Ellie will react to me going away for a whole year. There will be some breaks, though, chances to see one another. What Corey said makes sense. She could come to the ports we dock at, and we could have a couple of days together here and there. A year of great vacations. It’s not like I’m leaving her behind. Not really.
Chapter 15
Ellie
It feels a bit strange to think of Sam’s house as my own. Daisy has settled in well, and I’ve met a few of the neighbors already. Naveen and Carl from next door offered to pet sit Daisy, and judging by how she acts around them, wagging her tail like crazy, I think I'll take them up on the offer.
Corinne, a friend of a friend, took my old room in Tayla’s house, but I’ve basically been living with them the last few days while Sam’s been away, as if I never moved.
Corinne has a wicked sense of humor and entertains us with tales from her various places of work: the opera where she performs as a soprano, photoshoots as a plus size lingerie model, and the small café where she moonlights as a barista.
Sam texted to let me know he’s coming back early tomorrow due to the weather, so I have one more chance to spend time with the girls.
Corinne hold her arms out wide, wearing a blinding smile. “Ladies, how about we crash a party?” Corinne is always up for going out.
