Those who disembarked onto the jetty looked weary but were chatting about their day and what they’d seen. Sounded like they had a successful trip and had swum with a whale shark. She waved to get Gretchen’s attention, and the red-haired woman waited for her to move down the jetty and join her on the boat.
“Good day?” she asked.
Gretchen winced. “Your mum had a fall.” She put the inflatable into gear and motored them towards the larger boat. “Rob’s been in a mood since it happened.”
Nuts. “How bad?”
“It wouldn’t have been bad at all, except she fell against the edge of the bench and cut her arm. It bled a lot, but I don’t think it needs stitches.”
Gretchen had first aid experience and had worked in an aged care facility in the city, so she’d seen plenty of injuries.
“I convinced Rob she didn’t need to be the first off the boat.”
Faith prepared herself for her father’s accusations. His gaze darkened when he spotted her on the inflatable, but he managed a cheerful goodbye to the remaining passengers as they left. Faith bypassed him and walked straight to her mother, who sat in the cabin inside, a white bandage wrapped around her upper arm.
“It’s nothing,” Milly said before Faith could ask.
“How mad is Dad?”
“Threatening never to let me on the boat again.” Her mother sighed. “It was such a minor thing; anyone could have done it. We’ll have to smooth the corner so it doesn’t hurt any of the passengers.”
“I told you it was a bad idea for her to come on the boat.” Rob stood at the entrance to the cabin, his face a thundercloud. Through the window behind him, Faith saw the crew glance over and then hurry to go about their tasks.
“Rob, I’m fine.”
“You’re injured,” he corrected.
“A scratch. One that wouldn’t have happened if the bench didn’t have such a sharp edge on it. You’re lucky it was me and not one of our passengers. They might have sued.”
The idea made him pause, and Faith seized the opportunity to speak. “Your clients seemed thrilled about their day.”
“The whale shark was close to shore,” he said. “Then we saw some manta rays when we went snorkelling.”
“Sounds fantastic. Did you see them, Mum?” Her mother’s hair had that mussed, been swimming look to it.
“I did. It was a real highlight. I’m so glad I came out today.”
Her father’s expression softened. “I don’t like you getting hurt.”
“But I love spending the day with you.”
Rob hugged his wife and with his temper deflated, Faith slipped out of the cabin and went to help clean up. Milly had neatly defused the situation.
Neither of her parents were getting any younger. Perhaps she should suggest her father retire so he could spend more time with her mum.
Her parents sat side-by-side holding hands, talking to each other, their love obvious even after fifty years together. Would she ever find someone she felt that way about? The men she’d dated in the city had been too invested in their careers to want a serious relationship. Or they felt intimidated by her income.
Darcy’s face came to mind. He wouldn’t care about her job.
Maybe the next time they spoke, she’d invite him to dinner.
To see what could happen.
And have a little fun while she was here.
***
Darcy scraped up the last of the dead sheep with the front-end loader and dumped them into the hole he’d dug. Several hundred dead. His father would say “it is what it is”, but Darcy refused to. This wasn’t an act of nature, it was vandalism, or spite. A warning.
