High Noon

of perfume…here and there.”
    “Very nice.”
    “How about you? What are you wearing?”
    “Guess.”
    “Jeans. Just jeans, those washed-a-few-hundred-times Levi’s. Riding low on the hips with the waistband button carelessly open.”
    “My God. You must be psychic.”
    With a sound of amusement, she sat down. For the first time in twenty-four hours her stomach wasn’t knotted. “Oh my, these straps just keep falling off my shoulders. Those would be my delicately scented creamy white shoulders. I probably shouldn’t be out here dressed like this, leaning over the railing. Why, my soft yet firm breasts might—oops—spill right out. What would the neighbors think?”
    “You’re a killer, Phoebe.”
    “Honey, I’m just getting started.”
     
    In the morning, it was easy to put the work away, to tuck it into a corner of her mind. Death and sadness, Phoebe supposed, had a way of making those who brushed up against them appreciate a blue-skied, sunny day, and the excited chatter of a child.
    And Carly’s first sight of the boat said it all.
    “It’s big! And it’s pretty! This is going to be the best time ever.”
    “Then we better get started,” Duncan decided.
    “But where are the sails? You said it was a sailboat.”
    “They’re rolled up right now. We’ll hoist ’em once we’re clear.” He clambered on, then held out a hand for the girl. “Here you go. Welcome aboard.”
    “Can I look at stuff?”
    “Sure.”
    “But don’t touch,” Phoebe called out as she came aboard. “It is big, and it is pretty. And I realized I should have asked if you really know how to handle this thing.”
    “I’ve only capsized her four times. Kidding. I always wanted to sail. Used to come down here and watch the boats. So when I decided to get a boat, I took lessons—and a course—as I didn’t want to drown after achieving a lifelong dream. Still, the kids need to wear PFDs. Personal flotation devices. So will Biff.”
    “Who’s Biff?”
    “That would be Biff.” Duncan pointed.
    Phoebe spotted Phin, his wife and his little girl coming down the dock. Lumbering on a leash ahead of them was a stubby-legged, homely faced bulldog.
    “Phin’s dog. He figured a bulldog would lend an air of dignity. Which, you could say, he does if you discount the drool.”
    Obviously an old sea hand, Biff jumped aboard, then wiggled his butt until Duncan hunkered down to rub him all over.
    “What a perfect day for this. I’m going to do as much of absolutely nothing as possible.” Loo stretched. “Hi, Phoebe. I hope you’ll be joining me.”
    “I’ll be glad to. Hi, Phin. Hi, Livvy.”
    “Puppy!” Carly scrambled on deck from the cabin below and all but tackled Biff. “Oh, he’s so cute! What’s his name? Mama, can’t we get a puppy?”
    “She’s painfully shy,” Phoebe announced. “I hope you’ll pardon her.”
    “He’s Biff.” Not quite as outgoing as Carly, Livvy clung to her mother’s hand. “He likes his belly rubbed.”
    Carly beamed and obliged the now ecstatic Biff. “There’re beds downstairs and tables, and a kitchen and a bathroom and everything. Do you want to see?”
    “I’ve seen it before.”
    “Let’s go see it again. With Biff.”
    Livvy looked up at her mother. “I guess so.”
    “Those are pretty shoes,” Carly said as they started down. “Maybe I can try them on. You can try mine on, too.
     
    It was an experience, Phoebe thought, to motor away from the dock, steam and slip through the water with the little girls fused together at the stern, and the not-so-dignified dog sitting on the starboard bench with his funny face lifted to the air.
    But it was nothing to the moment when the white sails rose and filled with wind. Like the dog, Phoebe lifted her face.
    “Mimosas,” Loo announced, and offered a glass as she sat beside Phoebe.
    “Oh God. This must be heaven. Are we going to have to jib or hoist or some other salty term?”
    “Only if the spirit moves. Phin doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing unless Duncan tells him, but he likes to pretend he does.” She smiled over at the men. “But he’s game. Me, I tried to talk Dunc into a motorboat—cabin cruiser. But he just had to have sails.” She drew in a long breath, stretched out incredibly long legs. “Hard to argue at times like this.”
    “You’ve known him a long time.”
    “Known him, been crazy about him. So if you screw with him, I’ll find a way to hurt you. Other than that, we’ll be