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Bachelor at the Lake

By: Egmont0409



CHAPTER 1

There was speculation that the recently arrived young graduate from Chicago, Sinead Morgan, would take this year's title of Miss Prairie but she wasn't even in the final seven. A fairly strict upbringing had taught Sinead and her sister and two brothers that a guy sins if he pays for sex and likewise so does a girl if she gives sex in return for a favor. 

In this case the bewhiskered chief judge who appeared over-done in garlic and in years missed out, not that Sinead was against garlic or age-wrinkled men but she didn't believe the promise that fifteen minutes with him in his hotel room and the title would be hers. She also thought he'd say that same thing to all the entrants who sent a message to his pecker.

"You should have won last night," the head of the soil research unit said to her next day.

Sinead sniffed and said she just didn't have what to takes.

Her boss swallowed, eyeing her face and chest in a carnivorous-like glance. "You don't say."

"Yes Walter. Shouldn't I be completing my morning batch of tests?"

"I suppose so. Would you come for dinner at my home this evening? My bachelor brother is here visiting."

"Perhaps. What does he do?"

"He runs a one-man boat-building business at the lake."

"What Lake Michigan?"

"No Lake Mead about 150 miles to the east of here."

"May I ask why your brother is not married?"

"Part of the year he lives in virtual isolation but from late spring to early fall his environment is over-run by boat people, beach bathers, photographers and trampers and the occasional balloonists and nudists."

"What does he do over the quiet half of the year?"

"Vegetates, builds two wooden boats and wanders as an amateur ornithologist/photographer."

"How interesting."

Walter Meadows smiled and said, "It's only dinner Sinead. You are too naïve and unspoiled to be turned loose with him but Orlando does appreciate beauty." 

"Orlando?" Sinead the soil technician sighed and said, "Half the year in the wilds practically alone is he? Perhaps I should give him half a chance?" 

She then began testing soil samples as part of work to find causes of ill-thrift in crops on a client's farm.

Late afternoon Sinead returned to her room plus tiny bathroom in a rooming house, still unable to find a small apartment that satisfied her completely, wondering about this Orlando guy. Cute name, almost as good as Sinead, she smiled and decided to dress exposing flesh to catch his eye. But when she took a cab to Walter's apartment she was dressed in jeans, boots and a top that went right up her throat and down over her wrists and she wore her honey blonde hair down, having decided to bury the flesh because this guy could be Walter's older brother although she had a sneaking suspicion that he was the kid brother. Walter had described him as his bachelor brother and had smirked slightly. 

The other reason, of course, was to avoid putting Walter's wife into the back row by over-dressing.

The doorbell was opened by a gorgeous trim woman in a cocktail dress, her blonde hair piled high, and she purred, "Hi Sinead, I'm Nancy, Walt's wife."

Sinead had to struggle from bursting into near-hysterical laughter and confessing how could she have got it so wrong. If this trend continued she'd find the Orlando guy was Walt's twin brother but knew she couldn't get it that wrong.

"Hi Nancy. How lovely to be invited."

"It's our pleasure dear. Walt wanted livelier and younger company tonight because Orlando returns home tomorrow. We entertained the boys' parents last night. I worried about you being his choice because I had no idea what you looked like or about your poise. And here we are... you are beautiful with a smile to die for and I can't remember ever having a figure that looked like yours. Come in dear and welcome to our home."

The next shock came in the foyer. Among the family framed photos on the wall was a photo of Professor Walter Meadows, at the university's dinner marking his retirement as head of the chemical engineering department after nine years.

"I wasn't aware Walter had served as an academic."

"Yes but the university finally drove him near-mindless which is why he resigned after buying the laboratory. Why do you call him Walter?"

"Everyone at the lab calls him Walter."

"Oh really? I suppose I should take greater interest in his work. He met me when I was completing my doctorate and after I finished my interest degenerated into cooking and keeping house for him and, of course, attending to him in the bedroom. Come through and meet Peter Pan, the kid brother who's never likely to grow up."

They walked into the lounge. Sinead thought keeping house? Nancy had created a mini palace. It was so beautiful. The two guys in lounge suits turned and smiled at them. Then Sinead heard Nancy beside her suck in breath when the younger of the two guys openly gaped.

He wasn't handsome but neither was he ugly. She supposed this is what was called 'ruggedly handsome'. God he looked a powerful warrior.

"Orlando you can close your mouth now," Nancy said. "This is Sinead, not what you'd call your normal lab technician."

"Christ no," Orlando said and they all laughed.

Walter er Walt came forward and kissed Sinead delicately on both cheeks and apologized, "I should have told you dinner would be formal."

"I can go home and change."

"No come through and I'll find something for you dear. We are basically the same size but it will be a little tight up top for you. But first, Orlando step forward and kiss our guest instead of rocking on your feet like that."

"Um Sinead, may I greet with a kiss?"

"Of course but no tonguing; we've only just been introduced."

The combined laughter gave Orlando the shot of confidence he needed. He kissed Sinead quite firmly on the lips and said, "You are absolutely stunning."

Sinead caught the startled look that passed between host and hostess and said, "I'd expected a man with the dry wit and conservative restraint of your brother. But instead I find an open romantic who possibly finds this city environment a little over-powering, making him inclined to confuse beauty with good make-up. But I suppose I do wash up well. Please just find me a loose fitting gown."

The women returned with Sinead dressed in a little blue sequined dress with a scoop neck and hem that fell to halfway down her thighs. She wore faintly patterned stocks and shoes with glass six-inch heels.

"Christ," Walt blurted.

Orlando was back to gaping again.

The evening continued merrily and the Meadows trio appeared genuinely dismayed when just before midnight Sinead announced she must go. When she returned with Nancy dressed in her own clothes Nancy said, "Kiss Sinead good night dear and Orlando please escort Sinead out to her cab." She then kissed Nancy goodnight.

Orlando and Sinead came out into the main foyer and he said 'Damn' when seeing the cab was already waiting. "Will we see each other again?"

She smiled and said she doubted it.

"Damn."

"In that case here's something to keep me in focus," Sinead said, grasping Orlando's hand and sliding it over the neck of her top and under her bra when she then slipped her hand out and kissed him soundly before twisting away and into the backseat of the cab.

"God that was wonderful."

She laughed and told him he now had something to focus on.

Was that the end of Orlando? Sinead, mindful of the expressions she'd seen on his face that evening thought not. Had she seduced him with her kiss and planting his hand ever so briefly on her warm breast? She couldn't be sure because a girl could never tell with a guy but she had a feeling that the man from the lake had been hooked.

Sinead was dressed only in panties and had a towel round her head after highlighting her hair when he phone rang.

"Hi it's Orlando."

"Oh hi, lovely to hear from you."

"Your voice sounds even great on the phone. Do you have a vehicle?"

"No."

"Oh I was going to invite you to come here early Saturday morning and stay the night."

"I can rent a vehicle."

"Are you that keen?"

"Yes."

He mumbled he didn't know what to say.

"Just be grateful and give me directions."

Sinead called Nancy; they'd been out to coffee on Tuesday and to lunch only a few hours ago.

"Orlando has just called to invite me to visit him."

"That's interesting. How do you feel about that?"

"Um wildly excited."

Nancy giggled. "Darling my understanding is he's no saint."

Sinead laughed and said she wondered why she wasn't surprised. "I just called to discuss the invitation in case you found need to warn me off."

"No I believe you are a totally capable of handling him but don't go if you don't want sex."

"Oooh. What's the quickest route there?"

Nancy said to follow the directions Orlando would have given her. "You may borrow my car."

"That's lovely of you but a rental will be fine. I have seen one company advertising specials this weekend."

"Yes well it's still not far into spring and it's still possibly snowing up there. Book a four-wheel drive vehicle. Oh I'm so happy for you two."

* * *

Light snow on the ground had not slowed Sinead as there were few corners on the last five miles of rise above the snowline to the lake. She'd been told to turn left at the lake, then right after 300 yards and she'd then see a house at the lake's edge on poles and a boatshed with a gabled roof a few yards to the left of it. And that's what she'd found.

The house appeared deserted and locked so Sinead walked on the side deck to the front of the house and found her host asleep on a rocker with a half empty bottle of wine and empty glass beside him. Well is was approaching early lunchtime.

Sinead was finishing the second glass of wine, using his glass, when she saw him stir. Orlando's eyes fluttered and then he was staring at her.

"Hi."

"God you are beautiful," was his very acceptable reply.

"Just remember beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."

He grinned and said he was sure the word in the quotation was 'eye'.

"It was," she smiled. "That was a test to see whether you really are awake calling me beautiful."

"Would pretty or attractive be more acceptable?"

"I love the word pretty. I wear underwear that I pretty."

"Oh do you know. That suggests an area of discovery lies ahead of me."

"Do you want sex now, um before lunch?"

He looked startled and grinned. "God I've never had such a brazen statement in my entire life."

"Liar."

"In respect of day time sex."

"Oh pardon me. You must understand I have thought often of having sex with you since our first meeting."

"Me too."

"Then I'm really not the sex fiend you may have been attempting to suggest?"

"I don't categorize people, particularly women, into niches like that."

"Perhaps I believe that. Then what about your answer?"

Orlando scratched an ear and pretended to not recall the question.

Sinead snorted and said, "I want sex now, on this deck. Please fetch some sofa pads and a rug."

"But it's cold out here; it's snowing."

"I could think of a more romantic way of beginning our relationship."

"God you're unusual."

"God please don't turn out to be a wet blanket on me."

He grinned and said he promised that just would not happen. He'd bet his life on that.

Orlando returned with a single bed mattress and placing it on the floorboards stood, hitched up his belt and asked, "What now?"

"Ohmigod, do I have to provide instructions on how to fuck me?"

Orlando's face flamed. 

He snorted, "Certainly not. I meant how much do I removed from you? I don't want to appear brutal."

"Everything."

"W-what about me?"

"Everything."

"Christ now who's brutal?"

"I want you to remember this fuck Orlando and to remember everything about me when I go home tomorrow."

"But why?"

"When you are switched on to the right wavelength you'll know why?"

"B-but that's speaking to me in riddles."

"That's enough whining. Start the seduction lover boy."

As Orlando began undressing Sinead, she hooked her hands through the top gap in his jacket to massage his chest.

Off came her jacket, thick top and then sweater.

"Lovely fancy bra. Are you sure you wish to continue."

"Yes please."

"It's cold."

"Come on Orlando, commit to this."

He attempted unsuccessfully to remove her boots so she kissed him leisurely and then removed them for him and dropped her long pants.

"Thank you for that," he grinned and licking his lips hooked his fingers into her panties and gently removed them.

"Right, get undressed and come over to me on the mattress."

"Do I have to bother with foreplay?"

"Christ Orlando, do I have to come back in summer if I wish to involve in a decent fuck?"

"No it's okay. Anything to please you."

Sinead watched as he hurriedly undressed. "Okay, get your dick over here in a hurry and I'll see if I can inject some life into it. It hasn't died on you has it?"

"Sinead for fuck sake don't talk like that to my poor pal. He's in fear of frostbite."

A mix of blowing, licking and sucking interested the aforementioned member into full erection and Sinead sighed, "Okay Orlando. It's cold out here. Straight in an bang me."

He got away but she didn't. But why complain?" Sinead bucked him off and scrambled inside yelling. "Fetch our clothes."

She dragged the mattress inside and poured two hot coffees. She took two sips and raced into the bathroom to run a bath and wrapped two towels around her and took one out to Orlando.

Although white-faced and shivering slightly he grinned, warming his hands on his coffee mug and said, "That was great, memorable in fact because I managed to get one away. Did you?"

"Yeah," Sinead lied.

She had a bath. Orlando had a quick shower and then leant over and kissed her and she smiled and said thanks when he asked would tinned fruit followed by scrambled eggs suit her for breakfast. He appeared minutes later with coffee and kissed her again.

Sinead wondered if he invite her to come to live with him how long would that devoted attention continue. God her mind could be embarrassing at times, running away on her like that. It had jumped from the joy of being invited on a one-off visit to moving in permanently... or perhaps seasonally. But no seasonally wouldn't work.

They drove to the village later, Sinead thinking that would indicate whether there were all-year employment prospects for her. But alas the village was tiny and appeared very seasonal in nature with the visitor's center, two restaurants and a bar still shuttered in winter closedown.

"This place really hums in summer," Orlando said grandly.

"What six people become twenty-six," she said sarcastically, cut by disappointment.

Orlando sniffed. "For your information the population around the 90-miles shores of the lake in mid-summer reaches around 9000. Behind those trees over there are seventy cabins and serviced rental spots for almost 200 RV's and caravans. Just beyond that low rise is the best beach on the lake, almost a mile of unbroken white sand and overlooking it is a recreation center, still closed, comprising a mini-market, games hall, concert hall/cinema and a restaurant/night club. That facility attracts custom from round the lake."

"Oooh. Busy, busy. I am impressed. So the lake has a winter and then a summer economy with splits in between?"

"That's a very perceptive comment."

Sinead smiled, "Well that's me I suppose."

They took their coffee and muffins across to the lookout over the lake.

"Hmmm there's been a wind shift to the southeast."

Orlando didn't have to check, indicating he'd already observed that. Well he built boats didn't he? Sinead thought it was logical he also went boating.

"I'm surprised you would have picked that up. It's only a breeze and rather fluky."

"Although building but much slower than in summer when the land temperature will be rising faster in warmer sun."

Orlando asked carefully, "Exactly what do you know about weather and boating?"

"Oh what everyone knows... apparent wind direction, tidal influence, wind versus tide influence, wind shear, wind shadow and other considerations like that."

"Ordinary people know no such things."

"Well the people I grew up with did."

"What sort of people were they."

"Christ, where is this going? Look as soon as I could walk my dad had me on his sailboat and that almost ended his marriage with mom. He taught me everything I know and I went on in small boats and quit after successfully defending my open regional Laser championship won a year earlier. By then he had a 54-foot racer and I joined the crew, soon being promoted to the after-guard as sailing master. You do understand don't you? Two of the crew worked for dad in his boatyard and other regulars were a maitre 'd, a dentist, an engineer and the second female who was a dress designer... just ordinary people."

Orlando grinned. "Yeah I get the picture, a motley crew who were bullied into shape by a hard-talking girl and her dominating father."

"Wrong my father never dominated me."

"No I accept that but I bet others learnt to keep their heads down."

"Well maybe, maybe not. Some people just have to be told what to do."

Orlando shook his head and when they returned to the SUV said, "There will be no one down at the beach with fresh snow right to the water's edge. Want to have a Mad Dip?"

"What to do for a swim?"

"Just a dash in and a dash out. It sorts our your arteries."

"Okay."

Orlando winced. "Christ you were meant to decline and we could drive home in the warmth. We have no towels and..."

"Well just take me there and watch me do it."

He sighed. "And be called a coward? No thanks, I'm with you."

Actually it wasn't madness. They screamed themselves hoarse, stayed in the water for a full minute and then climbed rosy-skinned into their clothes and raced home laughing and shivering and into the shower where Orlando soon had Sinead spread and was nailing her to the solid back wall of the shower. 

Oh did she love that, Sinead thought. It capped off working up to lunch.

"May I get lunch?" she said to the host who was resting.

"Help yourself," he yawned, and drifted off to sleep.

Sinead poked around and found pre-cooked potatoes and ham in the fridge so made a baked frittata with pan-fried onions. She added cheese, broccoli and Dijon mustard to the dish already containing the cubed potatoes and chopped ham. In the bread box was multi-grain bread. Perfect. She found a bottle of light red wine and placed that on the table for the host to uncork and went off to shake him awake.

"Smells good," he said as Sinead struggled free and raced to the oven.

He approved of the wine and said 'Oh frittata' as if he was being served a fish head.

But one bite and hitting some mustard he exclaimed, "Wow this is great" and Sinead was back to smiling again.

He cleared away and did the dishes while Sinead brushed her hair.

"Come on, let's go. We want to be back before it starts snowing around 4:00."

"So it will snow at 4:00?"

He squinted out the windows and muttered, "I said about 4:00. Best I can do is between 3:50 and 4:10."

Sinead giggled and said bullshit. It would have been safer to say between 3:00 and 5:00.

Orlando scowled until she moved in and they kissed.

"I know the local weather and conditions on the later as well as I know the back of my hand."

"Well I shouldn't doubt that. You do live here," she said. "How long has that been?"

"My grandfather was a boat builder here before my father. Walt and I and our sister Jennie were born in this house, built by my father. My grandfather as a young man built the Lake Princess beside the original house, or should I say shack. She's at present on the hard at the southern end of the lake for wintering and is still owned and operated by the Lake Water Quality and Research Authority, originally called the Lake Dam Authority as this is a hydro lake. She's 48-foot long and has amassed thirty-eight citations for involvement in lake rescues of boats and boat people in distress."


Bachelor at the Lake



"That's amazing."

"Thank you. I have the contract to redeck her next winter."

"What teak and caulking?"

"Yes."

"Um you'll need assistance won't you?"

"Yeah, I'll employ three on the decking while I hop between supervising that and supervising the two guys machining the teak to requirements."

"I should talk to my dad. He rarely takes vacations, usually only to boat shows including in Europe, Australia and South Africa. Mom would love to get him away from the yard over winter. He'd probably love to help."

"Well I don't know."

"Good comment because I don't know either. I'll start by chatting to him. Where are we going?"

They were traveling in the opposite direction to the village.

Orlando said to see some boats.

They passed the highway on which Sinead had approached the lake until coming to what appeared to be a farm barn set in trees on the other side of the road from the lake beach.

"This is called O'Sullivan's Beach in memory of an early surveyor who drowned here, apparently drunk and forgetting he couldn't swim."

"How intriguing."

Orlando frowned at Sinead. "No really. That's what I call colorful history."

Orlando unlocked the heavy door and rolled it open.

"Sailing dinghies," Sinead shouted. "Twelve of them."

"Yes but how could you count so fast?"

"Two threes on that side equals six and this side has the same number, so two sixes are twelve."

"Good god, how does your mind work?"

"Very nicely thank you," she grinned.

He grinned and asked what did she think of them.

She walked along looking at each one briefly. "There are four Snipes, six Optimists and two Lasers. The hulls will be fine if they haven't been abused. I'd need to closely inspect the mast and sails. Are you planning a sailing school rather than boat hire?"

"Yes," Orlando said in surprise. "I scouted around and purchased ten two years ago and acquired two more since. But couldn't get the school established because I failed to find a chief coach."

"I see. And now you've found me."

Orlando shuffled his feet. "Well I've been thinking. You are used to being by water and that is not where you are living now. And being a lab technician for someone so free-minded as you are must be rather depressing."

"So free-minded am I?"

"It's not a put-down."

"I didn't think it was. Actually I'm twenty-two and this has been my first job since graduating and I'm bored to the gills."

"You can live with me permanently and even sleep with me if that's your wish. And in the winter you can do the lake water sampling and process the tests for the water authority as presently the sample have to be sent away because their chemist refuses to live at the lake over winter."

"I see. So at those moments I've caught you looking at me reflectively you were not thinking how sexy I look but how you could exploit me... snaring me for your bed and getting work out of me?"

"I thought by in large it fitted your requirements rather well."

"Actually it does. May we go back and look at your standard of boat building. That should tell me about you, probably more than you'd think."

"God how your mind roams like a huntress on the prowl."

"I'm just an ordinary woman. You problem is you've been largely on your own for too long.

"I doubt that you'll learn much about me from my work," Orlando said, "but then again you are welcome to surprise me. Um, do you think at thirty-three I'm too old for you?"

"No I found older men are best at sex and generally have put aside their boyish ways."

"God you sound like my mother. My folk live in California these days."

* * *

While Sinead looked over the traditional 10ft rowing dinghy, lapstrake-built over bent frames, and the 28-foot glassed-over ply cruiser with day cabin, Orlando sat at his workbench with a beer taken from the small fridge. He'd handed Sinead a glass of white wine. He studied her, very carefully, and before long decided this young woman had more that a passing interest in small watercraft construction.

When Sinead returned to his side he asked, "What do you think?"

She replied carefully. "The lake cruiser is el cheapo but in all probability you were screwed on price whereas the rowboat tells me you are a master craftsman. Of lapstrake (clinker) construction with western red cedar planking over bent white oak frames she will look so beautiful when finished."

"Well spotted," Orlando smiled. "The dinghy will be a grandfather's gift to his three grandchildren who are already into the age of messing around in boats but he wants them to row, sail and motor with pride and in relatively safety. His father bought him a clinker rowboat in England when he was seven."

"Oh what a beautiful story." Sinead smiled. "I like the thought you build boats."

They returned to the house where they drank red wine in front of a fire. Sinead kept an eye on her watch at and 3:57 went and looked out on to the deck and noted the wind had swung round and was now coming off the hills behind them. She went to the front porch and looked out.

Nothing.

She gave it another couple of minutes and revisited the front porch, She returned to her chair smiling but said nothing.

"You're a hard-nosed bitch," Orlando said, face impassive.

"All right, at 4:02 when I checked again it was snowing. What do you want, a medal?"

He grinned and patted his knee. Sinead went over and was cuddled while they chatted.

Sinead stood at her rented vehicle after lunch next day, Orlando kissing her and playing with her hair.

"That was beautiful sex last night."

She smiled and said she thought so too.

The big question had remained unanswered so Orlando's impatience got to him. "Will you come and live with me?"

"Probably but first I want you to email me a long description of what our life will be like here through the four seasons, exactly how will I fit in here and what will I do and who am I likely to befriend round me own age. I want you to know I'm very interested in running the sailing school for you and if we can get sufficient registrations with some students already with some sailing experience we would need three other trainers." 

"That's about what I thought. We'll get registrations and kids get bored doing nothing structured after a while and seek challenges. I'd need to buy a patrol-rescue boat."

"No three jet skis would be best with one instructor and perhaps sometimes two in the trainer boats."

"Why jet-skis."

"More rapid response and greater flexibility."

Orlando nodded and said she was probably correct. "So you've sold on the idea?"

"Perhaps," she said. "Give me six weeks to think about it."

"I'll have to set-up for the new season.. Three weeks."

"No but I'll accept a deadline of four weeks. I have my career to think about."

"Yes of course and you'd need to hand in your resignation."

Sinead thanked him for being considerate and told him to start writing the information she required."

CHAPTER 2

Arriving early at work next morning Sinead went straight to Walter Meadow's office. He'd come in early as usual. They greeted warmly and she frowned and handed across an envelope.

"Your resignation?"

She whispered yes and said sorry in a stronger voice.

"It's okay. Nancy and I had expected this."

"May I close the door?"

He nodded.

"It's not necessarily what you think. I have some things to sort out first but I can do that at weekends. In one month's time I'll either return to the lake or disappear. I relocated here to put an unhappy relationship on hold, to give us both time to have a rethink. Well as far as I'm concerned the thinking time is over so I'll return home seeking resolution."

"To Chicago?"

"Yes."

"Then take the Friday or Monday off. This is not something to rush."

"Thank you. May I take off this Friday?"

"Certainly."

"It's possible Orlando suspects I'm involved in something like this because I asked for thinking time. I'd appreciate if you say nothing to anyone about this but you may tell Nancy."

"Why don't you tell her? Her understanding is you two have hit it off very well."

"We have but right now I don't with to be grilled on this. The even bigger problem is I have to decide whether to bury myself up at the lake for X amount of time and put my career on hold or to commit to a life up at the lake."

"I see."

"It's okay. Orlando is aware of my uncertainty in that respect and has been asked to state the case in writing for me to relocate to the lake. He's offered me the opportunity to live with him and we have discussed the possibility of me heading a summer period sailing school and he thinks there's a possibility I could be taken on to sample and test lake water for six months centered on the winter season. Those two options taken together would interest me."

Walter rubbed his chin and said, "Well it would appear all is not lost. In my opinion you'd be the perfect woman for my brother... a female with backbone and some get-up-and-go, not like the two bimbos he's tried to domesticate up there. In both instances as soon as fall snows arrived and the place virtually closed down they were off. Sorry, I ought not have used the term bimbo. They actually both had lovely personalities."

"So do you accept my resignation?"

"Yes, effective from twenty-eight days from today. Sooner if you require earlier release."

"Thank you Walter."

"What's wrong with Walt?"

"Thank you Walt. Well it's back to the lab for me."

That evening Sinead called Gregory Gatlin in Chicago.

"Hi Sinead," his said, sounding happy. "You said you'd call me in due course. Is this due course?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

"I'll be home this weekend. Do you wish to talk about us?"

"I certainly do. As you know both sets of parents wish to see a relationship between us resume."

"Yes."

"I've been dating, sometimes with sex, but never more than two dates to the same women."

"You didn't have to tell me that."

"I know so what about you?"

"I haven't been altogether lonely at times but let's leave it at that."

"What about dinner Saturday."

"Fine and thank you Gregory. I'll be home Friday and will dine out with my parents and will go shopping with mom on Saturday morning. After that I'm free."

"Great. We'll be laying a keel through to early afternoon Saturday. Give me a call around noon. Do you still have my cell phone number?"

"I've just called it haven't I?"

"Oh right. My mind was on your body."

Sinead winced. "Well until Saturday then. I guess you are well."

"Yep, never better. And you?"

"I'm fine. Could we do French on Saturday... the Italian restaurants you like are so noisy and we need to talk."

"I don't like French, it's too rich for me."

"Then what about Thai or Chinese."

"Yuck."

Sinead sighed and said just book a restaurant, any restaurant.

* * *

Sinead arrived at the yard unannounced. Both sets of parents wanted to see her married to Gregory and both yards merged on to the Morgan expanded site. There was still six months to run on the option her father had to acquire the adjoining land for a price already fixed. Talk about pressure. And then Gregory behaving like a goat and carrying on as if he were heir-apparent to the combined business. That's when Sinead walked out on him and warned she might not be back.

Davy Johns spotted her and he displayed all the gaps of missing teeth.

"Miss Sinead, you're home."

"You old goat, I told you a hundred times to just call me Sinead."

"I was the first to see you after your parents on the day you were born. Your mother said with pride when she showed you to me, 'Davy, meet my little princess'. From that day I called you Baby Sinead and that changed to Miss Sinead when you started pre-kindergarten."

Davy had been in the navy with Sinead's paternal grandfather and had been the first person recruited by the late Earl Morgan when he leased the original site of what would become Morgan's Boat Yard. Although eighty-eight Davy still held down his job as technical supervisor.

A woman came out of the office and yelled, "Davy stop chatting up skirt. You're wanted down at Bay 4 to inspect progress on epoxy sheathing."

"You know this piece of skirt."

Amanda Morgan raised her reading glasses and screamed, " Ohmigod, Sinead!"

Mother and daughter had barely got started when Amanda said, "What's brought you home?"

"To dine out with dad and you tonight and then to sort it out once and for all with Gregory tomorrow night."

"S-sort it out?"

"You've turned white mom. Stop it. At present I have an open mind, no fixed position, but I possess doubts."

"Ohmigod, the merger is doomed."

"Mother, I've told you I have no fixed position... yet."

"Ohmigod, I'm off to have coffee with Elaine Gatlin. We need to discuss coaching strategies."

"Off you go mother but first listen to this. Did it ever occur to you two couples you could have a merger whether or no Gregory and I tied the knot."

"No, I mean yes, no I mean why haven't we?"

"You're panicking mother. The next step is hyperventilating. Don't crash your car getting to Elaine. Taking minutes longer won't change a thing. I'm off to find my solid as a rock father."

"I'll call a cab."

"Very sensible thinking mother. Call the cab and then do your hair and make-up. You know how critical that Gatlin woman is."

"That is no way to speak of your imminent mother."

"That possibility is very much open to debate mother and you know it. Stop trying to put the screws in."

"You're impossible."

"Now mother, you know you get nowhere using that kind of talk with me."

"Sorry darling."

"Thank you. Here I'll come and do your hair and make-up for you. You are far too tense to perform perfection."

Amanda managed a smile. "You are such a darling Sinead." 

Steven, Sinead's father greeted her with a hug and big smile. "Davy yelled when passing ten minutes ago you'd dropped anchor here. You are looking in prime condition young woman."

"Thank you daddy. And you look fit enough to do an ocean classic. All the bays appear full. Business booming?"

"These are depressed times darling and..."

"I'm not here to ask for money daddy."

"Oh, well actually we are doing unbelievably well and some of the yards are reducing work hours to stay afloat. That is a lesson for you young woman..."

"RCPP...Reputation, Competitive Pricing, Performance. Er I've missed one."

"The 'Q' for Quality Performance. You'll have your grandfather turning in his grave."

"Oh poor memory and he was your father. He was cremated and..."

"... we took the ashes out to sea and scattered them in a southwesterly gusting up to 30 knots. I remember. What I was saying to you was a figure of speech."

"Or it was the result of poor concentration?"

Steven grinned. "Argumentive and uncompromising, just like your father."

"Oh but my saving grace is I have charm father."

He sighed and shook his head.

"Father dear, might I interest you in a winter project, redecking a 48-foot eight-five year old boat in teak that goes by the romantic name of Lake Princess."

"In teak you say. With proper maintenance and daily care the original decking, had it been in teak, ought to have seen out 100 years."

"Well she's been a work boat all her life."

"Has she now. It takes a dedicated owner or a professional crew to get a full life out of teak. It must never be allowed to dry out so a washing at least once a day and..."

"You sound interested daddy."

"Might be. So I would be paid a pittance?"

"Perhaps a craftsman's rate. Part of the attraction would be away from your own yard, working up high amid snow and under a temporary outdoor cover, probably canvas no doubt."

"Ohmigod, you remember... how your grandfather and I worked on a team redecking a 205 ft three-mast barque with a 26.4 beam in San Francisco when I was a youth?"

"Well I suppose I did hear that story one hundred times. You had just joined granddad as an apprentice, grandma had died not quite a year and he decided to spend winter away from the yard and you threatened to run away unless he took you with him."

"Where is this lake?"

"About a ninety minute flight from here and then a 150 mile drive."

"From that I guess we can't fly closer."

"No."

"Okay give me more info."

"I can't yet. But will set something up. I suggest you fly in on a Friday afternoon and we head to the lake immediately. We can either return to the airport Saturday afternoon or early Sunday."

"Sounds good to me. No harm taking a look at the boat and sizing up your man."

"What man?"

"You mom, almost hysterical, called just before you reached me to say you've found a man who works in boats."

"You are well informed."

"Daddy the truth now. Do I have to marry Gregory to make you happy?"

"Christ girl, do you want your mother to knife me?"

"Cut the crap daddy. This is between you an me."

Steven sniffed and tugged an ear lobe. He warned Sinead she'd be in the biggest trouble of her entire life if she breached confidence.

She eyed him steadily.

"The truth is if you marry that guy and the merger goes ahead you'll probably be responsible for me becoming very unhappy."

Sinead rushed in and hugged him, kissing him all over his face until he pushed her away.

"Don't forget there are options outside of any marriage daddy: stay as is; merge and buy out the other party or sell to the other party and then start the new phase of your life."

"And you?"

"Don't worry about me. I'm focusing on my options and before the weekend is over I'll know which one to choose."

Sinead found dinner with her parents better than expected. Her mom had cleared the air beforehand at home, saying to her daughter she just wished to state her position emphatically. Sinead poured two wines and lay back in her armchair and said, "Okay mom, have your say."

Nothing had changed. Foremost on her mother's business mind was to see the two families united to become a more powerful business entity.

"I know Gregory Gatlin acts somewhat erratically at times and shows signs of being a little too self-centered but he is only a year older than you, is handsome and keeps his body in good trim. Do you agree with that?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"Mom this will be a one-sided conversation. All I intend doing is to listen and that's what you wanted. I do not intend debating the issues with anyone other that Gregory. It was because of his over-bearing manner I escaped from here and I have now returned to assess whether he appears to have changed."

"Well that's too complex an issue to assess and decide in twenty-four hours."

"Don't under-estimate your daughter. As an analyst I've been trained intensely to use my senses and in techniques to arrive at critical conclusions."

"Then I'm being shut out?"

"Did grandma influence you to allow dad to woo you?"

"Good heavens no. The night before he met me he'd resisted arrest for drunkenness and spent the night in jail but next morning the Judge let him off after a severe dressing down that was reported in our newspaper. My mother didn't want me anywhere near him."

"So your mother took no part in encouraging you to marry daddy?"

"No, absolutely not. In fact quite... oh you sly hussy. I should have seen that coming. You have heard about the courtship of your mother and father many times and how my mother later..."

She stopped.

Sinead smiled and said, "And how grandma at the wedding breakfast stood and publicly admitted she'd been guilty of initially making a grave mistake about daddy's character."

"Well yes but this romance between Gregory and you is completely different."

"What romance? It has been nothing more than a relationship and yes we were living together when I disengaged and headed off, virtually to escape to find myself again."




Bachelor at the Lake



"I really can't understand this."

"Well mom, you graduated in accountancy which is a profession where figures are considered more important than feelings."

"That's a slur."

"Perhaps. But think about it."

Well before leaving for the restaurant the relationship between mother and daughter was normalized and during dinner no pressure was applied and no cross words were exchanged.

* * * 

Next evening Sinead met Gregory at the bar of a noisy Italian restaurant. Gregory spotted her entering and waved and continued talking to the couple sitting on the stools to his right. As Sinead approached he waved to the vacant barstool on his left, leaving Sinead engaging something she'd told herself she wouldn't do... make comparisons. She was absolutely certain Orlando Green would not have behaved like that.

"Hi, lovely to see you again," Gregory said. "Sinead this is Archie and Linda Powell. Our yard refitted their 1994 diesel 440 Sundancer earlier this year."

The couple said hi and after exchanging a few pleasantries a waitress arrived to take the couple to their table.

"Nice folk," Gregory said in salesman mode. Three of his brothers have even bigger craft on Michigan. One never knows what keeping in touch will bring. Anyway let's look at you."

He examined Sinead in her fancy top and gold wrap, black trousers and black shoes. "Looking good. Have you put on a little weight?"

Sinead felt uncomfortable.

"Brandy, lime and soda," she said as she and half the bar heard Gregory say, "Apart from your boobs I'd always thought you were a bit scrawny."

Remarkably, he improved over dinner, asking what she'd been doing and how she'd entertained herself.

She then invited him to relate his life's details since they'd last been together and was told how he'd missed her so much and finally had to find solace in the arms of other women.

Sinead was surprised he knew the word 'solace' but perhaps that was being uncharitable. She then listened with greater interest as he said how successful he'd been with his hard work for the company as new boat construction manager.

"Due to the economic depression boat owners are deferring refits and cutting back on maintenance. But for me the yard would have been suffering."

He did not elaborate leaving Sinead to assume he'd personally brought in new orders. From the efforts of married women he'd slept with?

They arrived at Gregory's apartment, having agreed she should stay the night. He was unsuccessful at attempting to find out when she planned to return home.

"Your parents and my parents are eager for us to resume our relationship and so am I," he said. "So what about you?"

"I hope being home this weekend will settle things in my mind."

"How may I assist you reach a favorable decision that incorporates our families and me?"

"By being yourself."

"That's an odd answer."

"It's the only response I have."

Gregory ran a finger between her breasts. "Ready to fuck now?"

She felt a strong desire to say no but that would have negated the reason for coming home."

So she smiled and said in a honeyed voice, "Yes I'd like to be beautifully seduced."

"Huh?"

She was sure he understood what that meant when with new women. After the first time he'd take everything for granted.

The lounge was heated so she lifted her arms to be undressed and Gregory obliged. That done, in a show of strength he lifted Sinead still in her panties and stay-ups and practically threw her on to the sofa. He unzipped and walking close said, "Here suck this. You are one of the best around with that sweet mouth of yours."

God a compliment! She should try to capture it to frame.

He had a big dick and knew it. She waited for him to attempt to shove it through her throat and out through the back of his head and didn't have to wait long. But she was awake to him and held it so no more than four inches could enter her mouth. He grunted but said nothing. Finally he began groaning, thighs shaking and she pulled away and directed the ejaculation over the sofa.

"That's a waste."

"Well I have decided not to swallow sperm any more."

"Oh yeah."

Was that an implied threat?

Sinead crawled on to her hands and knees, knowing if she didn't he'd pull her roughly into that position.

He began lubing her ass.

"No, no ass. I don't do ass anymore."

"We'll see about that," he gritted

Two hours later after quite rough treatment although stopping short of forced sex, Gregory yawned and growled, "Join me in bed or stay there, please yourself."

Sinead showered and dressed and put on the main bedroom light. She then slapped Gregory over the face with a wet towel.

"What the fuck, what are you doing?"

"Burying my mistakes. You listen to me Gregory Gatlin. I don't want you ever again to touch me sexually and if you do you'll be sorry."

"Oh yeah," he grinned, snatching the towel off Sinead. "And how will you achieve that?"

"I'd wait for the right opportunity to crush your balls with a hammer."

Sinead would long remember the horrified look on his face.

Over breakfast next morning with her parents, Sinead denounced Gregory Gatlin as a pig and she never wanted to see him again.

To Sinead's surprise her mom didn't rant, didn't even cry. All she said was, "Your father had urged me to expect this decision."

"I did try to keep an open mind."

"I know you did darling but your father told me he believed you can't wait to get back to that bachelor at the lake."

"I'm sorry about your business plan mom but all you have to do is to consider carefully, just count me out."

Sinead spent the next forty minutes telling them about her new life and her visit to the lake and the chance of her father working on redecking a sizeable craft in teak."

"You'd love doing that, being part of an expert team and bring back thoughts of long ago times," Amanda said.

Husband and daughter looked at her open-mouthed.

"Mom, you could come too, for the whole time or at least part of it. If I haven't taken up with the bachelor he's the type of guy who'd welcome you to stay in his home."

"Oooh he sounds a lovely man."

"Okay dad, could you take me to the airport. I prefer sitting round there in peace rather than having Gregory coming snouting around here or his parents arriving on what they'd call a rescue mission."

"Good idea. I'll come too."

Husband and daughter looked at Amanda, perhaps wondering if shock had humanized her.

"Of course mom. I believe I have two parents who love me."

It was only then Amanda began weeping.

CHAPTER 3

As soon as Sinead arrived back in her room she called Orlando Meadows.

"Oh hi, you're back."

Sinead took the plunge, "Hi, do you agree to marry me within the next eighteen months if we prove compatible?"

"Um, wow. This is sudden... um... but I like the sound of it. I guess this means you've chosen me?"

"Yes. I attempted to keep you from thinking along those lines. All I can say is there was no contest."

"Gee thanks."

"Ohmigod, how am I expressing myself... like an idiot?"

Orlando laughed and said, "No relax. I take what you said about no contest as a supreme tribute."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"Um I don't know what to say."

He laughed and said, "I guess that's a first for you."

Sinead laughed nervously, waiting to be thrown a life-line.

"I already love you and will come to love you even more."

"Ohmigod Orlando."

"I thought I ought to be in with a chance but my age counted against me."

"Age... what's that?"

"Oh beautifully answered."

"I'm falling in love with you Orlando."

"I am blessed."

"Oooh."

He cleared his throat. "I have been speaking to Nancy about the two possibilities."

"Oh yes. Well you do like forward planning. And what were the outcomes?"

"If you told me you wanted me I was to come down this Friday and stay with them and you'd also be invited to stay Friday and Saturday nights. But if I received bad news I was to still come down and stay with them and be mothered."

"Oh she's a darling."

"I tell you this privately. She says you are the most exciting woman of any age that she knows."

"Isn't she lovely... over the top emotionally but still very lovely."

"Just take the supreme compliment Sinead. Nancy is impressively perceptive."

They talked on for a while, discussing what they liked about each other and before ending the call Sinead indicated her father was more than interested to talk about helping out with the Lake Princess next winter.

"We'll invite your parents to stay when you are back here and we can talk about it then."

"They would both like that for different reasons. My mother has to satisfy herself that I truly have made a stupendous choice."

"Stupendous?"

"Um my word, not hers but in this instance she'll think like I do."

When that call ended Sinead called Nancy.

"Oh hi darling. So you have great news for me?"

"Nancy I believe you and Walt are hosting Orlando and me this weekend?"

"Oh Sinead. Ohmigod. Oh I can't believe it. Oh I'm out of my tree. Oh Sinead, talk to me darling."

Sinead was left feeling confident her decision to chose Orlando was totally accepted by those people who meant most to her. She booted her laptop and began writing marketing and management plans for her summer season sailing schools.

THE END