Sig sighed and rubbed his tired eyes as he prepared to go down into the galley. He had to go give the crew their cuts from the trip and send them on their way back home for the off season. They were only a couple miles from shore and would soon be reunited with their families. Sig groaned when he realized that would mean he would have to see his wife again after all that had happened with Crystal. Speaking of Crystal, Sig wondered what she would do…would she go home? Would she stay here? And if she stayed here…would she be willing to see him again? What about Edgar? All the questions were giving Sig a headache. He grumbled something under his breath as he stood up and made his way downstairs to the galley.
The crew were gathered around the galley table sipping on coffee and sharing stories from the trip. Edgar was sitting next to Crystal, one arm loosely draped over the back of her seat as they laughed at one of Jake's ridiculous stories from his adventures back home with some of his friends.
Sig walked into the galley and froze for a moment when he saw Edgar's arm around Crystal's seat and noted how close they were sitting together at the table. The rest of the crew seemed rather pleased by the turn of events…except for Jake who had been forced to hand over his fifty dollars to Matt earlier that morning after losing the bet. Edgar had finally found a woman he was willing to stick with. It was shocking as well as exciting for him and everyone else. Sig seemed to be the only one truly distraught by the sight.
Crystal had glanced up when Sig walked into the galley. She felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the startled and angry look in his eyes as he studied her and Edgar. She bit her lower lip nervously and glanced away, praying that the rest of the crew wouldn't notice the unusual interaction between them.
"Sig!" said Jake when he glanced up and noticed their captain, "You got our money?"
Sig seemed to snap out of his startled trance, "Uh…yeah…yeah, here you go," he said as he passed around the checks to the crew, "We're a couple miles from port so you guys might wanna get out there and get ready to tie her up."
Edgar frowned slightly at his brother's harsh tone of voice. Normally Sig was ecstatic at the end of a good fishing season.
"What the hell got his panties in a bunch?" he asked as Sig disappeared back into the wheelhouse.
Crystal shifted uneasily in her seat, "Maybe he's just stressed about getting things in order before he heads home?" she suggested.
Edgar sighed, "Whatever…sometimes I think he's worse than a woman on her period…no offense."
Crystal rolled her eyes at Edgar and nudged him playfully, much to the crew's amusement.
"We better go," suggested Norman after a moment, "Sig's gonna be screaming at us here soon if we aren't out there to tie up the boat."
"Oh God forbid," muttered Edgar, "Let's make sure the overly-sensitive captain is happy…as long as he's happy the rest of us are allowed to be happy."
The crew grunted and nodded in agreement as they all went out on deck and prepared the lines. As they neared the docks in Seattle, Washington, Crystal could see several people waving and cheering as they waited for the Northwestern to pull into her berth. She frowned slightly as she made out what she thought was Sig's wife. She would have to be careful about how she acted around Sig…she didn't want to give anything away to anybody and if anyone would notice anything out of place or unusual…it would be his wife.
"Don't worry, I don't have anyone waiting on me either," said Edgar as he put an arm around Crystal's waist, "Norm's got some buddies waiting to pick him up and Jake's family is all there…Sig's wife and kids are all there too looks like."
Crystal grimaced despite herself at that…kids. She forgot about the kids.
"Yeah my parents couldn't make the trip," she said, trying to keep her mind free from the conflicting emotions that were hitting her, "Too busy with the boat over in the Grand Banks."
Edgar nodded as he tightened his grip on her, "No worries…we have each other."
Crystal smiled at that, suddenly grateful for Edgar's presence. She wasn't sure she could endure what was about to happen without him there to unknowingly bail her out of a potentially awkward conversation.
"Thank God."
…
"Sig!" shouted a woman who looked to be about fifteen years older than Crystal.
Crystal flinched a little at hearing another woman call out to Sig with excitement and affection. It made the guilt churning around inside her that much worse. She'd slept with a married man…and this was his wife, calling out to him…excited to see him for the first time in weeks…weeks that he'd spent having sex with her.
Edgar and Crystal got off the boat together and helped tie her up to the dock. Jake jumped off next and ran toward his mother and sisters who were screaming, crying and cheering with excitement at seeing the only man in their family. He hugged them all, tearing up a little himself as he was reunited with his family. Norman walked over to his buddies and waved to everyone else as he made a quick departure from the Northwestern, eager to begin his life on the land for the next few weeks.
Sig walked over to his wife and gave her a hug and a kiss. The woman, June, clung onto his arm and leaned on him as he greeted his two daughters. Crystal felt bile rise up in her throat at the sight as guilt overwhelmed her. She had no business sleeping with that man…not when he had a wife and daughters back home. How could she have been so stupid?
"Where are you staying?" asked Edgar, forcing Crystal to ignore the reunion scene.
"Um…well I was thinking about finding a cheap hotel somewhere to stay until Opillio season," said Crystal. She hadn't really thought that far ahead yet. In retrospect it would have been a good idea to have figured all that out beforehand.
"Well…if you want you could always stay at my apartment," suggested Edgar, glancing away nervously, "I mean…it would save you money and I wouldn't mind the company…"
Crystal beamed happily at that suggestion. In that moment the very thought of being alone in a random, crappy hotel was unthinkable. Staying with Edgar Hansen on the other hand…
"I would love that!" said Crystal excitedly, "I mean…I don't want to impose…"
Edgar's eyes were twinkling happily. Her reaction made his heart skip a beat. This gorgeous woman wanted to stay with him for several weeks? He couldn't remember the last time he'd been in a relationship that lasted more than a few days.
"Of course not!" said Edgar with a laugh, "It would make the next few weeks a lot more bearable…and less lonely."
Crystal smiled at that, "In that case, I'd love to stay with you."
Edgar felt himself blush and Crystal was convinced in that moment she'd never seen a more attractive man in her life.
"What are you two talking about over here?" asked Sig as he, his wife and his two daughters walked over to them.
Crystal's happiness evaporated instantly, replaced by a wave of guilt and fear as Sig eyed her suspiciously.
"She's staying with me," said Edgar with a huge grin on his face, oblivious to the tension in the air, "Crystal's gonna stay with me till Opillio season."
Sig's eyes widened at that as he glanced over at Crystal, "Oh? Is that so?"
Crystal shifted uneasily, refusing to meet Sig's piercing, accusing gaze.
"Oh, Sig stop that!" chastised his wife, misinterpreting Sig's reaction, "You and I had our fun before we got married…let the kids have some of their own. You two go have fun!"
Crystal gritted her teeth, feeling another nauseating wave of guilt hit her at June's kindness. If that woman had any idea what Crystal had done…the last thing she'd be doing would be vouching for her.
"Exactly," said Edgar, narrowing his eyes at his older brother, "Alright, we're heading out. Bye everyone!"
Edgar put an arm around Crystal and led her away from the dock as the rest of the crew and their families called out their goodbyes. Sig glared after them, his anger reaching boiling point as he watched Edgar help Crystal get into his truck. Crystal could feel Sig's infuriated stare but refused to look back. She felt the tension slowly melting away the further she and Edgar got from the dock…and from Sig Hansen. She was determined to enjoy the next few weeks with Edgar…regardless of his older brother's insane jealousy and obsession with her…
…
Please Review!
I think I'm gonna write another chapter tonight too…I'm in the mood : ) lol
