Alright! Here it is! The last chapter…then I'll write the epilogue!!
Chapter 25: The Question
Edgar and Jack made their way back to where the Northwestern was tied up at the dock. Jack kept making a fuss over Edgar's slight injuries from the fight. His lip had been busted open and he had a bruise forming on his jaw.
"I'm fine Jack, really I am!" assured Edgar as they climbed onto the boat.
"Dude!" shouted Matt, "What the heck happened to you?"
Jack gave Edgar an I-told-you-so look. Edgar just rolled his eyes.
"I'm fine. We just ran into Blake."
Just then, Sig emerged from the wheelhouse.
"You ran into Blake?" he asked, voice edged with disgust at the sound of the Maverick captain's name.
"Yeah," said Edgar, "Got into a bit of a fight. He's worse off than I am…trust me."
Sig shook his head in disbelief.
"Well go get yourself cleaned up before you start cleaning the boat. The last thing I need is blood stains on the new paint job."
"Gee, Sig," said Edgar sarcastically, "Thanks so much for your concern! I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Sig waved him off as he climbed down onto the deck to talk with the other crew members. Edgar sneered and climbed down below deck to tend to his wounds.
NWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNWNW
Later that evening as the sun was setting, Jack climbed over to the bow of the boat. She leaned over the rail and gazed out into the harbor to watch the sunset below the horizon. This was her final day at Dutch Harbor. She would be leaving that night to go back to her own house and her old life. She would not return until King crab season next fall.
She sighed at that thought. She did not want to go back to her old desk job and predictable lifestyle. She would trade a day out on the Bering Sea to any day behind some old desk.
Just then, Edgar walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Watcha doin'?" he murmured into her ear.
Jack smiled and leaned back into him. A pang of sadness hit her as she realized that she would also be leaving Edgar behind. She remembered everything they had been through together. The first time they met they had been sworn enemies. She had been so into Blake that she had ignored the fact that Edgar had serious feelings for her. She remembered the day he had opened up to her and told her about Sarah and the night outside the bar when they had kissed after dancing at the party. She remembered the kiss he gave her after biting the head off a herring and when she had been tied to the crane and swung out over the harbor water. She never wanted to forget a single moment. The men on the Northwestern had become her second family and she was not ready to leave them.
"I'm thinking," murmured Jack after a moment.
"Thinking about what?"
"You…the Northwestern, the boys, the ocean…everything," she said sadly, "I don't want to go."
Edgar smiled to himself as he turned her around to face him.
"You don't have to go anywhere," he said, looking into her eyes.
"What do you mean?" asked Jack giving him a confused look, "I've got to go back."
"No you don't."
"And what would I do then?" she asked, "It's not crab season."
"We fish year round…there's always cod fishing."
"That's only a couple months," retorted Jack, "What would I do after that? I have to work, Edgar."
"You could come to my home in Seattle with me."
Jack's eyes flew open in surprise.
"Edgar…"
"But you have to answer one question first," he said, interrupting her.
"What question?" asked Jack, thoroughly confused.
Edgar took a deep breath and pulled a small box out of his pocket.
"Will you marry me?"
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I'll write the epilogue tomorrow!!