Baylee felt the tears burning behind her eyes. She had to leave the wheelhouse right away.
As she went back into the galley, she sat down at the table and put her head in her hands. She wondered if things between her and Sig would ever be okay again.
When they had met, the fishing did not bother her at first. For the first few years of their marriage it was just a part of their lives. She accepted it and learned how to cope when he left. But in the past couple years, every time he came home they fought. After months of being away from each other they had simply lost the bond they used to have. They were more like acquaintances than a married couple.
She mentally kicked herself for arguing with him up in the wheelhouse. She had just started an argument over something stupid…just like they always did back at home.
She glanced around the empty galley, suddenly wondering what she would do for the next couple hours until it was time to cook the boys another meal.
Her eyes brightened slightly as an idea popped into her mind. She made her way over to the area where the crew changed into their rain gear. She saw a couple extra sets of gear hanging up and lying around the small room and began to pick them up. She studied them for a couple minutes before she put them on. She opened the door and walked out onto the deck.
A blast of frigid air and freezing spray welcomed her outside. She shielded her eyes against the wintry blow and glanced around.
Jake was the first person who saw her. He dropped a bait bag and gaped in surprise.
"Mrs. Hansen?"
Edgar and Jack whirled around from where they were working near the hydraulics. Their eyes were wide with surprise as they looked at the baffled woman.
"Mom?" asked Griffin, "Mom what are you doing out here?"
Griffin hurried over to his mom and tried to lead her back inside.
"You shouldn't be out here!" he exclaimed.
Jack was touched slightly at the sound of concern in Griffin's voice. Regardless of his attitude out on deck, the boy obviously did have a heart.
"I'm fine," protested Baylee as she pulled away, "I want to see what all you guys do out here. I wanna know what it's like to be a crabber!"
Her bright, naïve smile made the rest of the crew nervous. They glanced up at the wheelhouse to see if Sig was watching but he wasn't.
"Does your husband know about this?" asked Matt uneasily.
Baylee's gaze hardened slightly.
"No, but it doesn't matter."
Edgar raised an eyebrow and he and Norman exchanged somewhat scared looks. If something happened to Sig's wife out on the deck Sig would have their heads mounted on his wheelhouse wall.
"So, what do I do first?" asked Baylee as she adjusted her gloves.
Griffin's face brightened slightly as he gazed at his mom.
"Well, you could help me with bait if you want," he offered, pointing at the bait area, "It's the safest place on deck too."
"Okay!" agreed Baylee as she followed her son.
"Um, shouldn't someone let Sig know about this?" asked Jack, an edge to her voice, "He'd be ticked if something bad happened."
Edgar shook his head in disbelief, "I don't know, but I'll tell you what I do know…there's no way this is going to go over well…no way at all."
Baylee let out a squeal as Griffin showed her how to slice a cod. Blood splattered from the cod's carcass and Baylee wrinkled her nose at the smell. Griffin laughed at the look on her face and handed her the knife.
"Did he just give Sig's wife a knife?" asked Norman, jokingly, "You're right Edgar…this can't go over well!"
They watched as Baylee grabbed a cod and cut it open just like Griffin showed her.
Jack raised an eyebrow, "Okay, I'm impressed. She did it on her first try without throwing up!"
Jake smirked as he tossed a line down on the deck.
"Wanna take bets as to how long she'll stay out here?"
Matt punched Jake playfully in the arm.
"Let's just wait and see what happens," he said as he glanced back over at Baylee and Griffin.
"This isn't a good idea," murmured Edgar, "I'm telling you, I've got a bad feeling about this!"
"You got a bad feeling about everything!" joked Norman, "I'm with Matt. Let's see how she does. She might not be so bad."
Jack and Edgar exchanged nervous and uncertain glances. They were both thinking the same thing….
Sig was going to kill them.
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