The Next Morning

For a moment he did not know where he was. Something was holding him. Pacey sat upright in the bunk. The form next to him made a noise and gathered the covers up around her neck. Suddenly it all came back to him. The dinner and sitting on the couch and Rory slipping into his bunk. They had made love last night. It was wonderful; slow gentle and tender. Pacey glanced at the porthole; it was light; which meant it was close to eight AM; as the sun raised about seven thirty AM at this time of year in Sydney. The wind had abated, but it was still raining. Then he peered closer. There was snow mixed in with the rain

Rory looked so peaceful curled up under the blanket. It took a mighty will of effort for Pacey to leave the bunk and not just put his arms around the beautiful sleeping woman and go back to sleep himself. Quietly he slipped into his jeans and threw a shirt on and padded out to the galley. Rubbing his hands together Pacey wondered what to prepare for breakfast, but first he was going to make some coffee.

With the coffee started Pacey checked the Navtex machine. According to the weather no one was going anywhere today. A thought crossed Pacey's mind. He wondered if the owner waited too long to make the journey south. Not something to worry about yet, but something to think about. He took out his international cellphone and dialed an office in Oslo. Good thing most Norwegians spoke English; as his Norwegian was almost useless. Shortly a young voice answered. Pacey replied "Hi, this is Captain Witter. I have a status update for Mr. Grundvig."

The receptionist smoothly switched from Norwegian to English. "Good morning Captain Witter how are you?"

"Fine, please pass on that we are still in Sydney and it doesn't look as if we are going to be able to get out of here at least three more days and I don't know beyond that.

"I'll do that Captain, and I'm sure if Mr. Grundvig has any questions, he'll call you direct. Anything else?"

"That should be it. I'll call again in the morning. Bye."

Pacey turned to walk back to the galley and was startled by Rory standing behind him wearing one of his shirts that came half way to the knee. Her hair was a mess. To Pacey she was beautiful. "You startled me."

Sleepily Rory replied." I heard talking. I smell coffee. Please tell me it's ready." Then as if in a trance the sleepy girl walked over to the small table and sat.

After pouring two cups Pacey walked to the table set one in front of Rory and sat across from her. She held the cup up with two hands and started taking small sips.

Pacey remained silent while the reporter drank her first cup of coffee. He instinctively knew that she was not a morning person and it would take more than one cup for her to be human. He smiled when she silently pushed the empty cup toward him. Wordlessly Pacey refilled the cup and set it before her.

After several more minutes Rory looked up at Pacey and smiled. "Good morning."

"Good morning to you Rory."

Rory yawned and spoke. "Pacey what time is it?"

Glancing over at the clock which doubled as a marine chronometer, Pacey replied. "Eight thirty three to be exact."

"Oh crap, I'm supposed to be at the Chamber of Commerce at nine.

"Here use my phone and call them. Pacey placed the phone before Rory.

"The number is in my purse." Rory stood up and stretched and went to the cabin she first tried to sleep in.

When Rory stretched Pacey realized that there was nothing under the shirt she had borrowed. He needed to take his thoughts away from that. Most likely they were going to have the talk on how it was a mistake and they should never do it again. He heard her talking in the cabin.

Rory reappeared. "I'm hungry do you have more food?"

"You changed your appointment?"

"No, they cancelled. I guess where they wanted to take me it was snowing and the roads were bad; so I'm free for the day."

"I can make you an egg, bacon and cheese sandwich. How does that sound?"

"Lovely." Rory then glanced over to the coffee pot."

"Here give me your cup." Pacey refilled the cup and handed it back to her. He took a deep breath. "I wonder if the talk is coming now?" crossed his mind.

"You know Pacey, this is good, and I can catch up on my sleep."

Pacey nodded and kept working on the sandwiches. "Is there any other place you need to be today?"

"Nope. I love unexpected days off."

Pacey placed a plate with the sandwich before her. Rory picked it up and took a bite. "Oh hot."

"Take your time. Didn't I feed you enough last night?"

Rory looked up from her sandwich and finished chewing. "Last night was wonderful. I was completely satisfied." Rory hesitated and then added "With the meal."

Pacey took a bite of his sandwich. "Now what exactly did that mean?" "I'm glad you liked the meal."

"Pacey I loved the meal it was so thoughtful of you. I'll never forget it."

"You're welcome. I enjoyed the company and the meal also. Especially the company." He smiled at her. Rory just kept on eating.

Rory finished her sandwich. Then she sighed and stood up and again stretched. Pacey closed his eyes. He didn't need to be looking at this. It was beyond sexy.

"I'm going to go back to bed Pacey if you don't mind."

"Sure go ahead the guys won't come down to the boat unless I call them. There are a few things I can do around the boat today."

Rory gave him a funny look. "Okay." Then walked into the cabin and closed the door.

After a few minutes Pacey realized that the boats log book was in his cabin. Quietly he opened the door and walked into the dimly lit cabin. He noticed that his shirt was now tossed on a chair. The thought of her naked in his bed was almost too much to handle. He needed to get out of his cabin quickly. Pacey was startled by a soft voice. "Don't you want to sleep in also?"

Surprised Pacey replied. "I guess so. I haven't thought about it."

Rory sat up clutching the blanket to her chest. She cocked her head and looked at him. "Well?"

"I am dumb. She had me totally convinced I was lame in bed." Pacey said to himself. He stripped off his clothes and slid under the covers next to her. He felt Rory's arms go around him and her lips found his.

Three Days Later

Rory's meetings with the Chamber of Commerce were complete for the day. Pacey wouldn't be back to the hotel for at least three hours. This was the first time she had a chance to think about what she was doing. Rory sat at the room desk and opened the black laptop. She stared at the screen saver letting her mind wander. Was she falling for him? Did they need to have a talk before they parted? How did he feel about her? The one thing she realized was how incredibly lonely she had been. Maybe they were destined to be two strangers who passed in the night; never to reconnect. Rory also wondered about the mysterious girl Pacey had mentioned. Rory took a deep breath and came to a decision. No talk, just go their separate ways and see what happens.

Pacey had the two deck hands checking the equipment. He was below trying to do paperwork, but he couldn't concentrate. This thing with Rory Gilmore was fast and sudden. Was he falling in love with her? Where could this relationship possibly go? Maybe it was time to step back and evaluate what was going on. Should he when the time came for them to part kiss her one last time and make a promise to call one day and store the relationship away as a beautiful memory.

Pacey checked the Navtex machine. The weather was clearing up. Halifax was a two day sail, but if he ran into trouble he could get into the straits of Canso, then he had Halifax and Yarmouth as potential safe harbors. Once across the Gulf of Maine there were several safe harbors. He needed to sail in the morning.

Pacey realized that for the first time he was comparing a girl to Andie McPhee and she was not coming up short. Why didn't he fulfill the promise he made in the cafeteria, in the hospital where Jen was hospitalized, to stay in touch? He never spoke to her again. What would happen if Andie re-appeared in his life?

Due to the circumstances; he and Rory probably needed to talk about the future of whatever they had. Pacey knew whenever you started to discuss a relationship it was most likely to be doomed. No this was too good to talk about the relationship now. Maybe after they parted and she was back in her world in New York City and he was back in his world in Miami Beach. Then they could talk about the relationship.

Pacey picked his cellphone up and called the hotel and asked for Rory's room. She answered on the third ring. "Rory." Then he paused. "Rory I have to sail in the morning."

There was a long silence. "Am I going to see you before you sail?"

"Yes of course as soon as I finish up I'll be over."

Softly Rory spoke. No. I'll come to the boat.

An hour later Pacey knocked off the two crew members. "Okay guys; we are going to sail at eight AM. Be here at seven sharp and here is my credit card. Settle up the account at the hotel and bring me a receipt."

Ryan took the proffered card. Are you staying here all night?

"Yes, I want to go over things. Just be sure you're here by seven AM."

"We'll see you at seven." And both crewmen turned away and climbed up the ladder and out of the main cabin. Pacey watched them leave and only turned away when the hatch was closed. Pacey turned on the radio and turned to CHRK and sat down to listen to their pop music format. Not his cup of tea, but better than silence. He originally planned on taking Rory out to dinner someplace. "What should they do on their last night together?" That was a good question.

Pacey put his head back and dosed off listening to the music. A blast of cold air woke him and he looked up to see Rory descending the ladder. Pacey's eyes darted to the clock; he had dozed off for close to an hour. Rory walked to him and kissed him; then sat across the table. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and her impossibly blue eyes had a hint of merriment.

"You look happy Rory."

"I am. My editor gave me the go ahead for the article I want to write about you and the Yacht delivery business and we're going to have fun tonight."

"So what do you want to do?"

"Send out for a pizza, drink wine, and most likely get looped."

"I thought I'd take you out to dinner. Joe's Warehouse, is supposed to be a very good steak and seafood restaurant."

Rory stared at her lover for a minute and softly replied. "If you really want to go, we can, but I'd rather stay here and eat pizza with you."

Pacey drummed his fingers on the table. "Okay, what toppings do you want?"

"Let me think for a sec; mushrooms, olives, onions, pepperoni and extra cheese."

"No anchovies?"

"If you want some Pacey; add it on."

"I was being sarcastic dear. Now all I have to do is find a pizza place that delivers."

Silently Rory handed him a menu.

Smiling Pacey replied. "You thought this out didn't you?"

"I usually do. I make little pro and con lists."

"You do, so what were the pros on your list?"

"I wanted you all to myself tonight and that took care of all the cons."

Pacey felt a little twinge and leaned over and kissed Rory.

The Next Morning

Pacey woke and found himself entwined with Rory. Her long dark hair was a sharp contrast to the bare pale skin of her back. Gently he extracted himself and quietly dressed and walked to the outer cabin. After starting the coffee he sat at the table waiting for it to brew. The pizza last night was unexpectedly good and they added to the hole in the owners wine supply. Pacey was starting to feel guilty at the amount of wine he took. He'd look around after he got to Miami Beach and replace the wine. Last night was fun. Rory was cheerful and seemed genuinely happy to be with him. Neither one of them spoke about the impending separation, nor did they really talk about the future. Rory did ask for his email address so she could send him a draft of the article.

The coffee was done. Pacey poured two cups and counted to ten. Almost upon queue Rory appeared wearing one of his shirts and kissed him on the nose, didn't speak and took the steaming cup of coffee and took small sips.

Pacey waited till she finished her first cup, poured her another the spoke. "How are you felling this morning?"

Rory peered at Pacey over the rim of her coffee cup. "I feel great. What time did you say your crew would be here?"

"Seven."

"Rory glanced at the clock; five forty five AM. Pacey would you mind if I stole one of your shirts. They're really comfortable to walk around in.

With a laugh Pacey replied. Take all you want. Just leave me one so I don't have to walk around half naked."

"One will do Pacey."

"When are you going to write the article?"

Rory sat her cup on the table. "After I get back and I am finished with my Sydney article.

"I have some eggs and bacon dear, would you like me to cook you some breakfast?"

"No thanks. I'm going to go back to the hotel and change. Then I'll come see you off.

Pacey nodded. He was about to ask her if she wanted to sail with him to Halifax; his next stop two days away. He didn't want to see her go. Just before he spoke Pacey realized the insurance problems, He would also have to ask the owner permission to take a guest aboard.

They sat in silence and as one they both rose and walk back into the cabin.

"Rory, Rory, it's ten to seven I expect the crew here shortly."

"Oh crap." Quickly Rory dressed. Pacey I'll be back before you sail. She leaned down and kissed the sailor on the lips and again. "I have to go."

Pacey watched her leave. He wanted to see her again was it possible to fall in love in five days. Did he fall so fast because in some ways Rory reminded him of Andie? Pacey decided they would swap numbers before he sailed.

Departure

(The girl)

They had always taken a leisurely stroll back to the hotel, but there was no time for that now. The boat would be gone in an hour. There were no cabs in sight. Frantically Rory looked around. Every other morning they were all over the place. Finally two thirds of the way to the hotel she found one.

Upon reaching the hotel Rory asked the cab to remain. Quickly she went to her room and showered. Her room phone rang. Rory snatched the phone out of its cradle and answered. It was her editor. He wanted to discuss the impending article.

"Look John, can I call you back later?"

"I'm sorry Rory but I need the info now we are planning on running the articloe in the Sunday magazine supplement and we have to have a fairly good idea what you're going to write about so we can allocate space."

Rory closed her eyes and screamed silently in frustration. "Okay John I think it will be twenty five hundred words give or take."

"That's good Rory. Now tell me the points you are going to cover."

Rory glanced at the clock she wasn't even dressed yet. Maybe Pacey would sail late. With a sigh she sat down and started relating to her editor the scope of her article.

It was five to eight when she finally rushed out the front door to her waiting cab. "Jones Warf and please hurry."

The cab arrived in the parking lot and Rory tosses some bills to the cabbie and told him to wait. As fast as she could she ran to the slip Pacey had docked. The yacht was leaving.

Rory watched as Pacey skillfully backed the sailing yacht out of its slip. He turned and looked toward her; he smiled and waved, then turned his attention to the task at hand. Rory admired the deft way he handled the yacht in a confined area. He looked so at home on deck. The yacht turned and started sailing directly into the rising sun. Shielding her eyes Rory kept looking at the yacht sailing away. "I think I am in love." Then she shook her head. "Falling in love in five days was ridiculous, but so was jumping in bed with a man she hardly knew for twenty four hours." She thought.

They didn't do anything exciting. Mostly hang around the Yacht and talk. A little TV and one night when both of them were a bit loopy they danced to some easy listening station found on the some old radio called an R-390. He told her the station he had picked up was in Fort Wayne Indiana and after about thirty minutes the music faded into static. They actually danced another fifteen minutes or so without music. If you could call what they were doing dancing.

Rory remembered from her tours with the Chamber of Commerce that there was a town about thirteen kilometers north of Sydney that was called New Waterford. The briefing Rory had popped into her mind; it was named after Waterford in Ireland, and had an aging population, but it also had a road that went down to a point where Pacey would turn south. She had an hour to get there. Rory rapidly walked back to her cab and told the driver her destination. He knew exactly where she wanted to go. When they arrived Rory asked the Cab driver to wait. As long as the meter was running he didn't care.

After fifteen minutes the yacht came into view. It was still under diesel power. She couldn't see Pacey, but she could imagine Pacey standing on deck steering the yacht. The yacht started slowly turning to the south and slowed. Suddenly there were white sails unfurled against the blue sky and the yacht leapt forward. She watched the rapidly accelerating yacht bury her bow into the green water of the North Atlantic. The spray almost hiding the yacht. Rory thought it was one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen. She watched till the yacht was no longer in sight. It was over. She'd never see him again. Pacey never asked for her telephone number. He was gone.

(The boy)

His two crewmen arrived precisely at seven AM. The three sailors started their underway preparations. Pacey kept looking for Rory to appear on the pier.

"Captain."

Pacey looked up. "Yes Ryan."

"We're ready to sail."

Glancing at his watch Pacey noted the time at seven fifty AM. "Okay Ryan, let's wait a few and we'll go."

His two crewmen were standing fore and aft ready to take the lines in. Pacey started the diesel. Eight o'clock. Eight oh Five. Eight ten, No Rory. "It figures." Pacey thought to himself. "All the time they had spent together she never once offered her home phone number." Pacey laughed and shook his head." This one almost had him fooled. He was falling for her."

"It was nice while it lasted." Pacey muttered. He then looked up Cast off; let's get out of here."

Pacey turned and waved good bye to Sydney Nova Scotia. He never saw Rory standing on the pier.

To Be Continued…..