Marissa drove to the Marina an excited AJ in the back seat.
"Come on mom!" he exclaimed.
Marissa laughed at her son's excitement.
"AJ, they are not going to leave without us." she said as she parked her car by the marina.
As Marissa locked up the car she spotted Reggie coming out of the yacht club with Miranda and Gabby beside him. At the sight of AJ, both girls came running over.
"We stayed the night with Erica." said Miranda excitedly.
Gabby ran a little slower than her sister, she was laden with a rucksack with a number of teddy bear heads sticking out the back.
"Have you got enough toys there, Gabster?" asked Marissa.
"Yeah." said Gabby simply.
Reggie put a hand on Gabby's head and tipped it up to look at him.
"Ayesha helped you pack, didn't she?"
"Yeah," she said her grin getting wider.
"Everything a deputy vice-captain will ever need." said Reggie with a grin.
Unable to wait any longer, AJ grabbed Marissa's wrist and began to drag her towards the Marina.
"We're late mom!" he cried.
Marissa shook her head and let her son pull her down the hill towards the moorings.
…
When they got to the Marina there were a lot of boats.
"So, which one of your dad's yacht?" Marissa asked, baffled by the number of shiny white boats lining the docks.
"That one; the 'At Last'." said Reggie pointing a huge motor cruiser, the largest boat in the marina.
"That's big." gasped Marissa surprised.
AJ's excited steps slowed a little when he saw the boat, his eyes wide.
"Ahoy me hearties." called Jackson as he waved to them from the top deck.
They all waved back.
Reggie yelled back an 'Ahoy' as well.
"Come on AJ." said Miranda dragging her birthday twin along the wooden dock to the boarding ramp.
Jackson emerged from the cabin in time to welcome them abroad.
AJ was staring around eagerly, touching every surface as he went passed.
"Isn't this the coolest boat ever!" said Miranda proudly.
AJ could only nod his head, too amazed to find words.
"I'm glad you like it." said Jackson before moving to help Marissa step down from the gang plank, Reggie was following carrying Gabby in his arms.
"Right first things first," said Jackson, "Rules of the sea, always do exactly what the captain tells you."
"Aye, aye sir." said Reggie grinning, Miranda and AJ quickly chorused in as well.
"Aye, aye, captain."
"Next rule - anyone under the five feet tall has to wear a life jacket when in deck."
There were more Aye, aye's.
"Finally, and most importantly, we are here to have fun! But we are going to make sure we are safe while we are doing it so another rule for the under-five footers, you must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All clear."
"Aye, aye captain." The older kids chorused together.
"Gabby," said Jackson, "Are you going to stay with a grown up?"
"Can I stay with 'Rissa?" Gabby asked.
Jackson grinned.
"Yeah, I think she counts."
Gabby happily took Marissa's hand.
"Ooh and I'm not Gabby today." said Gabby.
"You're not?"
"No, I'm the Dep-tee vice-captain."
"Deputy Vice- captain; I do apologise." said Jackson, giving her a playful salute.
The kids were all zipped into life jackets and Marissa took some pictures for Bianca, before Jackson led them up to the wheel house.
"This is where we steer the ship. When we get out into open waters, I might even let you have a go."
"Really," said AJ an excited grin still plastered on his face.
"Really."
"Does it have a sail?" AJ asked.
"I'm afraid not." said Jackson, "But if we get back in time, I could take you out in the dinghy."
"Awesome." AJ exclaimed.
"So what now?" asked Gabby, peering out of the window at the choppy waves outside the boat. She wasn't sure why AJ and Miranda were finding this exciting, it was just a house on water. It wasn't any bigger that Marissa's pool house.
"Now we cast off and set a course out to see what we can see." said Jackson.
After a moment of real indecision Miranda and AJ followed Reggie and Marissa back down to the open deck to see what casting off looked like, but Gabby stayed in the wheel house with Jackson.
"I thought you wanted to stay with Marissa." said Jackson.
Gabby frowned.
"I though the Captains had to stay up here." she said.
…
Reggie went forward, but the kids stayed with Marissa on the rear deck.
Two Marina staff untied the ropes and threw the coils back on board. Both kids wanted to help Marissa catch which simply left them with a tangle of rope. AJ however was determined to do things properly so, with a little help from Miranda, he untied the knots and coiled the rope neatly on the deck. By the time that was done the yacht was well underway, cutting through the waves out towards the open ocean.
…
"Ropes all tidy and ship shape, captain." said AJ smartly, giving Jackson a salute as they got back to the wheel house.
"We'll make a sailor of you yet, young man." said Jackson with a grin. "Excellent! Why don't you come up here and help me set a course."
"Yeah… I mean, aye, aye captain." said AJ hurrying forward.
"You too Miranda." said Jackson, noticing the dejected look on his grand-nieces face.
"Aye, aye." she said joining AJ by the compass.
Reggie also moved closer to have a peek. Marissa looked around to wheel house, there was someone missing.
"Where's Gabby?"
"She was right here." said Jackson looking around.
The panic lasted all of ten seconds when Gabby was found down stairs in the cabin. She was busy setting up all her toys on the red leather couch.
"Gabby you shouldn't wander off like that!" cried Marissa.
"I wanted to play." said Gabby, not sure why Marissa was so cross.
Marissa took a seat beside the little girl.
"Gabby, boats can be very dangerous places and little girls, like you, need to stay with a grown up, in case something bad happens."
"Like pirates?" Gabby asked.
"Like pirates," said Marissa, unable to stop herself smiling at Gabby's cuteness, "And big waves and slippery decks. Just stay close okay?"
"But I want to play." said Gabby with a pout.
"Well that's fine." said Marissa, "I'll stay and keep you company. But you must promise not to wander off again."
"I promise." said Gabby.
…
"This is an excellent crew you've found me." said Jack as he moved to stand beside his son.
Miranda and AJ both had a hand on the wheel and were watching the compass closely following the south-westerly course Jackson had set. They were taking the responsibility very seriously.
"They're good kids." said Reggie.
"And how is your new family?" asked Jackson.
"We're good. Camilla's got a new job now, thanks to Marissa in fact and Ayesha's is loving day-care at the Miranda Centre, mainly thanks to Bianca's little cutesy monster, Gabby. And we're saving up for a place to live."
"Why? I know Erica loves having you around."
"I know, but we need our own place; only right now we can't afford anywhere descent that's big enough for three."
"Son, if you need a loan." said Jackson putting a hand on Reggie's shoulder.
"No, I'm not going to start that. You have done more than enough for me. We'll make the money. I've already started looking for a second job."
"Reggie, you are my son, let me take care of you."
"Dad, you are my father, please let me take care of myself."
…