„Maeve! Where did you put..."

"The basket next to bed!"

After 15 years of marriage, she knew the answer even before the question was asked. The funniest thing is that Sinbad had put it there himself. But the story was always the same. Always before setting sail he was looking for everything. She on the other hand had to know where everything was. Having two houses did not make things easier.

Screams between two rooms were so laud that probably the whole house and half of the city could hear them. Servant, who was just passing by the corridor carrying the bedclothes, quietly giggled to herself.

Maeve carefully put the book to material bag.

"Mary, have you packed a warm shawl?" she asked now with full calm in her voice.

"Yes, mommy, I did."

Maeve turned and gave her a small smile. She simply cared for her daughter. She had always do. Even before the girl was born and for all these years nothing had changed. Maeve had always been so meticulous as a mother and was thinking even about such small things and details. So she not get cold, so she not get sick, so she eat in time. She was aware that it could be sometimes even irritating for Marina, with every year even more, but it was stronger than her. Maternal instinct. Putting to bag another book prepared by Marina to be taken with her, Maeve precisely checked whatever everything what was needed was already there. After doing it she turned from the desk and moved to the bed to put the bag next to the small trunk with clothes and other things.

Marina's room was cozy and very bright, as it was with exit to the balcony. A warm afternoon sun was dropping in through it. With all the stylish curtains and other dressy details which were adequate to the region, it looked as room of real Arabic princess. But there was not much personal things around. Girl did not use to spend much time in city.

Maeve gave a quickly checking look also inside the trunk. Seeing that a shawl indeed was packed there she smiled again at Marina.

Girl was sitting at the big pillow next to the mirror and brushing her hair. Her mother came and sit next to her. Softly touching a hand in which she had the brush "Let me do it."

Girl agreed with warm smile. Maeve was gently brushing long curls. She loved to do that. Marina's hair was so soft and long. Also a daughter enjoyed it. During Sinbad's absences they spend like that every evening, in the same time talking and laughing. Marina was growing and many things had changed but not this. Brushing her hairs Maeve had the feeling like time no exist and it was still her funny little girl sitting next to her.

Marina looked into mirror to see the beloved picture of them both. Her mom was beautiful. Celtic skin and long red hairs. Just like Sinbad she also was touched by the passing time but it was very lenient for her. She looked very good as usual. In comparison to her husband Maeve looked very elegant. Dressed in a chic long dress from fine materials with a gold belt. Beautiful gold wedding ring adorned her hand. Only her eyes seemed to be somehow sad and absent.

"Don't be sad…"

Marina's words broke Maeve away from her deep reflections.

"I am not…" She was not sad but just full of different concerns. But as she agreed for Marina's voyage she did not want girl to feel that something was bothering her.

"I am just gonna miss you…" She said with a smile. "you and your whims!" She joked to turn over the subject. "Let your father deal with it for a while!"

Marina giggled evilly „He will manage, he is experienced, as I have it after you!" They both started to laugh aloud.

Maeve put the brush down and started to plait some braid,

"After me you have only these good things like the stubbornness. You may need it on Nomad. Life between sailors isn't easy."

"Being only female on board makes it easier."

Maeve chuckled quietly to herself. Some memories came back. She loved to get back to that times. She always did it with a smile. Then everything had been much simpler even though seemed to be much more compiled. She had been 'just' part of crew, while on the other hand she had not been 'just' at all.

"I will give you some advice." She turned at mirror to catch Marina's gaze in the reflection.

Girl raised her eyebrows with curiosity.

"If you want to get things be your own way, don't use to fact of having special place in crew because of being only female on board …" She paused for a while. "Use the fact of having special place in captain's heart."

After a moment of serious silence they both laughed again but after the while Maeve caught girl's gaze in the reflection once again.

"I am serious." She was convincing her with calm voice. "And your place in this heart is honorable place. No one and nothing can ever change it"

Marina looked down and nodded "I know…" she confirmed quietly.

Maeve exactly knew that something was bordering her daughter and she exactly knew what or rather who it was. Her words about the place in heart was not without a reason behind. Everything has its reason as Dim-Dim used to keep saying. But Maeve also knew that her daughter was mature enough to go through this on her own, to grow to some things and understand them herself. She truly believed in Marina. One thing was sure. Coming two weeks were going to be not easy time for Sinbad.

Marina got a little upset. Maeve gently pinned the braid with a hairclip, making a crown effect on girl's head.

"Mommy, did you ever meet… know… someone…I mean a boy…" she did not know how to exactly express herself.

Maeve discreetly smiled to herself because she knew her daughter point but she did not disturbed her. She wanted her to have the feeling that as a mother she treats all her matters serious.

"… that was so irritating… that you couldn't stand?"

"I did." Maeve answered immediately.

"Really?" Girl was surprised with such quick answer.

"You call him 'dad'."

As much as Marina was surprised with the answer, she could not help herself from laughing. They both could not.

Maeve looked in the mirror. Seeing the picture of laughing Marina brought the well-known feeling. There were no words to describe how much she loved that blue eyed girl.

" That is why I am sure you can handle irritating someone, you have it after me." They both laughed again. Maeve hugged her daughter and kiss her in a forehead.

"Just be careful"

"I will" Marina promised and hugged her mother back.

Sinbad who just came in to the room smiled to himself.

"What was so funny?"

Both his wife and daughter broke the embrace and turned at him. He came closer and offered Maeve his head to help her get up from the pillow they had been sitting. Marina got up on her own grabbing the brush.

"Girls' secret, dad!"

Accepting Sinbad's hand Maeve slowly got up, giving him a look which was supposed to confirm Marina's words.

"Ok, secret is a secret." He gave Maeve look back putting his arm on her shoulders.

"Ready?" He asked Marina.

"Definitely!" Girl closed the trunk just after putting the brush inside.

"Can you go downstairs and check whether someone from the crew is already here to pick up our things? If so, ask them to come in."

Marina was so excited that she followed father's words without any doubts.

"She is growing so fast." Maeve said with an upset voice watching how girl was leaving the room.

"She is." Sinbad confirmed pulling his wife stronger into his embrace. "Don't worry about her. She will be with me. I will not let anything bad happen to her…"

"I know. I am not worried at all. I am just gonna miss her." she said, lowering her gaze down.

"Sinbad… I got used to empty bed. I will not get use to empty house…"

He made a confused face. He exactly knew what she was trying to say but he did not want to start this discussion again. Not now. Trying to turn over turn over the subject he gave her an evil smile,

"You know, Maeve… it was enough to tell me that you need like more my attention in bed…"

His wife did not let him finish. It seemed she did not get the joke. She broke the embrace "It is not funny! You know what I am talking about!"

He just made 'here we go again face' while she was gesticulating expressively. "We are not twenties anymore! You are not! We can't live like that! Marina can't! You don't even know how our dogs are called!"

Indeed, he did not know but it was not about the dogs. Her arguments were taken out of context but he exactly got her point. They were going through this on regular basis. Like yesterday, a day before and so on, and so on. Sinbad knew that whatever he will try to said, will be taken as an attack and only make the situation worse. He had to cut it off. He gently grabbed her hands, stopping her from gesticulating in the same time.

"Maeve… Maeve…" he was trying to calm her down. He looked deeply into her eyes.

"We will get back to it. You will not have an empty house" He kissed her hands "I promise"

Maeve sighed closing her eyes. She knew it was not a perfect moment for that talk. After a while she gave her husband a look back "I know it was me… " she did not finish. Some things were too painful to simply name them "..but I can't live like that anymore. I feel like something is slipping through my fingers"

Without words he kissed her forehead. Their life had been full of adversities. They both could be tired.

After pulling back he ensured her again "Once I am back. We will go home to our island and we will get back to it." Maeve nodded and he smiled evilly "...especially to the part about empty bed."

Maeve rolled her eyes at him in the way she always did. In this pretty moment Marina came back with one sailor. Man politely bowed at Maeve and Sinbad. "Captain"

Marriage couple bowed back to welcome him. Sinbad pointed at trunk on the bed. Sailor grabbed it and left.

"Are we going?" excited Marina hurried up her parents.

Sinbad nodded, "We are, Sweetheart." And took girl by the hand.

Maeve put a silk scarf on her head and she took Marina's bag with the books. Then she put it on her shoulder to follow her husband and daughter.