On the first Friday in May, Daryn Goldsmith was in Spaniards Creek to perform the final inspection on the eastern Spanish River site.
He was a stonemason by trade but doubled up as the
Islands Building inspector, which was scarcely even a part time occupation.
He
was forty-eight years old and was widowed, and on his first visit to the
island, fifty-year-old farmer Debbie Wilson reversed her car into his in the
Stephenson’s Supermarket carpark.
She
was deeply apologetic and insisted on exchanging details, even though he was
satisfied there was no damage.
Later
that day she phoned him and offered to buy him a coffee on the pretence of an
apology.
In
truth she wanted some romance back in her life whether out of desperation or
loneliness, so had decided to dip her toe back in the water and begin dating
and she saw the accident as providence.
So
they met at the Galleon Coffee shop in Spaniards Creek and made a very strong
connection, and apart from being attracted to each other they also discovered a
shared love of sailing.
They
had subsequently met for coffee or lunch every time he was on the island for an
inspection and a few more when he had just made the trip to see her.
However
they hadn’t really gone beyond the friendship phase even though there was a
distinct romantic vibe going on.
On the upcoming weekend, they both hoped that would
change, but he didn’t get to see her on Friday as she had a full day on the
farm, so he did all of his inspections and even had time to take a look around
the Church,
The Vicar even agreed to let him go up in the bell
tower so he could have a look at the masonry and spent a very pleasant hour in
conversation with her.
On Friday night he stayed at the Beaumont Manor and
after a healthy breakfast he drove down to Spaniards Creek and parked close to
the river and followed the tow path to where “The Sea Nymph”
was moored.
It was a 30ft Masthead
Sloop, wooden hulled and built on the island in 1934, but as beautiful as the
boat was, he thought the owner was even more so, when he caught sight of her
working on the boat.
Debbie’s
was a very tall and striking looking woman, with the sun illuminating her long
ginger hair, and he was greeted by her radiant smiling freckled face.
She was not as smartly dressed as usual, and was
sporting a pair of boating shoes, cut off denim shorts and a white T-Shirt.
“Come aboard” Debbie said and flashed him another
smile.
Once aboard they exchanged a kiss on the cheek, and
she said
“Stow your bag below, and you can help me get her
ready to sail”
“Aye aye skipper” he retorted “I’ll change into my
shorts while I’m down there, I feel a bit overdressed”
“Don’t be long though” Debbie responded
“You’re looking really good by the way” he added
just before he went below.
When he reappeared, he helped her prepare for
departure, he was an experienced sailor, so he knew what he was doing, he just
hadn’t sailed since before his wife got ill.
He cast off and jumped back aboard as she steered
away from the quay
“Here
put this on” she said offering him a bright orange buoyancy aid, and as they
got into the channel, she put one on herself.
It
was a beautiful bright morning, sunny with a light breeze, and after she raised
the sail, he watched her deftly handle the boat getting the
most out of the breeze until they were racing along and they virtually had the seas
to themselves apart from a couple of other vessels, a ferry and the Water Taxi.
He had missed sailing, he didn’t realise how much
until he was out on the sloop with Debbie, and the scenery was quietly
spectacular, and it was quite exhilarating with the wind blowing through his
brown hair and the spray cooling his face, and of course there was a gorgeous
woman at the helm with her ginger main streaming behind her.
All of a sudden, she turned to look at him and
smiled as if she knew what he was thinking, and she said
“Are you enjoying it?”
“Yes, very much” he replied unsure what she was
referring to.
“Would you like to have a go?” she asked
“Can I?” he asked
Although the sloop was old it was supremely graceful
in the water, and it handled beautifully
So they stood shoulder to shoulder as the Sea Nymph
glided across the bay but then about an hour later the wind died away.
“Why don’t we put into Sharpington Marina for the
night” Debbie suggested.
“Good idea” he said, “But only if I can take you to
dinner”
“You’re on”
No comments:
Post a Comment