DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 14 - Sailing Regatta

 “Dawn are you sure you don’t want me to carry you down to the boat?” Andy asked his voice full of concern.

“I think it’d be wiser if we carried you Dawn, than have you hobble down the jetty on your crutches.” James said, supporting his brother’s request.

“Guys, if I managed to shower and get dressed on my own this morning I am positive I can hobble down the jetty to the boat. If you’re so concerned you can walk either side of me to make sure I don’t fall in.”

“Not likely Dawn! Knowing my luck and my clumsy incident this morning, you’ll probably fall on me and I’ll end up in the water.” James added with a smile that lit up his eyes.

Dawn flashed him her cheekiest smile back and after much arguing between the three of them Andy surprised them all by sweeping Dawn off her feet and tossing her over his shoulder.  Dawn tried to protest but her giggles soon had her giving in to Andy’s demands and he strode down the jetty with Dawn hanging over his should and laughing all the way.  James followed behind carrying the crutches and the picnic basket.

Once Dawn was safely seated with her life jacket securely fastened by James, Andy set sail for Hillary where they would picnic and watch the sailing regatta. As soon as they were out of the estuary Andy opened up and they were racing across the water. Dawn was surprised by the luxury of Andy’s ‘little speed boat’ as he referred to it. Below deck was an open plan kitchen, dining, living room area, not large but comfortable enough for two to four people. The couches in the living room folded out into beds and discreetly tucked away in a cupboard was the all-important shower and toilet.

When they arrived at Hillary the harbour was a rainbow of coloured sails as all the yachts were preparing to take off on their first obstacle course.

“I’ve never seen so many small sail boats in one place before.” Dawn said, stretching up to see everything there was to see.

“These are beginners,” James responded, “They have to test their handling skills by manoeuvring around the buoys just outside the harbour.

“We’ll park up here and go find a suitable spot we can watch from, while James goes off to find his sailing buddy.” Andy said pointing to a spot near the end of the harbour.

“Sailing buddy?” Dawn queried.

“Yes, Sweets, James came to stay because he was going to compete with his sailing buddy in their open race tomorrow.” Andy replied.

“I won’t be long, just go find my mate and see what time he wants to take the boat out for a practice run.” James said as he climbed out the boat and made his way down to yachts still anchored not too far away from where they’d parked.

“Careful now Dawn, don’t want you falling in the water here and injuring your other ankle.”

“Okay, okay. Gee, Andy I’m not totally useless, I can manage if you just support me.”

“Patience Sweets, let me just lift you over.”

“Don’t even think about it, Andy. You’re not throwing me over your shoulder again, not with all these people around.”

“Now Dawn, dearest, would I really embarrass you like that.” Andy grinned.

“I wouldn’t put it past you Andy.” Dawn responded winking at him.

“Slowly now, steady as she goes.” Andy remarked while helping Dawn out the boat. He had parked as close to the jetty as possible and tied the boat up securely to the side, so it barely rocked as he helped Dawn swing her legs over.

“I’m not a boat, Andy.” Dawn said punching his arm.

“No, but you will be in the water, just like a boat, if you don’t watch your step, Sweets.”

“There, now, see I told you I could do it without you picking me up.” Dawn stated rather proud of herself.

Andy smiled. Picking up the picnic basket and walking slowly beside Dawn while she hobbled along on her crutches, they made their way slowly to the picnic spot. Andy quickly set things up and helped Dawn sit comfortably with her back leaning against the basket.

“Sweets, what’s wrong?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You’re frown has almost knitted your eyebrows together and you look a million miles away.”

“Nothing, really. Just watching the boats.”

“That’s not a just watching frown. Come on Sweets; tell Uncle Andy what’s making your pretty face all screwed up.”

Dawn looked at Andy and saw the honest concern on his face. “My wedding. I can’t go through with it. I just know I can’t. But now I have to tell my family and oh heavens …. My Father is going to freak, I mean totally freak out, especially after all the money he has spent on everything. And then there’s Luke. I have to tell Luke. I really don’t know what I’m going to say to him. Do I tell my Father first? Or do I tell Luke. Oh gosh …. What about my brothers. Luke is Chris’s best friend. Ohhh Andy … what am I going to do?” Dawn spoke so quickly, Andy was hardly able to take it all in at that moment.

“Dawn, Sweets, slow down. Breathe girl. You’re talking to fast.” He said holding her by the shoulders and giving her a little shake. “Okay now let me get this straight. Luke is Chris’s best friend. Who is Chris?”

“My brother of course, weren’t you listening?”

“I was trying to but you were talking so fast.”

“Chris is my brother and Luke is his best friend and I met Luke through Chris.”

“And your reason for not wanting to go through with the wedding is because you’re unsure of how you feel about Luke now, right?”

“Right.”

“How long have you known Luke and been together with him?”

“Four years now, it was sort of love at first sight, well that’s what I thought then, but now I’m not so sure anymore.”

"Okay, and this guy Jace, where and how does he fit into the picture?”

“My Matron-of-Honour’s brother, we met quite by chance when she had to go to the hospital because her father had a heart attack.”

“So how long have you known Jace then?”

“Someone mention my name?”

Dawn’s head swung round and saw the one man she did not need to see right now, standing just a couple of feet behind her. She felt like she was going to faint, all the blood seemed to drain from her brain, making her feel dizzy and quite nauseous.

“Hey guys, when I told Jace about the clumsy female we had staying with us, he insisted upon coming to meet her in person.”

“Small world Dawn, never expected to see you here.” Jace suddenly dropped to his knees and caught Dawn just as she fainted.

“So you’re Jace, the Jace who is responsible for Dawn being here.” Andy said protectively removing Dawn’s lifeless body out of Jace’s hands.

James felt the sudden tension between Andy and Jace. His concern growing for the pale lifeless Dawn and wondered what the hell was going on.