November-Charlie Read Free

before the earthquake and was waiting to hear. He’d done his A-levels a year early and was enjoying his gap year, working in the boat yard whenever they needed him.
    He stared at the boats bobbing up and down on the water. “Shame we can’t just live on a boat.”
    Staci walked up with Deefer and looked at him. “Why would we want to do that? We’re staying with Nichola. But can we go and look at Dad’s boat? I’ve put Deefer’s lead back on so he won’t run away and get in trouble.”
    “Sure. I told Matt that I’d say hi next time I was over this way.” As Jim led the way, several people called out to him in greeting.
    A big burly chap with a long black ponytail came over and slapped him on the back. “Hi, Jim. Sorry to hear about your parents. Is there any more news?”
    “No. They called off the search.”
    “Oh, no. Oh, I’m sorry, mate.”
    “Thanks. Matt, this is my sister Staci, our friend, Lou, and her dog Deefer. This is Matt Woodhouse, the boss here.”
    Matt smiled. “Nice to meet you at last. Jim talks about you both all the time. I’m afraid I don‘t have any work this week if that’s what you were after, mate.”
    “Not this time, but would you mind if we look over Dad’s boat?”
    “Of course not. I’ll get the keys. See you over there.” Matt headed back to the office.
    “It has keys?” Lou raised an eyebrow. She followed Jim as he led them to the private docks.
    Jim grinned and turned to look at her, rolling his eyes as only he could.
    If only he knew how that affected her. Anyone else did it, and she’d deck them. Jim on the other hand…
    “Of course she has keys,” he said. “Otherwise anyone could just steal her.”
    “Her? And I suppose she has a name?”
    “ Avon ,” Jim replied. “She’s a beauty.” He led them over the gangplank onto the deck.
    Matt joined them and looked at Staci. “Your brother told you the three rules to boating, right? One, keep the boat on the water. Two, keep the water out of the boat. Three, stay in the boat.”
    Lou giggled.
    Matt glanced at her. “I’m perfectly serious. You wouldn’t believe some of the idiots who hire the boats.” He gave Jim the keys. “Just bring them back to the office when you’re done.”
    “Sure. Thanks.”
    Lou followed Jim around the boat as he gave her a guided tour.
    It was bigger than she thought.
    “So, Avon is forty feet long with a fully enclosed bridge, unusual for a small boat,” he began.
    Small? She let Jim ramble on and followed him down a steep flight of steps from the bridge directly below to a reasonably big, serviceable galley, with stove, fridge-freezer, pull-up table, ample storage space and a window looking over the front of the boat.
    Lou opened the cupboards and found cups, plates, pots, and pans. Drawers contained knives, forks, and spoons.
    “That door on the left goes out onto deck. Down those steps are two double cabins and the head.”
    “Head?”
    “It’s what you call a bathroom on a boat.” He grinned. “Don’t you know anything?”
    She poked her tongue out at him, following him down more steep stairs.
    She peeked into one of the cabins. A round window let in the sunshine. There was a bed on each wall with just enough room between them to walk. The cabins had separate entrances but also had a connecting door.
    She burst out laughing at the fact the bathroom had a frosted window. “Who’s gonna look in when you’re at sea?”
    Jim shook his head at her. “Not at sea now, though, are we? The shower runs off the five-gallon fresh water tank. This also supplies the sink in the galley. The cistern runs off the five-gallon grey water tank.”
    “I see.” She dodged Deefer, who ran past her, settling on one of the bunks. “Guess that one’s mine, then.”
    Back on the bridge, Jim explained all the instruments which included the two small engines, radio/transmitter, the compass, the anchor and a fish finder navigational screen. The running lights, mast light, and