Float Plan - Trish Doller Page 0,83

what’s the fucking point?”

I close the space between us and kiss him hard. Before I can pull back, his fingers are on my face and in my hair, his mouth seeking forgiveness and mine granting it. He whispers he loves me, I whisper it back, and we kiss until we are breathless. Smiling. Our foreheads touching.

“Now what?” I ask.

“Well, I spoke to my friend in Florida about getting my US citizenship, and he offered me a position teaching sailing to people with disabilities,” Keane says. “And Jackson Kemp has offered seed money for when we’re ready to start our nonprofit.”

“Really?”

“Something to do with being called an arse in Saint Barths.”

I laugh. “I had no idea fundraising would be so easy.”

“But for right now, Anna,” he continues, “all I want is to stop chasing after things for a bit, and sail. I don’t care where, only that I am with you.”

“I love the sound of that.” I step through the companionway and climb down into the cabin. Keane follows. “So, you should know that, while you were gone, I learned a few things.”

I reach for his T-shirt, pulling it up and over his head. He shivers as my fingers skim his sides. “First, swimming with sea turtles is one of the best things in life. Ever.”

He works open the buttons on my shirt and kisses my collarbone. “Turtles. Okay.”

“Second”—I let my shorts drop to the floor as he watches—“replacing a water pump is easier than it seems.”

“I’m going to save my follow-up questions about that for later,” he says, hooking his fingers into the waistband of my bikini bottoms.

“And third, I can live without you.”

“I, um—” His hands fall away, and he runs his fingers through his hair, eyebrows pulling together in confusion. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Because fourth, I don’t ever want to do it again,” I say, reaching for the top button on his jeans. “So, the next time you leave me, Keane Sullivan, you’d better have a round-trip ticket in your hand.”

Days later, we motor out of Chaguaramas and head north, the entire Caribbean archipelago ahead of us. I raise the mainsail while Keane consults our new chart book. “Where would you like to go?”

There are islands we missed on the way down—Mayreau, Saba, Nevis, Tortola—that I would like to visit, or we could return to the places we love. We could do both. We have no timeline. No schedule.

I step down into the cockpit and sit beside him on the bench. Queenie creeps onto my lap. The destination really doesn’t matter. “You choose.”

Keane considers, and flashes me a grin so roguish that I wonder what devil’s bargain I’ve just made.

“Tell me, Anna,” he says, slipping on his sunglasses and adjusting our course. “How do you feel about sailing to Ireland?”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Advice givers always tell you to write the book you want to read. For me, this is it. I started working on it about eight years ago, so there are a lot of people to thank along the way.

The last person I usually mention is my husband, but Phil’s sailing knowledge is reflected on every page, so this time he needs to be first. Thank you for answering my endless questions and not cringing too much when the characters made bad choices. I’m sorry I cut your cameo role, but you’ll always be my star.

I am so thankful to have Kate Testerman as my agent. Her faith in this story never wavered. More than once she picked me up, dusted me off, and then went on to find the very best editor.

And having Vicki Lame as my editor feels like winning the lottery. I knew Anna and Keane would be safe in her hands—and they were. It’s been an incredible experience, Vicki, thank you.

In fact, everyone at St. Martin’s Griffin has been so excellent, especially Jennie Conway, Kaitlin Severini, Chrisinda Lynch, Cathy Turiano, Marissa Sangiacomo, Naureen Nashid, Meghan Harrington, Marta Fleming, Kerry Nordling, and the creative services team. Thank you all for your dedication in bringing this book into the world.

I had no idea I was going to write for adults until my first YA editor, Victoria Wells Arms, planted the seed. Thank you for reading the early manuscript, for your support, and for helping me become a better writer.

Adam Finnieston and Elizabeth Pla of Prosthetic Orthotic Designs, Inc., answered all my questions about prosthetics and their care. Any inaccuracies are solely mine.

I don’t know where I’d be without my critique partners, Suzanne Young and Cristin Bishara. They’re like opposite sides of a coin; Suzanne is my biggest cheerleader, while I can always count on Cristin to say, “Yeah, but, what if…” And I’m so fortunate to have both.

I’m also lucky to have a bunch of talented writer friends whose opinions have been invaluable, including Kirsty Eagar, Annie Gaughen, Kelly Jensen, Miranda Kenneally, Elisa Ludwig, Amanda Morgan, Wendy Mills, and Veronica Rossi. Thank you all, not only for sharing your time but also for your friendship.

It’s not an exaggeration to say I had a ton of beta readers over the past six years: Carla Black (yes, she’s named for you), Taylor Cote, Christina Franke, Anna Hutchinson, Cee Jay Maxwell, Sarah Moon, Pam O’Neal, Marissa Davis-Orban, Ginger Phillips, Stephanie Pierce, Grace Radford, Jessica Sheehan, Andrea Soule, and Gail Yates (you have dibs). If there is anyone I missed, please know it was not intentional. Thank you all.

Talking to Dave Welch about his Alberg 30, Four Gulls, was supposed to be for research purposes only. His enthusiasm was so contagious we bought one of our own. Thanks, Dave.

Terry Igo answered a bunch of questions about wills, estates, and trust funds. Even though most of it didn’t end up on the page, he went the extra mile and I appreciate it.

It would be impossible to name all the wonderful people we’ve met in the islands who contributed to this story in large and small ways, but love and special thanks to Shelley and Phillip at Little Cocoa in Grenada; Njomo in Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau; and Andréa and Lovan in Les Anses d’Arlet, Martinique.

Finally, thank you to Caroline, Scott, Mom, and Jack for listening (or at least pretending to listen) when I ramble on about imaginary people. You’re the best and I love you all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TRISH DOLLER is the author of novels for teens and adults about love, life, and finding your place in the world. A former journalist and radio personality, Trish has written several YA novels, including the critically acclaimed Something Like Normal, as well as Float Plan, her adult women’s fiction debut. When she’s not writing, Trish loves sailing, traveling, and avoiding housework. She lives in southwest Florida with an opinionated herding dog and an ex-pirate. You can sign up for email updates here.

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CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Epigraphs

Ten Months and Six Days (1)

Aground (2)

Drunken Kaleidoscope (3)

Question Mark (4)

So Fucking Unfair (5)

Off Balance (6)

Stinging Mark (7)

A Small Fire (8)

Amplified (9)

Ghosts (10)

Confession (11)

More than You Think (12)

A Universe that is not Listening (13)

A Place to Land (14)

The Next Anna (15)

Already Mine (16)

The Rain Comes (17)

Foundering (18)

All I have is Now (19)

Headfirst into Life (20)

A Patchwork House (21)

All is Calm, all is Bright (22)

Meager Offerings (23)

Loud and Defiant (24)

Today is a Doorway (25)

The Real World (26)

True Affection (27)

Tiny Fissures (28)

Pirate Queens (29)

Stranded in Paradise (30)

A Million Shimmering Pieces (31)

State of Grace (32)

Acknowledgments

About the Author

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

www.stmartins.com

Cover design by Olga Grlic

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Names: Doller, Trish, author.

Title: Float plan / Trish Doller.

Description: First edition. | New York, NY : St. Martin’s Griffin, 2021.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020042059 | ISBN 9781250767943 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781250799760 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250767950 (ebook)

Subjects: GSAFD: Love stories.

Classification: LCC PS3604.O4357 F58 2021 | DDC 813/.6—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020042059

eISBN 9781250767950

Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].

First Edition: 2021

Float Plan - Trish Doller Page 0,83

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