Well I’ll buy you out, if the arrangement upsets you—
That’s not what I—that wasn’t the—
But I hesitate to give cash to you right now, I say. We spent so much in Bocas, getting her ready. And now—
What?
A new transmission. Possibly.
There is silence on the other end. The teenagers have turned to look at me. It’s as if they can smell drama.
Look, Harry says. There’s no need to make any decisions right now. We’ve got our agreement. And you’ve got your good life and very nice home. Which you put up as equity if there was any default in the loan, you remember. So. When you are ready, any time before your year is up, sail her back here, let me resell her at a profit. I get my money back and give you what you paid plus what you put in. Don’t you see I’m trying to make you a bundle? I had a guy come in just yesterday from Greenwich, looking for a boat like ‘Windy Monday.’
That’s not her name, I tell him.
What?
I renamed her. She’s the ‘Juliet.’ And don’t tell me it’s bad luck to rename a boat. I don’t give a shit.
OK, OK. I’m not trying to rile you up, Michael. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to slip away with our boat.
You just said disappearing was impossible.
She’s our boat.
We are co-owners. But I’m the Captain, Harry.
Yes. You are the Captain of—what’s she called again?
‘Juliet.’ She’s the ‘Juliet.’
* * *
—
We were dressed and waiting. I wore a white sundress with spaghetti straps. The evening breeze rooted in my skirt. Sybil hung out over the lagoon on the bowsprit and peered toward Gaigar. Ernesto was coming for dinner.
Is Daddy in Porvenir now? Sybil asked me.
I hope so, I said.
Will Daddy get a new transmission in Porvenir?
No, Peach. We have to sail to Cartagena for that.
She seemed surprised—aghast, her hair falling into her eyes.
We have to leave Guna Yala? she asked.
You don’t want to leave, Sybil?
Ever, she said.
Ever? You mean you don’t ever want to leave Juliet?
I don’t want to leave Juliet ever.
Really? You don’t miss home? I asked. You don’t miss Audrey and ballet and your own room? Or Grandma visiting, stuff like that?
She stared at me, trying to remember. I saw her expression soften.
I do miss Grandma, but—
Deh-deh, sighed Georgie.
He’s coming back soon, Georgie.
Sybil grabbed the halyard. She pattered across the coaming, then took a slow, meditative flight around the mast, landing back in front of me.
Where will Daddy stay tonight? she asked.
In a hotel in Porvenir. At least, that was the plan.
Can he call us on the VHF to say hello?
They don’t have those in hotels, Peach. That’s for talking ship-to-ship. And remember, our real phone fell overboard. So…
Sybil drew her long hair behind her ear. I had not seen it so clean and silken in months.
Sybil sighed, pressing her cheek against the mast. I do miss Grandma, and I miss my room. But I don’t miss Audrey. Audrey cheats.
Well, sometimes even friends disagree, I said. People are complicated.
I like the sea, Sybil said. I agree with the sea.
I like the sea too, I said. I’m trying to learn not to be afraid. You’re never afraid?
She turned and scanned the view, her bare shoulder blades lit up with a golden last light.
No, she said, and I knew it was true.
Georgie pointed.
’Toe! ’Toe! he cried.
He’d spotted Ernesto astern, rowing toward Juliet from the direction of the village.