Free West Wind by Madeline Sloane Page A

with another woman at a
fraternity party devastated her. Jeremy represented the one thing
she craved: a family. She refused his contrite telephone calls and
eventually they stopped. She sent him the engagement ring and
returned all of his presents. She didn't want any reminders.
    Michael, her second lover, was a guitar
player in a Boston band. Her dorm roommate set up a blind date for
both of them. They recognized from the beginning they had little in
common, but the sex was healthy and helped assuage her wounded
pride. Michael didn't mind. When his band moved to California, they
kissed goodbye without regret.
    Sabrina was up, showered and dressed by eight
o'clock, and scouting the streets of Warren for a breakfast diner.
She decided on the donut shop, eating three glazed donuts and
downing several cups of coffee.
    She asked the waitress for a telephone
directory and idly stirred sugar into her coffee as she flipped
through the yellow pages.
    "Excuse me," she called to the waitress. "Is
this close?" Sabrina pointed to the small ad for Warren Boatyard in
the phone book. Its services included boat restoration and boat
building, "no job too small."
    The woman nodded. "Sure is. Right down the
road."
    "Thanks. That's all I need."
    Sabrina punched the number into her cell
phone. It rang several times and, just as she considered hanging up
and redialing, a deep voice boomed, "Boatyard. Brett here."
    "Hello, I'm looking at your ad in the phone
book and it says you do boat restoration. That 'no job is too
small.'"
    "That's right, ma'am. What can we do for
you?"
    "Well, I have a boat and it's a real mess,"
she began apologetically. "I need to have it moved and then, I
guess, do whatever magic you do."
    "Is this a fiberglass boat?"
    "Yes, it is."
    "What's her length, overall?"
    "Uh, what?"
    "How big is the boat?"
    "I'm not sure. It's a Zephyrus; does that
help?"
    There was a brief pause before the man
answered. "Thirty-two; those boats had a short run and only one
design."
    "Well, this one is special, despite roosting
chickens and lily pads in living room."
    "Cabin. Lily pads in the cabin," Brett said,
chuckling. "Where is this boat?"
    "It's at Mr. Blair's house, next to his
barn." She reeled off the address. "It's been sitting for at least
twenty years, so it's going to need a lot of work."
    "I can go take a look at it and give you an
estimate. Why don't you give me your name and telephone
number."
    "I don't need an estimate. I want this boat
restored to her original condition," she said, proudly remembering
to call it by its feminine pronoun. "I don't care what the cost
is."
    Brett didn't respond at first. Then, "Miss,
you sound like you're new to sailboats. Let me give you some
advice: When you fall in love, run like hell."
    "Excuse me?" Sabrina's gut clenched.
    "Run, and don't look back. This boat could
end up costing you ten times what she's worth."
    "That's what she's worth to me," Sabrina
said. "Look; you're right. I don't know what I'm doing. That's why
I'm calling you. But I do know this: I want this boat in pristine
condition."
    "Bristol."
    "What?"
    "Bristol. Boats are restored to Bristol
condition, not pristine."
    She giggled. "Whatever, Mr. ... What did you
say your name was?"
    "My name is Brett Story. I'm assistant
manager of the Warren Boatyard."
    "Mr. Story, I appreciate you trying to talk
me out of throwing money at you. You may not hear this often, but
today, money is no object. In fact, if you'll meet me at Mr.
Blair's house with a truck or trailer, or however you people move
boats around on the land, then I'm prepared to give you a $20,000
deposit."
    "I can be there in an hour."
    Not a bad businessman after all , she
thought. "That's what I want to hear. Thank you, Mr. Story."
    Sabrina hung up her cell phone. "I'm doing
it, Grandmother."
    Next, she called the hospital and talked to
Shirley Piper, her grandmother's personal nurse.
    "She's doing very well, Sabrina. In fact,
we're beginning physical therapy today. We need