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#Post#: 925--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 30, 2012, 4:26 pm
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I kind of miss him calling me that, cause I generally only here
my name now when he's mad at me over something so it doesn't
sound as nice as Lisaree once was haha. I'm happy to hear there
is another part due very soon and I can't wait to read what they
get upto next :D I'm also happy to hear of the new story on its
way!!
#Post#: 930--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 30, 2012, 7:16 pm
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Oh that's a bit upsetting :( but I still find the nickname
adorable none the less. Much better than Squeaker if you ask me!
:D I do hope you enjoy the next installment of this story. The
other should follow shortly, I'm still tinkering with it, haha
forgive me. I also apologize for this being so short.
Charlie's visits become more and more frequent as the days and
weeks passed but we'd had a mututal agreement that he'd keep his
room above the Crow's Nest. It was September now and things in
Gloucester were starting to become more and more quiet. We'd
settled on calling our relationship officially. We thought that
the only ones that needed to know were the two of us and a few
select members of the Sullivan clan.
One morning as we dozed off on the deckchairs we'd pushed
together as a makeshift bed of sorts the last of the summer sun
rose higher and higher as the seabirds swooped down for their
morning catch Charlie turned to me
"I hate to leave I really do...this place is like a...well what
am I up to? Ahh, a third home to me. I've gotta go down to the
docks. Sully and I've got a nine am charter of tourists to take
around on that damn light house tour. If you've seen one
lighthouse around here you've seen'em all."
Charlie said as he stretched and yawned and settled in closer to
me for a bit.
" Why don't you move in then? I've got room for you and half of
your clothes are here anyway. Hey, those lighthouse tours are
nice so don't knock'em, especially when they're on my boats. I
think people are intrigued with the names or something. The fall
season'll start soon and then you guys are good to go. You've
got your crews together and now you're just counting the days.
I'll be waiting for you. I've got a day of errands to do with Em
and the girls."
Charlie grinned that beshadowed crooked grin of his and pulled
me in for a hug and a kiss on the top of the head and got up to
get a quick shower and a change of clothes.
I ambled into the kitchen and packed a cooler of sandwiches and
sodas for Charlie and Sully to split, Em and I had set up a
schedule and it was my turn to pack this week.
"Ooh...is that ham and cheese with Pepsi I see in that cooler or
are my eyes decieving me?"
Charlie pulled me into a hug and sighed.
"Yes, it is and there's Twinkies on the sides for desert. Tell
Sully I said hi."
Charlie grabbed the cooler and pulled me in for a kiss and
another hug and trudged out to his truck with Oakey at his side.
A honk sounded a last goodbye of the day and I found myself in
an otherwise quiet house.
I finished the dishes and tried to think of something to fix for
dinner but the last of the summer heat was making the day damn
near unsightly as I dragged myself down the hall to grab a quick
shower before setting out to pick up Em and the girls.
I had ended up trading in the beat up Honda for a less beat up
four wheel drive Jeep Wagoneer that was loving called the Big
Green Monster or BGM for short.
As I barrled down the road I honked at a few summer tourists
that had fished off of my little patch of private beach. I
caught them offgaurd as they jumped turned and then gave easy
waves back to me. I turned down the small dirt road past a few
deserted summer cottages and pulled into the well worn dirt
driveway to Em and Sully's place. Sarah was plopped down on the
front steps playing with her ragdoll, which I'd learned was
named Beezus. As soon as I parked and gotten out of the car she
was off the porch and running toward me with a grin on her
little face.
"Maybef! Maybef!"
Sarah yelped as she held out her little arms for me to pick her
up, which I gladly did and spun her around a bit eliciting more
giggles of glee.
"Oh she never does get tired of that does she? Sully just did
that before he left and I don't see how she can stand it. I just
look at her and I end up getting sick to my stomach."
Em sighed as she came out to greet me and carry in the load of
clean laundry from the worn clothes line that was across the
small play area that had been set up for Sarah.
I grinned as I shifted Sarah over to my hip and gave her a bit
of a bounce which made her laugh all the more.
"If that's how you look sick to your stomach, Em then you're a
knock out either way. I wonder what you secret is."
Em busied herself as she unhooked diper after diper from the
line and threw them into a clothes basket as her feet before
turning to me with a small smile on her face and what I thought
was a glimmer in her eye.
I was thrown completely off when Em started to dab at her eyes
with a clean diper as she sat down at the worn picnic table and
motioned for me to sit down next to her. I set Sarah down to
play and sat down quietly.
"You wanna know the secret to the divine glow I've been blessed
with? I'm pregnant again, Maybeth. That's where this stupid glow
and this...this turn on a dime emotional state comes from. The
doctor says that this time that there's a chance it's twins. I'm
due next April. I don't think I can deal with twins, not when
Sarah's into every damn thing imaginable and Marnie's got that
damn gurd thing...my hours got cut at the diner and Sully's been
offered a spot with Mike Tyne this swordfishing season. My
brother Bobby's got a spot too, now Tyne's after Charlie to go
with'em the first part of October. Tyne works for Ned Browne and
Ned told the guys that he's willing to pay them more then three
times what you're planning on paying them..."
Ned Browne had been a thorn in my side since before I even set
foot in town. He challenged my bid on the house as well as those
two boats I've bought. He'd left nasty messages on my answering
machine and fed some of the locals a line of bull a mile long
about me and how I was only playing with my father's money
because I was a poor little rich girl with nothing better to do.
Anger boiled in my veins at the mere mention of Ned Browne's
name, although I managed to keep a handle on it as I
congratulated Em on the wonderful news.
"Trust me, if you felt as horrible as I do you wouldn't be so
over the moon. You wait until you and Charlie tie the knot and
start having little Sullivan's of your own. After the first one
it's down the slippery slope of parenthood you go. Those
Sullivan men can tell too, it's eerie. You're going along
totally fine and then bam! They open their mouth and utter those
two words to you and I swear it's like they have the power to
bring on morning sickness or something. It's like they know what
they've done and they parade around town like a prize stud or
something. Although Sully's been a really good sport about
things, he just doesn't know it might be a two for one deal
yet."
I grinned as Em's face perked up as she mentioned the prospect
of twins and found myself hearing that distant ticking that
seemed to pop up as soon as I reached the Gloucester Welcome's
You sign a month ago.
As I helped Em carry in the baskets of clean clothes into the
house Em looked at me and smiled.
"I think your clock's tickin', Maybeth."
I felt myself turn a lovely shade of beet red under my golden
tan and look down to examine my flip flops.
I set the basket I was carrying down on one of the four worn
kitchen chairs and sighed.
"Maybe it is, but I kids are a little off the charted course for
Charlie and me for a while. We're having too much fun spoiling
yours."
Sarah, who by now had toddled in after us was sound asleep on
the couch in the livingroom snuggled up to Beezus without a care
in the world.
"Well, atleast they're both down for their naps now. I've got a
huge favor to ask you. Do you think you could go over to Shaw's
and pick up a few things for me. There's no way I'm going to be
able to go out with both of them sound alseep like this."
I agreed without a moment of hesitence and refused the bankbook
she offered me.
"Don't worry about it, I've got you covered. Just give me the
list and I'm good to go."
As Em handed me the meager shopping list she saw a flicker of
anger about Ned Browne cross my face.
"He's usually over at the docks on a day like this. By the time
you get to town you'll be able to catch him."
I grinned and thanked her.
"If you get a phone call from the police saying I've murdered
Browne please let my mother know so she can bail me out. Just
call Gus."
I ventured back out into the heat of the day and made my way
toward town. I'd picked up what Em needed and the only thing I
could think of as I paced around the small grocery store was how
much I hated Ned Browne. My blood boiled even faster as I
reached the docks.
The air was alive with the yells of fishermen and boats as they
pulled in, wives and girlfriends were ambled around waiting for
their guys to touch foot on shore. I spotted Browne's truck, a
gleaming brand new in the summer sun. Made possible only by the
blood, sweat, and sacrifice of the fishermen that worked for
him. Hardworking men like the Sullivans, The Shacklefords, and
the Malones. Men that had families to support and loved ones
that needed them. Ned Browne had never even set foot on a
fishing boat before but yet he expected his crews to break their
backs just so he could have a fat wallet. I parked as close as I
could to his gleaming flame red short bed and wrenched open the
driver's side door so it left a lovely dent on the passenger
side panel.
I went around to the front of the gleaming status symbol and
leaned against the hood as I scanned the crowd.
I spotted the L.L. Bean clad wonder in his grease free jeans and
cotton blend short sleeve summer plaid.
"Hey Browne!"
Ned Browne turned and smirked at me as he ambled over to me.
"What would a blue blood be wanting with me down here at the
docks? Don't you have a house to go play in and fix up with your
father's cash?"
I bit back the urge to punch him in doughy pale face as I leaned
in and looked him sqaure in the eye.
"If you're even thinking of pulling the rug out from under me
and taking my crew you've got another thing coming. Everyone in
town knows that you never make good on your word. You're the
only man I know that charges each new crew double for their spot
on your boat."
Ned Browne looked at me and laughed in my face.
"Why the hell should any of these men trust you? I'm known in
the this town, you my dear little Chesnut Hill lovely, aren't.
These guys'll do anything for the promise of more cash."
I set my jaw and steeled my gaze.
"Not my guys. My guys have standards, they work hard and they'll
get paid what they're promised and if you even think for a
second they're going to switch teams just because they know you
then you're sadly mistaken. If you ever try to pull that kind of
crap again I'll go after you and it won't be with legal action,
Browne."
I ambled over to the back of my jeep and pulled out a tire iron,
I planned on hitting him where it hurt.
"This is a really nice truck, Ned. It's a shame that you've got
two tail lights out."
Ned's face dropped as he watched me swing the tire iron into the
back tail lights of his truck.
"Oh..and look...a scratch on the passenger side."
I produced my own car keys ambled down the side at a slow pace
as the scratching sound was heard by all. At this point a crowd
of people has crowded around us.
"Looks like your headlights are out too, man, if this thing is
supposed to be brand new you got jipped."
I smashed out his headlights and heard the most agonized groan
come from Browne as he stood there in a stupor.
"Still think I can't play hardball with the big boys?"
Browne shook his head as he just stared at his truck as I threw
down the tire iron.
"Nice talking to you, Ned. Maybe in a few years we can partner
up at sword season, huh?"
Browne finally looked at me and muttered something.
"Huh? Can't hear you?"
Browne sighed and took off his baseball cap to reveil a head of
thinning hair.
"I said Welcome to Gloucester, Standdish. I was wrong about you,
I'm sorry."
I grinned as I got back behind the wheel and slammed the door.
"Thank you, Ned. From you that's a compliment."
I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I made
my way back to Em and Sully's.
I dropped off the groceries and was convinced to stay for a
glass of lemonade and recant my story to an eager and grinning
Em.
"I can't believe you did it! I would have loved to have seen the
look on his sorry face."
I chuckled as I sipped my lemonade and then let out a sigh.
"I hate to say this but I should have taken a camera along with
me. His entire face fell...totally went from the usual I just
sucked a lemon to total duh in seconds."
Em wiped a few stray tears as she laughed and then bolted from
the table her eyes as big as dinner plates.
"Oh, c'mon Em I know the man makes people sick but he's not that
bad."
Em's only response was to wretch and then come out and try to
compose herself before throwing a clean diper at my laughing
face as she tried not to laugh.
"Mark my words Maybeth Standdish when your time comes you're
going to be living in that bathroom of yours."
I rolled my eyes as I finished my glass of lemonade.
"I'll give you a call when that day comes, Em."
October
"This is the part that sucks..."
Charlie sighed as we stood together saying our goodbyes on the
docks early the morning of the opening sword season. The summer
people had cleared out by mid September and Gloucester was back
to it's normal buzzing fishing community without all the
tourists causing hold ups. Half of Charlie's crew were already
onboard the Wandering Star and doing the last minute checks. On
the opposite side of the marina the Whispering Wind was loaded
and ready to cast off, despite Sarah's protests of her father's
leaving her behind on shore.
"But I've got to go, Sweetheart."
Sully tried to sooth his oldest daughter but she was having
nothing to do with it.
"No! Stay Papa! Stay!"
Sarah's howls were heard clear down from the docks and past the
Crow's Nest and Charlie and I were pretty sure clear down into
the next county as she held Sully's crew jacket in a death grip
and refused to be pulled off her father. Em was particularly
worn out already as she tried to take care of a sniffling Sarah,
a teething Marnie, and tried to keep her breakfast of gingerale
and crackers down as the boats bobbed.
Charlie pulled me in for one last kiss and a long hug before he
boarded the Wandering Star and told Henry Malone to cast off the
lines. Sully's crew followed shortly thereafter and Em and I and
girls were left in a sniffling huddled mass as we waved them
goodbye. Our prayers and hopes for their safe return floating
and drifting on the sea spray in the dim grey morning light.
As the days of October slowly passed into November Em grew
larger and larger and I grew thinner and thinner. I could barely
keep anything down as I kept myself up at night wondering what
was going on at sea, praying the rosery, and generally just
worrying myself sick. I finally called my mother for support
only to get the answering machine and the cold prerecorded
message. I finally stopped by Em's place to find Sarah pouting
in the time out corner and Marnie grinning form ear to ear in
her baby swing as she swung back and forth. Em was curled up on
the couch crocheting what seemed to be her millionth afgan.
"Well, I wondered when you'd stop by. Come on in and keep us
company."
I sat down on the other end of the couch and Em looked at me
with keen emerald green eyes.
"You can't be be Maybeth, the Maybeth I know isn't just a sack
of skin and bones. You're not eating and you're not
sleeping...this isn't healthy."
I sighed as I found myself near tears for the hundreth time
since Charlie left.
"I can't sleep, I can't eat not because I don't want to...I just
can't keep it down. Every night I have the same stupid dream
about something happening and I know perfectly well nothing's
going to happen but what if it does? Then what will I do? It'll
be all my fault..."
I wiped my eyes on my steady supply of tissue I had stuffed in
the pocket of my jeans.
Sarah sensing something was afoul with me proceeded to climb up
on my lap smooth my hair and wrap her little arms around my neck
before hugging me.
"It ok, Maybef. Charie coming back."
I hugged Sarah before thanking her with a watery smile.
"Now I just feel like a complete moron for thinking like
that..."
I tried to say as I was cut off by a yawn as Em looked at me
again and then shifted in her spot.
"I promise you, cross my heart stick a needle in my eye that
nothing's going to happen to Charlie or Sully or anyone on the
crew. They know what they're doing. They may seem like bafoons
on land but they know the water and they know the storm systems.
You outfitted those boats with the best equipment money could
buy. They're safe as safe can be. Now, why don't we get you set
up in the guest room? You're in no condition to drive back to
your place tonight."
I barely had the strength to argue otherwise as she shooed me
upstairs into the cheery little well kept guest room and tucked
me in like I was a child. For the first time in a month I was
able to drift into a deep weary sleep.
#Post#: 933--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 31, 2012, 4:47 am
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I loved this part so much, it had me crying right along with
her. I can't imagine what she is going through, missing him like
that and not being able to eat properly. She must look and feel
awful without him there, not knowing where he is or what is
happening. I can say that I would be having just as much trouble
as she is. The little one was very sweet to give her a cuddle
like that though :] I'm sure that cheered her up quite a bit. I
really loved what she did to Ned's truck haha. That made me
laugh a hell of a lot and I needed that today!! so thank you xD
I can't wait for an update :)
#Post#: 948--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: June 4, 2012, 4:36 pm
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Aww I'm so sorry to make you cry. Little Sarah is quite the love
isn't she? I'm so glad I could give you a laugh! This update's a
little bleak but I don't mean to upset you. Rest assured that
there's more to come I promise :)
Days passed and no matter where I slept my dreams came back to
haunt me, so badly that I dreaded going to sleep at night. Em
finally convinced me that I was welcome to stay with her and
girls because she was so worried about my harried frantic state.
I usually spent most nights perched on the end of the guest bed
at Em's praying with God that everyone would come home safely. I
spent most days trying to keep Sarah and Marnie entertained as
Em tried to get everything set for the welcome home party for
the guys.
My dreams were filled with visions of bottle green water rushing
over the sides of one of the boats, howling screaming winds that
sounded like a hundred banshees. It was the same dream night
after night and every night the dream grew longer and longer
causing every precious hour I could have spent sleeping I spent
tossing and turning just like those waves.
The next morning a dull grey light of November shone through the
cream colored curtains of the guest room. My stomach rolled as I
sat up in the bed and watched the trees in Em and Sully's
backyard swaying back and forth as another storm front rolled
in. A shiver ran up my spine as I broke out into a cold sweat.
Every wind gust brought on a tighter feeling in my chest until I
could barely catch my breathe, I failed to realize I was sobbing
loud enough for anyone else to hear. That was until poor
bedraggled Em burst through the door her eyes wild and searching
as she came over and pulled me into a hug trying to explain to
me that everything was going to be ok.
"No it's not! Something's going to happen, I just know it! I've
got to call them, for the love of God, Em, I've got to get ahold
of them."
I was out of the bed and untangled from the sheets like a shot,
I pulled on my jeans and sweater and wrestled with my shoes
before I grabbed my keys and ran for my car.
"I'll be back, just sit tight,ok?"
I called over my shoulder as I backed down the driveway and
hightailed it into town I ended up double parking in front of
the Crow's Nest and giving thirty bucks to Ethel Shackleford in
payment as I ran down the street to the main office of the
marina. The sky seemed to open as the winds whipped my hair free
of it's hair tie and by the time I reached the worn wooden door
I was already soaked to the bone. I flagged down Ned Browne,
who was poured over maps and incoming weather charts for storm
fronts. I must have looked a right sight because Ned gave me a
look of pity.
"Hey, Standdish...you really should sit down or something...you
look like you're going to pass out."
I spotted the TAG radio and my heart pounded as I made a grab
for the radio's mouth piece and sent out a message to either
boat hoping that they would both answer. My heart hammered and
my head started to swim as my stomach turned. I dialed the
number of the port the boats should be docked in and got the
processing manager.
"Hey there, Miss Standdish. Jimmy Fritz was just getting ready
to put a call through to ya. Only one of your boats came in last
night."
I gripped the phone so tight that my knuckles cracked and turned
white.
"What boat? Which one? The Whispering Wind or the Wandering
Star?"
Papers were shuffled as the manager went through his paperwork.
"Here we go. The Whispering Wind. Sully's getting ready to head
home after the storm clears. Charlie's usually the first one in
but maybe he hit good fishing? Sully's crew heard some of
Charlie's crew talking about going up toward the Flemish Cap.
There's two more storm fronts coming in so I hope they make into
port soon."
"Standdish, you've got to sit down...you're shaking..."
The last thing I saw was the shine coming from Ned's head and
the wild look in his eyes as he dove to catch me before I hit
the floor.
#Post#: 952--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: June 6, 2012, 7:46 am
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This was so upsetting to read! :( I do hope Charlie and the guys
are alright. I read this last night before going to sleep but I
should have commented then. After I'd finished reading I was
telling my fiance that he must never ever go out fishing and he
said he wouldn't, so I felt a lot better after that haha. I do
love where this story is heading though and can't wait for an
update! I can only imagine how she's feeling right now! :(
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