The motor drone, hitting the starter switch to the off position the old man let the boat drift with the current. Silence filled the air. Two bodies sat in fading darkness. Barely speaking above a whisper Anna began. Throughout the long narration the old man calmly sat. Occasionally his head nodded; or he refilled the pipe savoring the smoke rising above him. Anna recounted the years being raised by her over religious grandfather after the death of her parents, her first romantic encounter, the years with Jorge, the type business she ran, and the love she found with Kaila, then the telegram of Kaila's betrayal.

"Yep. Sounds like a recipe for a disaster to me." Stretching his arms, slowly standing he walked to the steps of the galley, "Need more coffee?" as he disappeared down the steps his voice became muffled.

The tabby cat ran up the steps with hair raised and teeth bared. Apparently the old man had disturbed its nap.

"Damn cat, get outta here!" he simply stated as a cup of more hot coffee was handed to Anna. A sideways glance at the man, Anna smothered a giggle as the cat hissed and retreated back down the steps. Anna shook her head slightly she must have been daydreaming not to hear the old man return so quickly.

"Told Martha to keep that cat off my boat; we can't stand each other. But every time I pull out of the Harbor that damn cat is hiding, then it sneaks up here just to terrorize me."

Laughing at the length the old man finally talked Anna simply replied, "Martha your wife?"

"Nope."

Sighing he sat, "Haven't found a reason yet to marry her." Shifting the cup to his left hand so that he could re-light his pipe, "Been together over 50 years, good woman but lousy cook."

Amazed that anyone could be together that long and not married Anna tentatively asked, "You haven't married her because she can't cook?"

"Nope, back we first meet there were laws against the likes of us marrying."

"Martha is a Black woman?" Little had truly change in the South even with it being the 90's, southerner's still thought it was a mortal sin to marrying one of out their own ethnic background Anna realized.

A burst of chuckles rumbled out of the old man's chest. "Martha is one of those Catholics. I'm Baptist."

Acting as that explained everything Anna nodded. "Oh, I see." Although she still was confused and loosing her patience with the old man's short explanations.

"Just why did you pull me out of the ocean?" Anna demanded with all the frustration she felt welling up in her chest.

"I thought you were my son." Tapping his pipe, "was a bad storm that came. John was attempting to pull in the last of the crab pots, I was up in the bow steering, looked over my shoulder just as he tangled his feet up in the ropes. About that time I notice one of the biggest snapping sea turtles I've ever laid eyes on swim up next to the side of the boat going for the crab pot. I yelled the same time John leaned over the side and the turtle bit into John's arm and pulled him off the boat in seconds. By the time I turned the motor off, ran back here, both were gone."

A low moan escaped Anna's lips.

Puffing on his pipe the old man continued, "So when I saw a fool of an idiot's white bottom cutting out of the black water same spot John was pulled in by that turtle; my old mind played a trick. I was guided to steer over to who I plain thought was John and get his ass back in here. Martha been moaning about her dead son for last few months just enough to drive me crazy with all her tears."

"I'm so sorry." Anna stated.

"Nothing to be sorry about, it's the way it is for these parts. Dang fool didn't even know how to swim. Should have known you weren't him. John's been some turtle's mid morning snack and his soul found peace up in heaven these last 7 months."

Having said all he thought was necessary the old man flipped the on switch, the motor coughed twice and purred to life once more.

As the sun began its long climb through the sky, the old man handed his empty cup to Anna "get me another cup and I'll be taking us home."

Bidding as she was asked to do, Anna turned towards the galley just as the cat once more stuck its face out the opening. Taking a halting step, hissing at the old man and Anna the cat paused, then ran towards the front of the boat.

Sadness overwhelmed Anna; she failed at suicide, failed at life. With a trapped feeling Anna once more stepped down to the galley. Just as she poured the coffee, panic assaulted Anna. She was not ready to face Kaila. There was nothing she could do, the old man said he was taking her home.

As Anna stepped out of the galley, the morning light was setting the sky aflame in a rainbow of colors in red and pink tones. The old man's white hair looked as if it was on fire with the light. Placing her free hand over her brow to shield her eyes from the glare; Anna could have sworn she saw two figures sitting besides the old man. Shaking her head, and glancing again, this time only seeing the old man puffing on his pipe Anna carefully stepped over the ropes once again and handed the cup to him.

"Samuel Lucas."

"Uh?" Anna stumbled hearing his voice broke her reverie.

"My name. Martha would curse the day I was born if I brought you home and you didn't know who the hell I was." A minute later under his breath, "but everyone calls me Luke."

Facing the wind as the old man steered them home, Anna set her shoulders straight and planned her revenge against Kaila.

As the cove came in to view Anna realized Luke didn't mean her home. Twenty odd homes enclosed the cove and ancient wooden pier was surrounded with boats of every size and shape. As Luke slowed the boat to a crawl, the gentle wave action caused the docked boats to begin a rocking motion as if shaking off the morning dew.

With the motor finally turned off, the boat securely moored, Luke took one large step up the pier and started off towards his house. Looking back, with a slight embarrassed grin; Luke quickly returned, offered his hand to Anna and lifted her up to the pier in one easy swing.

Luke's pace was fast. Attempting to keep up Anna felt like a lamp being lead to slaughter.

"Luke. Wait!"

"Hurry up girl, Martha won't put up with folks who dally and miss breakfast." Passing other men milling about, Luke curtly said morning and kept walking. Catching up to Luke taking his arm, Anna felt the eyes of the men they passed boring through her.

"Luke why are they staring?"

Looking right at her he shrugged his shoulders, "Don't know. Don't care."

Turning left at the intersection of a road and the pier, Luke's pace quickened that much more. About 60 paces further down the road a tiny bungalow painted red with a white picket fence on the right side of the road drew Luke to its gate. A rather scruffy looking dog jumped in delight at the old man. Barking and running in circles, leaping in the air the dogs noise caused the front door to open and a woman about five feet tall to step out. Placing her hands on her hips "Well its about time you got home Samuel Lucas, breakfast is just about burnt."

"Martha don't start. Besides we got company." Side stepping around the woman whose width was the same as her height, placing a swift kiss against her cheek Luke went in the house.

Flustered at having to introduce herself Anna stepped forward "Hi, I'm Anna you must be Martha."

The plump woman took the extended hand Anna offered and returned a firm handshake that surprised Anna. "Well, goodness, one never know what Samuel will bring home next."

Pulling Anna along inside the house, "Breakfast is just about ready." Walking towards the pine table set along the open kitchen wall Martha reached into the cabinet above the sink getting down another blue plate and coffee mug. Straightening out the checked tablecloth she placed the extra setting at the head of the table. "Just make yourself comfy dear, while I get that old man moving a bit faster for breakfast."

"Well speak of the devil - " Martha stopped in mid sentence as Luke walked into view wiping his burly hands on a white hand towel.

"Sit old man, I just was about to toss this breakfast to that dog of yours if you were not out here in one more minute."

Placing a oversized platter of sizzling bacon, roasted potatoes, toast, and eggs sunny side-up on the table Martha took the chair against the wall and went about lifting the items on to her own plate. Luke sat opposite of Martha and followed suit loading up his plate. "Dig in girl don't hesitate a second here."

Finally forcing herself to stop eating and pushing herself a few inches away from the table, Anna smothered a laugh. God I would give anything if I could cook like this! Thinking again to herself as the two older people talked about the weather and what Luke had manage to catch, either Luke's taste buds were completely destroyed or he didn't know an excellent cook when he had one was all Anna could conclude.

"Honey, you have enough?" Martha asked, "you sure didn't eat much." Anna glanced at Luke who had eaten four eggs, about ten pieces of bacon, a mound of potatoes, and enough toast to stuff a roast. Martha though was staring at Anna. Blushing realizing Martha meant her "Oh yes Martha it was excellent. Thank you." Anna had eaten three eggs, six pieces of bacon, mound of potatoes equal to Luke's and two pieces of toast. She not only was stuffed, Anna felt like a complete pig.

"Were is Nicholas?" Martha stated as she was picking up the dishes and placing them in the hot soapy water.

"Don't know. Don't care Martha."

Anna was about to ask whom Nicholas might be, when Luke answered the question with "Told you a hundred times I don't like that damn cat."

Taking the dishtowel Anna began drying the dishes as Martha placed them in the wire dish drainer.

"Samuel Lucas! It's the Lords day stop that cussing!"

"Hogwash Martha."

Once again Martha's hands were on her hips, lips pursed tightly together. She was about to say something but thought better of it. Untying the apron about her waist and neck "You about ready to go to church?"

"No. Tell Joe; howdy."

"Samuel Lucas you know darn well His name is Father Mikae!"

Ruffling the paper he was reading Luke did not reply further.

"Anna I image you just want to lay down and rest after your long trip Samuel mentioned. The spare bedroom is all made up and just sleep as long as you need." Adjusting a full brimmed, flowered hat on her head Martha pointed to the hallway, "bedrooms and bath are just down the hall. Got to rush now I'll be late for mass." With all that said, the plump woman bent over Luke kissed his cheek, give his chin a quick pat, she dashed out the door and was down the street in a flash. Anna was reminded of a Robin chasing worms, the way Martha rushed down the street.

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