Chapter 59

Packing my bags felt very strange. I'd only been on WorthIt II for a month but sailing her day after day had become my way of life. The boat wasn't 'homey' - more hotel-like than anything - but the rest of the crew and I had 'done stuff' with her. We'd made a difference in each other's lives in a world where there were artists, scientists, business people and politicians famous for their achievements who had never been so involved one-to-one with another human being.

One-to-one relationships seem to be what my life is about and the lack of them in some areas the reason I hadn't any sense of direction when I finished my exams at college. Mum could be 'an accountant' and Dad 'a boatbuilder' where what mattered at work was not for whom the work was done but to be payed at all. Either I just didn't have a talent like theirs or I had something they didn't which stopped me following their path.

More or less done packing I put on a bit of makeup, in preparation for meeting non-sailing people, shorts and a yellow top but layed out a skirt ready to change into if I should get a ride today to the airport or hotel. Joining the others ashore I found them with several crew off the many yachts out at anchor. Lots of them were long-term liveaboard cruisers but a bit older than those I'd met in other anchorages - retired Americans mostly rather than wanderers working with a boat as a home. The nearby town was small but good for fresh food we were told; there was little local entertainment but lots of things were organised among the yachts…

The yachties were indeed friendly and trying to be helpful but our circumstances were very different so I gravitated to a table with two girls about my own age

"Hi, do you mind if I join you before my hair goes grey and I start collecting recipes?"

"As long as you don't talk boats or health care and you're under 30 pull up a chair. I'm Hannah and this is my twin sister Madison and yes we don't look alike. The accent which you are desperately trying not to laugh at is from Plains, Georgia."

"I'm Venus Williams from Wales not California and my sister is Litara not Serena. My accent makes yours look moderate but I am without doubt the best tennis player on the boat I just arrived on."

"The size of that thing it wouldn't surprise me if it had a tennis court! You're not family I presume."

"How did you guess? No, I've just crewed her from Europe but I'm leaving here to meet my family who are flying in today."

"We promise not to tell the yachties that you're a land lubber because we are too. When we went to college our parents got empty nest syndrome, sold up and bought a boat. It's back to college with hot showers and flush toilets for us next week!"

"Venus!" Looking up I could see Aarón making his way into the café from the car park so I waved him over.

"Girls Aarón; Aarón girls and if you will excuse me Aarón breaks the under 30 rule so…"

"Surely you remember Venus that the under 30 rule does not apply to men who wear Armani Please join us Aarón."

"On your own head be it Madison but don't blame me when he offers to put you in the movies."

Between Madison's outrageous bouts of flirting I found that Aaron's plan was that we leave here at 4 pm with my bags to meet the plane landing at 5:30 pm which made no sense to me since I could go straight to the hotel where I would be sharing a room with Litara. "There's something you aren't telling me Aarón - why do you really want to go to the airport?"

"Remind me never to play poker with you Venus! You're right and it's because I want to talk with your mother as I've good reason to believe we're closely related. I talked on the phone with my mother last night and she had an elder brother Joseph who left the to become a British soldier but there was something special about him which your mother might know."

"Do you mean that he was a guevodoche, and before you ask, yes he really was my grandfather."

It having been settled that I was leaving at 4 pm I did want to spend what time I had left with my WorthIt friends so explaining my predicament I excused myself and went back aboard WorthIt to change and grab my bags. In the short time I was away though it seems they were hatching plans for me. Of all the things I'd learnt on this trip there was only one in demand on that last afternoon with Tracy, Sheila, Bruce and the Worths.
"Venus" Sam announced "We've promised to give dance lessons while we're here and having seen you in action… "

I can't think of many more unlikely or any more enjoyable ways to round off what had been a great month with the best of company than a full blown Salsa party. Dancing somehow made age and background unimportant. Even though Hannah and Madison were bored with their parents company when I first met them, once the music was on and everyone on their feet that was forgotten and they were still at it when Aarón and I loaded my bags into his car and we headed to the airport.