I had to stop by the store before heading to the marina.

I had to ask myself why I was doing this. I also wondered just what his motivation was.

I'll admit I'm somewhat of a reserved person. I kept very little friends. I liked everyone I worked with at the club, especially the "girls".

But none were close that I really confided in them.

I walked down the pier looking for his boat. He called it a sailboat, but it was quite impressive. It looked more like a mini-yacht.

"There you are, welcome aboard!" he said as helped me into the boat.

"Well this is really nice," I said.

"Thank you," He said. "Bought it about 15 years ago. I still have this dream of sailing around the world in it. It was sort of our dream when I finally retired."

That wasn't a dream I could fathom, not as a graphics designer, not as a part-time illusionist. It was a world I wasn't quite familiar with.

"Is there a place where I can change?" I asked, clutching my swim suit and a towel. "I can tell a pair of jeans will be too hot today."

"Follow the stairs," he said, pointing to a door that led down. "The bathroom is on the right, next to the kitchen. And while you're at it, can you fetch a couple of wine glasses."

He pointed to a bottle of win he had in a bucket of ice.

"I'll untie the boat and get us on the way."

Inside the craft was an impressive sight. There was a small bedroom to the left. There was a kitchenette and den in the center and a bathroom, with a tub.

On the wall in the den was a painting of his wife, with the words "Marie" on the bottom of the painting. She was lounging on the side of the boat while they were at sea, wearing a brown swimsuit, white robe, shorts, visor with a pair of flip flops.

I probably would not have made much note of what she was wearing except the very same clothes were hanging on the door in the bathroom with the visor around hook. The flip flops were directly under the clothes as if the owner were going to return.

I stared at the clothes as I took off mine and grabbed my suit.

I then laid my suit down, and for some reason decided to try on her clothes.

I was amazed by how well they fit, right down to the shorts and terry cloth robe. Even the flip-flops were the right size.

I grabbed the visor and a pair of sunglasses that were on the sink. And grabbed the scrunchy and a brush in a small bag next to the sink and put my hair into a ponytail.

"I don't know what he'll think," I thought as I reached for the wine glasses in the fridge. "He'll probably throw me overboard."

Call it a moment of temporary insanity.

I slowly walked toward the door, with fear rushing in my head.

"What's taking you so long?" he shouted.

Slowly I opened the door and walked up on deck. His mouth dropped open for a second and then he smiled.

"I can go back in change," I said.

"No, don't do that!" he said. "Now bring those glasses here!"

I gave him the glasses. He poured wine in each glass.

"I got this bottle at a winery in France," he said as he handed me my glass and put his arm around my waist.

"I think Marie's clothes suit you," he said.

"I don't know why put them on," I said. "I was afraid you'd be mad."

He laughed and then surprised me by giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"I guess I can understand why you would feel that way," he said. "But I've got a confession to make. I actually put them out for you. I was actually hoping you'd be tempted to put them on. Somehow I don't think Marie would mind."

I blushed.

"And I took the bait," I said. "This is all real confusing to me right now."

He apologized for making me feel confused and told me he wanted me to just relax and have a good time.

He brought out some sandwiches as we got further out to see. He pointed out a whale nearby that arose to the surface.

"You don't see things like this on land," he said.

And that I hadn't. He was right. It did relax me.

I found myself cradled in his arms as we watched the sun seemingly set into the sea.

"What time to you have to be back," he asked as nightfall began to engulf us. I was impressed with the stars, how many there were. You didn't see that many in town because of the city lights.

"I don't really have a time to be back," I said. "I don't have to be back at the club until tomorrow night. What about you, Captain?"

I was expecting him to say he would have to be back at work early the next day.

"Well, I'm the boss," he said. "I could call in tomorrow and tell them I'm not coming in."

Suddenly a grin moved across his face.

"Ever spent the night at sea?" he asked.

I laughed.

"You know I haven't," I said. "But if you're game, I am."

"Good," he said. "I was hoping you would say that."

"Well I'm going to have to go down stairs and change," I told him. "I'm feeling a little sweaty and sticky."

"You're not going to put on what you brung are you?" he said, acting disappointed.

"What else do I have to wear?" I asked.

"If you'll check the drawers in the bedroom, you'll probably find some of Marie's lingerie. Her housecoat, I'm sure, is hanging up in the closet."

"You didn't leave those there for me?" I asked. You know I had to ask.

"No, those I didn't," he said. "Those were left in there from our last night out. She used to take a bubble bath and then changed into them before coming back on deck at night."

I smiled and told him I intended to do the same -- which I did. I have to admit, I enjoyed the pampering.

He changed, too, while I was in the tub, into shorts and a bathrobe before returning back on deck.

He was waiting and handed me another glass of wine when I joined him.

"Got a question to ask," he said.

"Which is?" I replied.

"When you wrestled with being transgendered, did you ever give any thoughts to actually living as a woman?" he said.

"There were times when I fantasized what it would be like when I was in college," I confessed. "But I never mustered the courage to do it. I never really seriously considered it."

"Well..." he said. "What if I asked you to come live with me, but only as a woman, would you do it?"

"Are you asking me this for real?" I asked.

"Yes, I am," he said. "You would have to quit the club, that would be a condition. But you could pretty much choose the life you would want to live for a woman you're age. You could even retire if you like."

"Wow..." I said. "You're hitting me with a lot. Would you mind if I took some time to think it over?"

"Yes, take as much time as you need," he said.