Several days later Beverly and Jesse were at Castaways Marina cleaning Serenity in anticipation of taking Marti Leinhart and Jeffrey Rodgers on a day sail. The itinerary included a visit to a friend's beach house on North Captiva. It was still early, but there was a fair wind, and Jesse was growing impatient to cast off. Beverly disappeared into the cabin while Jesse was rubbing the cabin door with teak oil. He was sitting in the cockpit with the door on his lap when Beverly returned with a cup of coffee. He took it and smiled. Beverly sat across from him with her own cup, balancing the boat. She was pensive, but without the melancholy part that sometimes accompanies being seriously thoughtful.
"Do you ever think about us?" she asked.
"All the time," Jesse replied.
It was not what she had meant, but it was a damn good answer. She was wondering whether she and Jesse had a future; whether their love would grow, persisting into eternity; whether they would take their relationship to the next level. He was either ensconced in the here and now, or cleverly and deliberately avoiding the bigger questions. Men! She thought with exasperation. She sighed audibly.
"You OK?" he asked.
"Oh, hell yes," she replied sweetly. And she meant it.
An hour later Serenity was about as clean as she could be. The breakfast dishes were clean and stowed.
"I think I hear them," said Beverly.
"Yes," confirmed Jesse.
