smooth seas//john b

fifty one

"Okay, I swear he was here. He was here," John B tells me.

"John B, I..." I start.

John B cuts me off, "No, I swear, he was here, all right?"

"Okay," I say.

"I'm not crazy. Look, that's the boat right there." John B points to a boat at the end of the dock. "Okay? And he was sleeping inside right there. Look, uh, you believe me."

"I... I mean..." I sigh.

"Right?" John B asks.

"Hell, I wouldn't believe him either."

I haven't heard that voice in over a year. I turn and see Big John standing there in the yard.

"Hello, Maisie," Big John tells me.

"Big John?" I ask in disbelief. I feel tears in my eyes. "W... Oh my God."

"Come on, Maisie," Big John tells me.

I walk over to Big John and hug him tightly.

"Where did you go?" John B asks.

"Or should I say Mrs. Routledge?" Big John remarks. "Welcome to the family, Maisie."

"Where the hell did you go?" John B asks.

I laugh happily. "I can't..."

Big John waves John B over. "Come on, son. It's a day of celebration. Bring it on in, boy."

John B smiles as he hugs me. "Surprise."

After spending some time with John B and his dad I really need to head to Tannyhill. I need a shower and some clothes.

"Okay, while you're out looking for your city of gold, I'm gonna go home and steal some clothes and maybe a phone if I can find it," I tell John B.

"See you later," he tells me. "Road to the mother lode."

"I'll be back," I tell him.

John B kisses me. "Six o'clock, back here. Don't be late."

I never knew a shower could feel so good. I grab all the clothes I can fit into my bag. I find an old phone of mine in my room. I stop in my tracks when I hear a door open.

"Yeah, they said, um, two days on the transfer. It's in the works though, so no worries."

It's Rafe. He must be on the phone. I can't hear anyone else in the house.

"Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm upstairs, why? You said you wanted to talk about something. What's up?" Rafe asks.

I tip toe down the stairs towards Rafe's room.

"Wait, are you being serious? I was just with you. What changed since then? What are you talking about? Dad, no, no."

I walk past Rafe's room. I stop when I hear what he's telling Dad.

"Dad. This cross is mine. You're taking it from me. Listen, this is something that I got through my work, and now you're trying to make yourself feel better by giving away my shit? And you didn't even tell me? Oh my God. Maisie!" Rafe shouts as he stands up. I jump back. "There it is! That's it! Yep, knew it. There it is, Dad! Any more of my shit you wanna steal from me to impress Maisie? Who doesn't give a shit about you." Rafe sits back down. I can see he's pissed. "For the record, this is bullshit. Okay? This is my thing. But of course, you can count on me. One second. Okay, Wilmington. Tomorrow night. Car 750X. Got it."

As I stand up straighter the floorboard creaks.

"Rafe: Hey. Hang on. Hang on," Rafe says. "One second."