Page 8 of Wet and Welder
It’s difficult to catch my breath and lay there in bliss until I hear his breath even out. He’s asleep beside me, and for some reason, that’s such a comfort I let myself drift off, too. My body is thoroughly spent, and my mind is free for the first time in years. No worries, just sleep.
CHAPTER FOUR
MIC
“Dude, wake up. Earth to Mic.” Cooper shakes me back to reality reluctantly.
I grumble and take another drink of the bitter coffee they’re serving us on this small airliner.
She’s gone. Mallory gave me a night I couldn’t stop thinking about and then vanished into thin air, leaving me cold and rock-hard the next morning. It’s been a week, but I still space out at any given time, reliving every minute I was in her presence. Needless to say, I’m in dire need of work to keep my mind busy, and lucky for me, my boy Cooper got us a top-earning job for some research ship that needs repairs on a ghost ship. I don’t remember much of the details, but then again, my mind has not been focusing on much of anything lately.
The pilot spoke over the speaker, letting us know we’ll be landing soon and to buckle up. The crew have been in good spirits, celebrating the high-dollar gig and discussing what they’ll do with the money. Karl wants to finally retire. Cooper wants a Porsche. Brian wants to go to a strip club and meet his future ex-wife. I don’t claim to understand my men, but I don’t judge them for anything. Welding is a hard job, and not everyone’s cut out for it. Living a normal life is hard when our career requires so much travel time from us. Relationships have been impossible, but that’s just my experience, and I’ve foolishly dreamed of having more someday.
Glancing over at Cassandra biting her nails and looking out the window, I’m again filled with worry that something might happen to her. In all my years in the trade, I’ve never worked with a woman, but when I met the young spitfire, I was impressed. She can hold her own on the job with little to no instruction and puts up with the raunchy crew without batting an eye. Well, maybe an eye roll here and there, but needless to say, she fits right in. My worry is her small stature. If anything happens to her on my watch, I won’t be able to forgive myself, but I can’t be distracted watching her and getting my job done, too. This ship is a monster, and I have to trust and have faith in each crew member to work as part of a team and independently to get it up and floating again.
Funny enough, it was the first ship I ever worked on in my apprenticeship, and I’m feeling like a Papa bear to have my own team bring her back up to float. The fact a fancy museum wants her is just a bonus.
The landing is rough, jerking me all over the place.
“Careful boss, or you’re gonna rip the armrests right off,” Cassandra chirps.
“I don’t like flying,” I grumble.
“Everything is okay. We’re here now,” she says in a softer tone for only me to hear.
I nod but stay seated for a few minutes as the pilot welcomes us to South Africa through the speakers. From here, we’ll grab a car and drive down to the local port to meet a boat that’ll take us to the Omega One search vessel that discovered the ghost ship.
Durban, a bustling city on the coast of South Africa, seems just as busy as the States. I watch out the window as crowds zoom by in flashes of color, and tall buildings loom above us. It’s an overcast but sweltering hot day, and the air conditioning in the cab blasts but offers minimal respite. The oversized van is packed with big dudes and one tiny lady. Luckily, the trip is short enough to keep everyone’s body odor at bay, and the smell of the sea is a sweet relief.
At the port, seagulls fly overhead, squawking a warning or begging for scraps of fish, either could be true. The gray clouds rolling in from the ocean ahead seem ominous, but still, my crew loads the small shuttle with all our equipment and luggage.
“Hey, Crew, y’all ready to make history?” shouts a man in a polo shirt who waves vigorously. I grunt my response as I hand him my suitcase. His small stature topples over as he takes it, making the crew laugh. All but Cassandra. I notice my apprentice run to his side to help. That stern look she usually wears is long gone, replaced with rosy cheeks. Oh boy.
“Here, let me help you,” Cassandra offers him.
“Oh, no need, really. I’ve got it. I can get yours, too. Here, let me show you to your seats. I’m sure you’re all eager to get to the Omega.” The man seems embarrassed at her offer, and I hate the rejected look that falls onto her face.
My protective instincts kick in, and I move to give her Brian’s suitcase. She looks at me with a silent, questioning look, and I nod for her to follow Mr. Polo.
“Some men don’t know a good thing when it’s offered. He clearly needs your help,” I tell her calmly, and she follows my orders with a small smile. The boys and I get comfortable in the bay of the boat, even though it doesn’t offer much except seating and panoramic views.
“Would it kill them to offer cookies?” Cooper mutters.
“Shut up. We’re not here for treats. We’re here to make the rich richer, remember.” Karl complains.
“You need a nap, my cranky friend. Cookies are always a good idea.” Cooper hollers.
I’m still tired from the flight, and my nerves have been in my throat the whole time, so I lean back and close my eyes as the men continue to joke around. Cassandra doesn’t join us, so the men don’t hold back, and therefore, I get no peace. Even with the boat rocking on the waves of the ocean, sleep alludes me.
Time passes, and Mr. Polo returns with Cassandra in tow and a tall man with a clipboard who announces that we’ve pulled up to the ship and can now board the Omega.
“Montgomery and Captain Hook are waiting to brief you in headquarters. Duncan here will show you the way.” Then he waves to the door, ushering us out.
Guess, Mr. Polo has a name now, Duncan. Poor guy doesn’t know how to act around the blue-collar beauty that is Cassandra, and trips on a step, trying to help her up.
Of course, she doesn’t need his hand and does me proud by laughing and giving him a hand up. I hope he gets a grip and wises up because if he hurts her, I’ll enjoy breaking both his fucking legs.
Falling to the back of the line, we slowly make our way out of the small shuttle boat to the large Omega One search vessel. She’s a real beauty, with shiny new steel, probably made within the last few years, if I had to guess. A yellow submarine sits hoisted above the main deck and causes Cooper to start singing The Beatles classic.