FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA by Jennifer Bohnet Read Free Book Online Page B

box, she opened a drawer and buried it in amongst her jumpers.
    She’d forget about it until after the race. She had too much to do right now to make such an important decision. Maybe by the time she came back, her feelings would be a whole lot clearer.
     
    Heading downstairs, she found Cassie, Mai and Anna all in the sitting room talking to Tom. A few hours’ sleep seemed to have cheered up immensely. He was certainly looking less tired.
    “Hi sis,” he greeted her. “You’re just in time to join us for a glass of wine.”
    “I thought we were going to check through the medical supplies tonight?” Polly said glancing at Cassie.
    “There’s still time. We’re just celebrating Tom’s first night home,” Cassie said.
    Taking her glass Polly perched on the edge of Tom’s bed and clinked her glass with his.
    “Welcome home. You know, you didn’t have to break both your legs,” she said cheekily, “one would have done. But thanks anyway.”
    “Here’s to you Polly,” Tom said. “But be warned little sister, if you don’t bring Clotted Cream back home in one piece, I’ll break your legs!”
    Cassie listened to the pair of them sparring, relieved that things seemed to be back to normal between them.
    The next few weeks would be as tough on Tom as they would be on Polly. He’d have his own battles to fight, both physically as his legs mended and mentally as he helped Polly achieve what he longed to be doing himself.
    “As enjoyable as this is,” Polly announced finishing her glass and standing up, “some of us still have work to do. I’m off to the office. I’ll see you tomorrow brother dear.” She kissed Tom lightly on the cheek.
    Cassie joined her in the office five minutes later, just as Polly was lifting a large cardboard box filled with medical supplies onto the table.
    “No sign of the freeze dried foodstuffs?” Polly asked. Cassie shook her head.
    “Not yet. They’ve promised delivery within the next few days.”
    Polly put some sealed syringes on the table.
    “If you call out the items I’ll tick them off the check list,” Cassie said. “There’s an awful lot here. Heaven forbid you ever have to use any of it.”
    She looked at the DIY kit for setting broken bones and the ready-threaded needles for sewing up deep cuts and shivered apprehensively.
    “These days it’s a case of being prepared for any eventuality. Like rescuing somebody who’s injured.” Polly added quickly.
    “The painkillers might get taken if I have one of my migraines but otherwise this lot will hopefully all come back unused.”
    “I remember the medical box your Dad took on his trips,” Cassie said slowly.
    “It had a large packet of plasters, an antiseptic spray, a pair of scissors, bandages and a small tub of painkillers. How times have changed. Oh, and Dad always put a bottle of brandy in. Purely medicinal he always said.”
    She smiled at Polly. “The brandy was always gone when he got home. Funny that.”
    Polly laughed as she put her hand into the box and pulled out a bottle of brandy.
    “I didn’t realise it was a family tradition.”
    There was a short silence while Cassie looked at Polly.
    “You will take…”
    Polly interrupted her before she could finish the sentence.
    “Mum, I know what you’re going to say and it’s as pointless as me telling you not to worry. I know nothing will stop you worrying about me until the race is over and I’m home again. And you know deep down that, yes I will take care, but you also know that I will take risks if I have to.”
    “You wouldn’t be your Dad’s girl if you didn’t,” Cassie said shakily.
     
    Over the next few days, things settled down into something of a routine.
    Now that Tom was home, Mai was able to divide her time between looking after him and working on the barge. With Liz in charge of the routine office work and Anna helping out wherever needed, Cassie and Polly threw themselves into the preparations for the race.
    Within a few days