The Inside Passage (Ted Higuera Series Book 1) by Pendelton Wallace Read Free Book Online Page B

She’s more Nordstroms
than REI.”
    “REI?”
    “Yeah, the
outdoors type.” Ted settled into the cockpit across from Chris. He can’t
really be serious. “I don’t see her getting her nails dirty pulling up the
anchor.”
    “Maybe not, but at
least she can take care of the cabin. It’ll be nice to have a good cook for a
change. I’m getting tired of your cooking.” Chris grinned.
    “Well, where is
she then?” Ted made a show of looking down into the cabin. “If she’s going to
be part of this crew shouldn’t she be here helping get the boat ready?” 
    “She had some
interviews at Nordstrom today. She couldn’t make it.”
    “Dude, if she’s
going to go with us, she should help get ready. Your future step-mom’s putting
more effort into our trip than she is.”
    “She’s already
invited.”
    “Un-invite her!”
    “Deal with it.”
Chris picked up his wrench and screw driver and descended the companionway
stairs.
    Híjole, this is
gonna be one long summer. Ted sat opened-mouthed as Chris stormed below. He’s
letting that little bitch drag him around by the ring in his nose. But,
when Chris’ mind was made up, it was made up.  I guess Princess Meagan is
going with us. Chris was one stubborn son of a bitch.

Chapter 7
     
    Seattle  
    The Pike Place
Market was only a few blocks from Nordstrom’s headquarters at Fifth and Pine.
Meagan’s interview at Nordstrom had gone well. They’d call back with an offer,
she just knew it. She could go on the trip with Chris, then return home to a
new job.
    She soaked in the
sun and watched the crowds of cheerful people throng through the Market. The
sound of her three-inch stilettos tapped out a rhythm in her brain as they
clicked on the pavement. The swish of her skirt as she walked kept time with
the beat. She couldn’t be happier.
    There was
something mysterious and glamorous about the Market. East meets west? Wall
Street meets Marin County? Whatever it was, the Market was quintessentially Seattle.
    She stopped at a
jewelry stall and eyed their wares, handling almost every earring and necklace. How they feel is as important as how they look . The next stall exploded
with color. In late June all of the flowers were in bloom.
    I wonder how
the boys are doing. Chris ought to have the boat ready by now.
    She hoped they
were having fun getting the boat fixed up. Girls weren’t very good at that sort
of thing. Besides, it’s guy’s work. They liked dinking around with mechanical
things and painting and scraping and stuff. They’d have a few beers, do some
belching and scratching and have a grand time. When they were done, she’d
provide a woman’s touch with fresh cut flowers, dainty hand towels and music.
     How would she
deal with living with Chris and Ted for the whole summer?
    Chris shouldn’t be
any problem. She could handle him. He was a pussy cat. Ted was another matter.
She could feel his seething resentment under the surface. She didn’t know why
he didn’t like her, but he was a threat.
    She didn’t look
forward to spending two months cooped up in a boat with Ted, but it would be
worth it to get the time with Chris. This would be different from the hellish family
vacations she’d spent on her father’s pathetic little sail boat.
    Meagan hated
living on a small boat for a week or two at a time with her bratty little
brother. She had no privacy, no place to go to get away from Frankenparents.
The porta-potty, “the head” as her father insisted she call it, was under her
parent’s bed. There was only a flimsy curtain to separate it from the main
cabin.
    Her father insisted
that she learn the names of every rope on the boat. “Lines,” he used to tell
her, “There is no rope on a boat.” He’d tell her to do something, then when she
didn’t understand him, he’d yell at her. She begrudged every minute he spent
tutoring her. Like she would ever need to know that crap.
    Chris’ boat was
different. It was nearly twice the size of her