Page 15 of Broken Beyond Repair

“Being a PA? Yeah, I do. Free food and accommodation, travel, perks, great pay — what’s not to like? I never saw myself as one, that’s for sure. But I’m damn good at it.”

“You always were the organised one. I can’t get over James being your boss.”

“Yeah, it takes some getting used to. I only started as a favour. He had a client in Scotland. Low-key. Turned out it was just what I needed. Gave me something... someone else to focus on after...” She stared blankly at the sea. “Then I just took the next job, wherever it led me and Gertie. Ten years later and we’ve never looked back.”

“There’s you, sailing around the UK in Gertie, and I’m still here tinkering with engines.”

Sydney scrunched her face. “Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Put yourself down. You always did that, and it still pisses me off. You don’t tinker with engines; you’re amarine engineer, running a successful business repairing boats. My dad would have been proud of you, prouder than he is of me bowing to the whims of the rich and famous that he despised so much.”

“He was always so kind to me,” Sam said. “He was the one that encouraged us to come here and take the lease.”

Sydney nodded; she remembered. “He wasn’t too impressed that we broke up; he adored you. I think he would have preferred you to me; you were someone who could have worked on the boat with him. You could have been the son he never had.”

“I could have done with a new family,” Sam agreed, a flat smile pulling at his lips.

“I remember how impressed he was when I told him you were a mechanic who loved boats. Two and a half years into uni and they hadn’t visited once; then I tell them about you, and they appear on my doorstep within the month.”

Sam suppressed a chuckle. “Good old Mac. He always believed you’d make it one day as a writer. You know that, don’t you?”

Sydney pushed her lips together and hummed in agreement. “It’s the main reason I keep going with it. Stopping would make him feel even further away.”

“That’s the spirit. Keep the dream alive for both of you.” Sam leaned his forearms on the table. “You’re welcome to stop here whilst I fix Gertie if you need to. Set yourself up on the deck and write away until she’s back on her wheels and ready to whisk you off on your travels.”

“That’s kind of you, but fixing Gertie means I won’t be able to afford to travel after, and if I don’t fix her, she won’t be taking me anywhere anyway.”

“Why don’t you take that job James was offering?” Sam asked. He sounded tentative, as though he had a feeling Sydney might have some grand objection to the idea. “It’s not far from here, and he said it was just for the summer.”

Sydney blew out a breath. “I know,” she admitted begrudgingly. “I think it may be my only solution.”

Yet again writing was going to have to take a back seat. It would need to be thought of as a delay, not a cancellation of her plans. She’d use her savings to fix Gertie and earn what she could whilst she was waiting for her, then be on her way again.

“Why don’t you stay over tonight?” Sam suggested. “I can rustle us up something on the barbecue, and we can decide what we need for Gertie.”

“That would be nice, thanks. And thanks for Gertie.”

“Happy to help the old girl. Can I keep her old engine? It would be nice to have part of her,” Sam asked as he stood. “Or is that weird and sentimental?”

“No, it’s sweet.” Lordy, was it sweet, so sweet Sydney could feel herself welling up. “I’d love you to have her old heart.”

“Come on,” he said, obviously pivoting the conversation away from Sydney’s tear-filled expression. “Let’s get you out on the ocean.”

“I’ll catch you up. I’m going to have to make a call to James first.”

A smirk tore across Sam’s face as he realised what she meant. “He’s going to gloat.”

“Don’t I know it,” Sydney replied, pulling her lips to one side.

And gloat he did.

“Why, hello, Sydney. Changed your mind already?” James asked as soon as he picked up the call. “That was quick.”

“Only because Gertie needs work,” she replied.

“Ha! I knew it. Well, it’s gone.”