Dear readers, apologies for the long delay in posting this chapter, however I hope you enjoy this. If you are new to this story I would suggest you read the earlier chapters as well as "The Reluctant Neighbour" which introduces the main characters .
***
Shannon looked down at the no-slip deck shoes on her feet and sighed at how ugly they were, to no avail. Melissa was standing back looking on approvingly. "Do they fit?" she asked nodding her head.
"Umm, they're okay. You're sure I need them? Are they that much better than my runners?"
"Yep. The first time you race in bad weather with water all over the deck and a big heel you'll be glad you have them. I hate man overboard situations. You're guaranteed to lose the race." Melissa's motivations were clear. If she was stuck with Rob's new bunny as a crew-mate then at least the girl will have the right gear.
Shannon looked apprehensive. "Overboard! How often does THAT happen?" she asked, rethinking the wisdom of no-slip footwear. She was a Prairie girl and poking through the marine equipment store at Harbourfront was a very novel experience with all kinds of shiny bits and pieces and a lots of expensive looking electronic gear. Melissa explained that the electronics were for navigation and communications. Shannon was somewhat intrigued by the obvious complexities of a modern racing yacht.
"A couple of times a year," Melissa replied, not very reassuringly.
She continued, "That's enough for now. I'll lend you some of my old foul weather gear - jacket and over-pants for this season but if you are still hanging out with Rob next year you'll want to get your own."
Shannon frowned at the thought of next year. 'What would next year bring in her relationship with Rob ... and Joanne?' she thought.
Melissa continued, "Lets go grab something to eat and a beer."
Walking along the waterfront Shannon drifted back to the Saturday night at Rob's. She had tried to give them space, but the sounds of lovemaking coming from his room, made by the two people she liked and respected most in the city, were disturbing. They made her feel very alone.
Also, she could not talk away her physical attraction to Rob. She wanted him. But strangely, she also felt a pull towards Joanne that she had never felt towards another woman. She was drawn to her poise, her confidence and her success. Shannon's experience didn't even begin to help with the triangle she found herself in. These people were old enough to be her parents. She didn't really understand what was happening.
Sitting on their bed, after Joanne had heard her in the hall and had held her hand and brought her in, was so comforting. But it was also arousing being with them. Even more strangely was how arousing it was sitting beside Joanne, wrapped in a towel and then, only partially covered by the towel.
Rob had sat with his back resting against the headboard, his knees up under the covers, trying to hide a growing embarrassment as Shannon and Joanne bantered back and forth over Joanne's state of undress. He had finally said that despite how erotic it was having two nearly naked women sitting on his bed he had to catch an early morning flight to Seoul.
With a sigh, Shannon had scooted up to Rob and given him a quick kiss. She had then turned back to Joanne and given her a warm hug and then moved back into Rob's guest room.
****
Shaking herself out of her reverie, Shannon followed Melissa into the noisy waterfront pub. She wasn't really much of a beer drinker or really a drinker at all, however it was important to keep Melissa on side so she ordered a cream ale on tap. Melissa was a dark ale girl herself and ordered the 20 oz draft brown ale.
After a few sips of the tasty craft ale Shannon found herself enjoying the lively early evening crowd and had even started to feel comfortable around Melissa. Melissa was warming to Shannon and the initial sharpness in their relationship was gone. Their conversation was light and friendly.
Out of the blue Melissa, looking very pointedly at Shannon, asked, "Sooo ... did you sleep with Rob in Vietnam?"
Shannon snapped back in her chair, blushed a deep red and stared back at Melissa, completely taken aback by her forthrightness. "Whoa! Where did that come from and isn't that question a little personal?"
"Sorry. You're right.
"By the way, you don't have to answer. Your reaction and face tells me all I need to know."
Shannon looked at the people in the room around them and then took a long drink of her ale. She had nothing to say to that.
"I'm really sorry. Its just that ... " Melissa looked down at her fingers for a few seconds and then continued, "Okay, I'm jealous I guess. I really like him. At first I just liked his boat. My parents have a tub - most parent's boats are tubs. They're typically more interested in the salon cushions and the size of the wine storage. Rob's is a legitimate racing boat and I knew we could win races with it."
Shannon continued to stare at Melissa who stopped to take a long swig of her draft. "At first I just saw him as another one of the older guys around the Marina. Somewhere along the way I realized that he really was quite good looking - in a middle aged sort of way. I thought, 'Too bad he wasn't younger.' I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you haven't already figured out. Then I came to the realization that I didn't really care how much older he was, I just wanted him to .. well ... you know, make a move on me. I'm still waiting."
Shannon decided that she at least had to respect the Melissa's honesty. She decided that she would respond with some of her own.
"I didn't give him any choice in Vietnam. I did everything I could to get him to make a move and then I just backed him into a corner, so to speak, and wouldn't take no for an answer. You sound like you play more fair than I did."
"Yeah, well that approach hasn't got me anywhere."
After a silence and more sips of beer, Melissa blurted out, "Sooo , how was it?"
Shannon looked quickly away and rested her face in her hand and then stared back at Melissa speechless
"Okay, Okay, I'm getting the message."
