“He fixes boats. He’s good at it, so he works when he feels
like it. He’s a gypsy of the sea.”
“Mighty fancy name for it,” her father muttered, opening the folder. “He’s been kicked out of some excellent schools,” he
observed, reading the file, “and has never earned a regular paycheck.”
When she did not respond, he looked up. “You’ve heard of ski bums and tennis bums? Well, honey, your fiancé’s a boat bum.
That’s all he is.”
Leaning forward, she glared at him. “That may be, Daddy, but he’s
my
boat bum, thank you very much!”
“You really ought to read this,” he went on, unperturbed. “There’s been a regular procession of young ladies who’ve been—
guests
aboard his boat. Were you aware of that?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she said acidly. “He’s told me about all of them.”
“And you don’t mind being the next in line?”
“I intend to be the last.”
He tapped the file. “I wonder how long you two would have lasted, if he hadn’t knocked you up.”
She stood up. “This conversation is over! Colin and I are getting married, here or in Bermuda, and you can be part of it,
or not!” And before he could reply, she left the den, slamming the door behind her.
They held the wedding in Thomasville, because it would have broken her mother’s heart if they hadn’t. Agnes came down from
Chapel Hill to help with the preparations, and the three of them immersed themselves in the details with abandon. Pam and
Aggie would be Maid and Matron of Honor, and three sorority sisters would be bridesmaids. Colin’s brother Ian would be Best
Man. Anson, his racing mate from Marblehead, was coming down, and Stuart, Stevie, Daniel, and Geoff were coming over from
Bermuda to be his ushers.
Amy’s mother had such a good time with her girls that she seemed to grow younger and more vivacious with each passing day.
Her husband went the other way, balking at the astronomical wedding expenses, until Aggie invited him into the den for a little
close-the-door-behind-you talk. She simply told him that unless he wanted all of Thomasville and Albany to know exactly what
he was up to over in Valdosta, he was going to put up and shut up.
It was a perfect wedding. Everything went off as if it had been planned for weeks, not days. After the ceremony, the dancing,
graceful waltzes at first, grew quite spirited, fueled by a punchbowl of Dark ’n Stormies, courtesy of the White Horse Troop,
as they called themselves. It was such a good party, in fact, that the bride and bridegroom were loath to tear themselves
away, though they were flying to Rome that night.
When the grandfather clock chimed six o’clock, Amy realized that they really must be going. Where was Colin? No one seemed
to know. Then she noticed her father was also absent, and with a sinking feeling she went to the den. The door was closed,
but not tightly; she could hear what was being said inside.
Her father was speaking in a light, bantering tone.“You’re the first boat bum I’ve ever met. What a pity that’s all you’ll ever be.”
“It’s all I want to be, sir,” replied Colin, matching his easy tone.
“Yes, and that’s the pity of it. My grandson will have you as his role model.”
Colin laughed. “As it happens, we are hoping for a boy. Of course a girl would be fine, if she turned out like her mother.”
He paused. “It’s amazing how Amy turned out, considering she had you as a role model.”
Her father was no longer amused. “Best be on your way, lover boy.”
“Mr. Baxter—forgive me for not calling you Colonel, but you didn’t earn that—you’ve made a big thing out of my having no money.
But money’s all you do have. No friends. No one who’s glad to see you. No way of supporting yourself, if you ever had to.”
“Get out of here!”
“Now me, on the other hand,” Colin went on, “I take what nature or man’s carelessness has broken and put it back together
like it. He’s a gypsy of the sea.”
“Mighty fancy name for it,” her father muttered, opening the folder. “He’s been kicked out of some excellent schools,” he
observed, reading the file, “and has never earned a regular paycheck.”
When she did not respond, he looked up. “You’ve heard of ski bums and tennis bums? Well, honey, your fiancé’s a boat bum.
That’s all he is.”
Leaning forward, she glared at him. “That may be, Daddy, but he’s
my
boat bum, thank you very much!”
“You really ought to read this,” he went on, unperturbed. “There’s been a regular procession of young ladies who’ve been—
guests
aboard his boat. Were you aware of that?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she said acidly. “He’s told me about all of them.”
“And you don’t mind being the next in line?”
“I intend to be the last.”
He tapped the file. “I wonder how long you two would have lasted, if he hadn’t knocked you up.”
She stood up. “This conversation is over! Colin and I are getting married, here or in Bermuda, and you can be part of it,
or not!” And before he could reply, she left the den, slamming the door behind her.
They held the wedding in Thomasville, because it would have broken her mother’s heart if they hadn’t. Agnes came down from
Chapel Hill to help with the preparations, and the three of them immersed themselves in the details with abandon. Pam and
Aggie would be Maid and Matron of Honor, and three sorority sisters would be bridesmaids. Colin’s brother Ian would be Best
Man. Anson, his racing mate from Marblehead, was coming down, and Stuart, Stevie, Daniel, and Geoff were coming over from
Bermuda to be his ushers.
Amy’s mother had such a good time with her girls that she seemed to grow younger and more vivacious with each passing day.
Her husband went the other way, balking at the astronomical wedding expenses, until Aggie invited him into the den for a little
close-the-door-behind-you talk. She simply told him that unless he wanted all of Thomasville and Albany to know exactly what
he was up to over in Valdosta, he was going to put up and shut up.
It was a perfect wedding. Everything went off as if it had been planned for weeks, not days. After the ceremony, the dancing,
graceful waltzes at first, grew quite spirited, fueled by a punchbowl of Dark ’n Stormies, courtesy of the White Horse Troop,
as they called themselves. It was such a good party, in fact, that the bride and bridegroom were loath to tear themselves
away, though they were flying to Rome that night.
When the grandfather clock chimed six o’clock, Amy realized that they really must be going. Where was Colin? No one seemed
to know. Then she noticed her father was also absent, and with a sinking feeling she went to the den. The door was closed,
but not tightly; she could hear what was being said inside.
Her father was speaking in a light, bantering tone.“You’re the first boat bum I’ve ever met. What a pity that’s all you’ll ever be.”
“It’s all I want to be, sir,” replied Colin, matching his easy tone.
“Yes, and that’s the pity of it. My grandson will have you as his role model.”
Colin laughed. “As it happens, we are hoping for a boy. Of course a girl would be fine, if she turned out like her mother.”
He paused. “It’s amazing how Amy turned out, considering she had you as a role model.”
Her father was no longer amused. “Best be on your way, lover boy.”
“Mr. Baxter—forgive me for not calling you Colonel, but you didn’t earn that—you’ve made a big thing out of my having no money.
But money’s all you do have. No friends. No one who’s glad to see you. No way of supporting yourself, if you ever had to.”
“Get out of here!”
“Now me, on the other hand,” Colin went on, “I take what nature or man’s carelessness has broken and put it back together
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