To Kiss the Sea by C.H. Carter

Author:C.H. Carter [C.H. Carter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Courtney Carter
Published: 2023-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

forty-five

Waiting on the beach the next evening, Pasha worried about how long it would take Ally to feel more comfortable in the water. Seeing firsthand how terrified she was of standing in the smallest wavelets, Pasha wanted to give her the gift there and then. But she wasn’t ready, likely wouldn’t be ready for a while. They only had so much time. Would Ally be able to make it onto the ship?

The tapping of light footsteps reached her ears and Pasha saw Ally descending the stone stairs. She’d give it a few more days, then see if Ally could handle what Pasha could offer her.

When Ally reached Pasha, she was a little breathless and there was a new spark in her eyes. “My brother is going to teach me to sail! I made it out onto one of the docks at the wharf, and now he’s going to teach me.”

“That’s good news.”

“I couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t been able to finally stand in the sea.”

“I’m sure you would have.” Pasha stayed out of the way as she unlaced her boots.

“We start tomorrow.” Ally put her outer clothing aside and rolled her breeches over her knees. “I want to keep up the swimming lessons, every day that we can, until it’s time to leave.”

Pasha followed her to the water’s edge, pulled by the girl’s momentum. Ally took the first step on her own, then went rigid.

“Are you alright?”

“It still feels so… so new.” She slowly backed out, lips pursed. “I don’t know why I thought this would be easier after yesterday.”

“It will take as much or as little time as it needs.” Pasha stood as close as she dared. “The sea doesn’t measure time the way you do, or I do, or anyone else. It takes its own time.”

“But I have to do this.”

“You will,” Pasha offered her an arm. Ally hesitated, her hand hovering between them. “I’ll help you to be as ready as you can, in the days we have. But even I can’t make you love the sea.”

“Do I have to love the sea in order to swim in it?”

“No, but it can make all the difference.”

With that stubborn lift of her chin, Ally hooked her arm over Pasha’s and together they stepped into the surf.

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