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chest.
    "It must have been a nightmare for you."
    "It still is."
     
    * * *
     
    That evening, Rose suffered another mini
stroke and was rushed to the emergency room. Sabrina paced the
hospital hall, biting her lip and brushing away tears.
    At the sight of Shirley Piper, she nearly
collapsed.
    "How is she? Is she going to be alright?"
    "It's not a serious episode, but like I told
you, these TIAs are leading to a major stroke."
    "It's my fault," Sabrina wailed, her hands
shoved into her jean's pockets.
    "Don't be ridiculous," Shirley said. "Your
grandmother has enjoyed being with you. I've never seen her so
happy."
    "No, I mean today, I … she … we were talking
about my grandfather and it brought up bad memories. I should never
have spoken to her about him."
    Shirley patted Sabrina's arm. "Honey; you're
here to be with your grandmother through the good and the bad. You
both need this time. You're not to blame for the tiny blood clots
that move through her brain. Those are the cause of her strokes,
not talking to you about the past. Why don't you go in and see her?
She's awake and asking for you."
    "Thanks, Shirley."
    With a deep breath, Sabrina opened the
hospital door. Blue-tinged neon light bathed Grandmother Rose. The
clear vinyl tube attached to her nose hissed as it fed oxygen into
her bloodstream.
    Rose's eyes opened and she rested her dreamy
gaze on Sabrina.
    "Hello. I suppose it happened again?"
    "Yes. I'm worried about you. I'm so sorry. I
should never have brought up the past."
    "Nonsense. It's never far from my mind. I am
actually relieved that you know. You're my confessor now."
    "Grandmother, I don't want to hurt you."
    "You can't, Sabrina. By the way, you never
told me your plan."
    She cringed. "It's nothing, really."
    "Tell me. I need the diversion."
    Sabrina squirmed uncomfortably. "I don't
think it's a good idea. I've already changed my mind, anyway."
    Rose sighed. "Tell me."
    "All right. I was thinking about finding
Grandfather's first boat, if it still exists, and buying it. If I
have something he created I could feel a connection."
    Rose's eyes flew open. "How amazing."
    "I told you it was a bad idea."
    "Indeed, I think it's a wonderful idea. I've
often wondered what happened to all those boats. They were quite
popular, although the run was short. Your grandfather was a genius,
and his boats were beautiful."
    "Then you don't mind?"
    "Not at all. I wish I'd thought of it. It's a
lovely idea."
    Sabrina smiled tremulously. "Thank you,
Grandmother."
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    The gaff-rigged sail of the catboat filled as
it slid gracefully from its mooring on the Warren River in Rhode
Island. Soon, the teen tacked back and forth in five-knot
winds.
    "She's beautiful, Jay. Just like the day my
daddy bought her for me," the boy's father said, emotion making his
voice crack. "Brady's been pestering me for a boat of his own, and
I'm glad you talked me into restoring her instead of buying a new
dinghy."
    Humbled, Jay shoved his hands in his jeans
pockets. "You're welcome, Sam. We enjoyed working on a classic
Marshall, and the Sandpiper is a nice little boat."
    Melinda's eyes filled with pride, and she
hugged her husband.
    "You don't think it's too much for him, do
you," she asked Jay. "Are you sure he can handle it?"
    "Catboats are very stable thanks to their
wide beam, Melinda. He'll do fine in these winds, but I wouldn't
let him go out in anything above fifteen knots. At least, not until
he's a bit more experienced. Swimming is a great teacher. Just make
sure he wears a life jacket and stays on the river," he said.
    "I can't wait to sail her," Sam enthused.
"Thanks again," he said, shaking Jay's hand.
    "You're welcome." Jay looked at his watch.
"Well, I have to lock up now. He's sailing it home, right? You want
us to deliver the trailer?"
    "Yes; that'd be great. We're going to keep it
at the dock for the summer, so just leave the trailer by the
garage."
    "Right; I'll have Brett drop it off later.
See you,