Chapter Six – Casual Date

Caitlyn headed home following the memorial salute and drill ceremony. She felt exhausted with all of the day’s activities, and was especially tired of being in the long gown she was wearing. She changed into a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt, pulled her long beautiful blond hair back into a ponytail and dropped like a sack of potatoes onto her bed. She began dosing off to the twirling Cinderella thoughts of the handsome coast guardsman. “Sweet dreams beautiful man…” she whispered as she fell fast asleep.

The next morning she milled around the house. Not having many tasks to complete that day, she felt a sigh of relief. Sami called her on the phone, “Hey girl, what do you want to do today now that most of your Coast Guard pageant tasks are finally dwindling down?”

“Well, I don’t know, really…wait! Actually, there is one thing I’d like to do with this being the last day of the festival and all. I haven’t had a chance to go down and check out the Coast Guard Cutter boats on display. I really would like to go and take in the boat tours, you know, see how the Coast Guard officers live during their time out on the water…”

“Oh no, you’re really taking this Coast Guard stuff a bit serious now… maybe a bit to far… aren’t you?” Sami teased. “But seriously, that sounds pretty cool, I’ll pick you up in an hour. Well catch lunch at Snug Harbor afterward.”

“Perfect.” Caitlyn said as she hurried to find a great summer outfit for the beach and boardwalk. She felt relieved that she can finally get out to the festival wearing casual clothes again and hang out down town like a normal local. She wanted to look especially great today though… just in case. She figured the odds were high, but in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but hope she may see that Coast Guard guy again. She smiled and frolicked around her room as she rushed to get ready.

Sami was right on schedule, she picked Caitlyn up and they cruised through town prior to walking down to the Coast Guard Cutters on display. They boarded the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinac. It was cool she thought… the walkways were so narrow, and living quarters were much to be desired, but she found it all very interesting. There were Coast Guardsmen positioned around the ship to help people with tour questions and demonstrate the equipment. Sami and Caitlyn made their way out to the bow of the ship where Caitlyn spotted the ship’s bell. “He, he…” she giggled, “I’ve just got to ring it!” And, as if she couldn’t stop herself, she gave the bell a good tug. The ring echoed down the entire Grand River. All the tourists turned toward the boat’s bow to see what the clang was all about.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that rang out so loud Caitlyn!” Sami laughed.

“Oh no, we’ve got to get off this ship before they kick us off, hurry, let's go Sami!” Caitlyn felt a bit of embarrassment now. They giggled and tried to make their escape when suddenly, from behind them, they heard a low discerning voice, “Excuse me girls, but do you realize you just tampered with federal property?”

Caitlyn stopped in her tracks filled with panic, she slowly turned around to address the officer and offer her apologies. She turned and saw that smile. “Oh my, it’s you! wow…I…” she stuttered. He stopped her there,

“Hi, I’m Steven,” he held out his hand, “Are you both having a good time today?”

“Oh yeah, this is amazing... this ship. I’m Caitlyn and this is my friend Sami.” Caitlyn began talking excitedly at Steven. “Have you been stationed on this ship at all?” Caitlyn couldn’t contain herself, she wanted to say something, anything that would keep him talking to her.

“No not yet, but this fall I will be stationed out east for three months.” Steven replied, not taking his eyes off of her the entire time.

“Oh, that’s a long time on the water.” She felt herself growing increasingly embarrassed. “Well we probably should be getting on our way,” she haphazardly muttered. Steven wasn’t about to let her get away that easy – not this time!

“No,” he yelped, “I mean… would you like to grab lunch or something? I should be finished here in just under an hour.”

Sami, watching all of this in disbelief, piped up and said, “Of course she would!” She shot a glance toward Caitlyn in her "as if" signal. Sami thought that if Caitlyn did not agree to have lunch with this gorgeous guy than she must be totally crazed in the head. After all, Jason had been out of the picture well over a month now, with no phone calls, and this guy, whoa! “There is just something about a guy in a uniform.” Sami giggled to herself.

“Ok, sure, I’ll meet you in town outside Snug Harbor?” Caitlyn suggested as she and Sami exited the ship.

Sami was awe struck, “Who was that chicken of the sea? Oh my gosh, he is gorgeous!”

“He seems just so nice doesn’t he? I saw him yesterday after the parade, I didn’t talk with him much. I’ve never seen him around here before. He’s just so cute!” Caitlyn squeaked and hopped a bit as they walked back into town with a permanent grin on her face.

“Sweet, looks like this summer is taking a nice turn for you after all?” Sami replied.

“I sure hope it does, so far I’m in a complete whirlwind.” Caitlyn echoed with joy. She turned back for another glance at the ship, there he was at the top, he was scanning the area, making sure all was in order. Dressed in his summer bravos, he was the vision of perfection, a true Coast Guardsman.

Caitlyn sat outside Snug Harbor on the patio with Sami while they waited for Steven to arrive for lunch. Right on schedule he walked up to her and held his hand out for her to help her stand up. Sami perked up, “Oh, look at the time, I’m missing out on the best sun rays of the day, I got to go. You’ll be ok Caitlyn?” She nodded her head up and down and started to back away.

Caitlyn replied, “I’ll be just fine.” Caitlyn lived only a few blocks away so she wasn’t hugely concerned about being left there alone with Steven. In fact, she was elated to finally have some time to really sit down and talk with him. She felt weak as he gently touched the small of her back and led her to a table on the edge of the patio. His touch sent shivers down her spine, she could feel the energy between them, and thought to herself, “I can’t believe how amazing this is, I am so completely moved by him.”

They sat together overlooking the mouth of the Grand River, the pier and the Grand Haven Lighthouse. It was a gorgeous day, the sun shinning beautifully on the water reflecting joy in her face as she shared moments of silence looking into Steven’s eyes. When they finished lunch, they walked down the pier to Sweet Temptations for homemade ice cream, talking the entire time. Following ice cream, they sat along the boardwalk and talked the entire afternoon away. Evening began to set in to they headed to the giant ferris-wheel that marks the main street carnival rides. They watched fireworks light the sky as the Coast Guard Festival came to a finale. “Wow,” Caitlyn sighed. “This is just perfect.” She smiled at Steven.

Steven walked her home to her house. He naturally took her hand into his and gently held it as they strolled along the sidewalk and walked up the steps of the porch to Caitlyn’s front door. Steven turned toward her, hand in hand still, and with the other hand, he wisps her hair back gently, to see her entire beautiful face, leans in and kisses her softly, “Goodnight Caitlyn, this has been a great day with you.”

She about falls down there on the porch she feels so week in her knees. And with a kiss, leaving her breathless, she watches as he strolls off into the darkness down the street.

He thinks to himself, "There is no way I am going to let her out of my sight ever again." He glanced back once more, turned and picked up the pace to head back to the Coast Guard barracks. Once there he looked up to the sky and shouted out, “Perfect.”