As the fishing boat neared the beach, Mr. Pryde came out of the wheelhouse. "We'll be there in a minute. Wendell and I will take your boat. You and Joseph can follow us if there's any trouble," he said.
"I'd rather go with you guys," Samantha said.
Mr. Pryde shook his head. "I don't want to leave Joey alone right now. He's not a hundred percent yet. Neither are you from the looks of it."
"I'm fine. Leave Wendell here. I'm sure he'd be a lot happier on this boat," she said.
"I ain't asking you," Mr. Pryde said. "I'm telling you the way it's going to be."
Now Samantha could see from where Joseph got his bossiness. "If that's what you want. I'll stay here with Joe." Mr. Pryde nodded and lit a cigarette before going back into the wheelhouse. Samantha folded her arms across her chest, determined not to move from this spot. She didn't want to get anywhere near Joseph.
Wendell and Mr. Pryde jumped down from the fishing boat, splashing over to the beach where the Primrose waited. Samantha got up from her perch to toss them a line. Joseph materialized next to her, throwing another rope to his father. "I'm sorry about earlier," Joseph said. "I was trying to help. I don't suppose you would need my help."
His lip trembled as if he would cry. This was not the same Joseph who'd hit her. This was a caring, sensitive boy who'd tried to help her and she'd hurt him for his kindness. "I'm the one who should be sorry," she said. "You were being nice."
They fastened the lines to the fishing boat and then waited for Wendell and Mr. Pryde to signal they were ready. Samantha slipped her hand over to touch Joseph's. His skin felt much softer now, his hands narrow and delicate like a girl's. This was not the vicious brute who would have killed her in Pinecrest. "You are nice," she said, kissing him on the cheek. His smooth cheek turned warm at her touch.
"You are too," he said, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat before asking, "Do you want to try driving the boat? It's not too different than a car. You don't have to. I just thought maybe-"
She put a finger to his lips. "I'd love to," she said. She followed him into the wheelhouse, where he showed her the controls. At first she pulled the throttle too hard; Joseph put his hand on hers to show her the proper way.
"You want to be gentle. This is a really old boat. Take it nice and slow," he said.