Part 17
"What do you mean we’re stuck?" asked Becca innocently.
Howie climbed the ladder to join Nick and looked at the gauges himself. Through clenched teeth, Howie growled, "You manage to screw this up, Nick, and I’m gonna kill you."
Becca asked, "Can’t you just start the engines and move us back into deeper waters?"
Sarah had gotten aboard and had her towel wrapped around her now. She said, "Most likely the props are touching the bottom so when he starts them, they’ll just get chewed up in the sand."
Howie looked at his watch to see that it was way past the time he had wanted to get back to Key West. He was trying now to maintain his cool since Sarah was watching and he said, "Nick…you’d better think of something…..NOW! WE HAVE to get back to Key West."
Sarah had heard him and said, "D, just call your parents and tell them we’re running a little late. They’ll understand."
"No, tall, blonde, and STUPID is going to get us back to the island ON TIME."
Sarah looked at Becca, "See what I mean about acting weird. It’s just dinner with his family."
Becca shrugged her shoulders knowing full well that Howie was about to have heart failure thinking that Nick had screwed up his plans.
Sarah suggested, "Call someone to pull us off, Nick."
"Yeah, Nick…GET US OFF OF HERE," said Howie.
Nick radioed the Coast Guard and within fifteen minutes, help arrived. Unfortunately, Nick was going to have to leave the boat there until later and he was going to receive a hefty fine for getting into the protected sea grass.
All the way back, Sarah watched how Howie glared at Nick trying to figure out what the problem was. Howie usually wasn’t like this over a dinner with his family. She and Becca did talk to each other since the guys didn’t seem to want to join in the conversations.
At the docks, Sarah said, "Will I see you before you go back to Tampa with Nick or what?"
"I don’t know," said Becca knowing that she’d see her best friend in just a few short hours. "Nick hasn’t told me what the plans are yet."
"Howie hasn’t been really clear about our plans either but I do know that the benefit is next weekend. You are coming, aren’t you?"
"Depends on Carter."
Howie came to get Sarah. "Let’s go, Sarah."
Sarah noted the urgency in his voice and said, "I’m coming, D. Keep your pants on!"
Becca grinned, "Maybe THAT’s the problem!"
Sarah laughed as she hugged Becca, "Knowing him, you’re probably right. I’ll see you…and oh, I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier."
"Don’t give it a second thought. Just have fun with whatever Howie has planned."
Sarah followed Howie and he helped her off the boat. Sarah waved good-bye to Nick but Howie turned and headed back to the house. Sarah had to run to catch up with him.
"Howie, what’s the matter? It’s just dinner with your family."
Howie looked at her and realized that he was going to blow EVERYTHING if he didn’t calm down. He relaxed and said, "You’re right. I guess that I just want to make sure that this weekend is perfect for you."
Sarah stopped Howie and pulled him to her. "D, everything HAS been perfect and being late to dinner with your family, while it IS important to me, it’s not the end of the world. Slow down and relax. I don’t know why you’re getting all uptight if things don’t go EXACTLY like you want them. I’m not going to get upset."
Howie smiled and brushed her cheek with his hand. "I love you, Sarah, with all my heart and I want to give you everything."
"I don’t want everything. I just want to be with you, D. Come on. Let’s go up and get ready for dinner."
The couple walked back to the house hand in hand where Kevin and Brian greeted them. Sarah said she’d go on up and get ready while Howie talked to them.
Howie watched Sarah disappear into their room and then said, "Is everything set?"
"Everything’s perfect, D. What took you so long getting back?" asked Kevin.
"Nick let us drift aground into some sea grass and we had to get the Coast Guard to come get us. Man….that boy is DRIVING me insane. I should have NEVER trusted him to help me with today."
Brian said, "Like you were going to keep Sarah and Becca apart. You might as well get use to it now that Becca’s back, you’re gonna be spending more time with Nick."
"I know," sighed Howie. "Is my tux in your room, Kev?"
"Yeah, it is. I’ll change after you finish getting ready."
Howie headed up to Kevin’s room where he had to rush to get ready. Before he did anything though, he checked his pockets. He had slipped the diamond and the wedding bands in the pocket earlier without Sarah realizing it. All three were still there and Howie went to get ready.