Dak handed Jeff a bucket. He said, “I hope you don’t mind me hanging out here. I was a little bored with the rest of the boat, and I thought you might appreciate some company.”

Jeff said, “I thank you for that, but I’m a loner by disposition. Have you ever thought of being an oiler, Dak? It might be an option if you’re looking for a small boost to your paycheck.”

“I’ve thought about moving up to a new position on the boat. I could use a little extra money. Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Working for Eagle Point, it’s good. A lot of companies put any old deckhand in the engine room, but there are stories about that turning out to be a big mistake. Since I spend so much time watching the dials and instruments, I know when something’s wrong, and I usually know where the problem is, too, so I can fix it fast. I’ve headed off a few serious issues in my time. They could have caused serious trouble down the road.”

From Dak’s point of view, Jeff didn’t do much more than endless cleaning. He kept the engine room spotless on his watch. He rarely joined the rest of the crew. When he did, it was usually only for meals.

“Do you have any family onshore?” asked Dak.

“Oh, yeah. My wife and I got married twelve years ago. We fell for each other in junior high. We have both a son and a daughter. They are great kids. I talk to them over the phone, and they are all over me when I get home. It’s such a fantastic feeling. I feel like a hero every time I get back home.”

“It’s not a problem being away for so long?”

Jeff shrugged. “I feel like I miss some things. I keep telling myself that I’m only on the boat for five more years.”

And then what?”

“Maybe I’ll go to community college to learn how to do a real job.” Jeff laughed. “I don’t know. The river seeps into your bones. I’m sure you feel that.”

Dak nodded “Yes, it does, but then there are times I hope to be away from it for a long time. I heard other guys say it’s a little like being in love. Some days you can’t stand her, but you know you’ll never leave.”

“That’s an interesting way of putting it, but fortunately, I can’t say I feel that way about my wife. I would be with her every day if I could. As soon as I open my eyes in the morning and see her; I feel like one of the luckiest guys alive.”

“I hope I experience that day soon,” said Dak. “I hope I do.”

Dak left Jeff to his work and headed for the mess area. It was still too early for meal time, but he decided to grab a little bag of chips to ease his growing hunger.

Leo was watching an old movie on the TV. He asked, “Hey Dak, how’s it going?”

“All is good, Leo, and how is it for you?”

“I can’t complain. I got to talk to my daughter this morning. She’s growing up so fast. I hate that I miss so much of it, but she’ll be in my arms within seconds when I get off the boat. She loves her dad.”

Dak made himself a glass of ice water and turned in the direction of his room. He was pleased with how docile Leo was after their physical encounter in his quarters. He suspected that Leo was even keeping his mouth to himself. Dak didn’t notice odd noises behind closed doors, and Leo spent most of his non-sleeping time watching the TV.

“I envy that. Will you be out here for dinner when it’s ready?”

“Yep, it looks like we’re on the same schedule.”

“Nice to hear that. I’ll return and join you when it’s time.”

Dak found himself spending time catching up with relatives and friends through social media. Lewis encouraged him to get accounts put together. At the time, he thought Lewis only wanted him to do it so he could confirm the relationship to other people. Lewis was suspicious, and Lewis was jealous. Dak complied in an effort to keep the relationship alive.

As Dak began to explore, he uncovered fascinating stories, and he caught up with old friends from high school. He connected as a friend to former football teammates and found out what they were all doing with their lives.

Dak was surprised to discover that one of his teammates was playing in an American-style football league in Germany. To make his own contribution, Dak began taking photos of the river with his cellphone and sharing the pictures on his account. Suddenly, people that he hadn’t contacted for over a decade were connecting and making comments.

At first, Dak thought the four weeks on the boat would drag horribly because he was so eager to get home to see Brody. In fact, the reverse was true. He felt like he woke up one morning and only three days remained. Leo finished his time on the boat and was gone. He offered Dak a hug before he left, and the two embraced. Leo whispered, “Thank you,” before he left.

Two nights before returning to shore, Dak called Brody. He asked, “Are you prepared for this?”

“I’m dying for it,” said Brody. “I don’t know for sure what’s going to happen, but I can’t wait to find out. It seems like you’ve been gone forever.”

“And sometimes for me, it’s like I just left yesterday,” said Dak. “We do so much of the same thing day in and day out on the boat that it all starts to blend together at times. I can’t wait to see you in person. This camera is an okay substitute in a pinch, but I want to touch your face with my hands, and yeah, I wanna kiss your lips, too.”

“I’ll be waiting.”