Chapter Seven: Blue Reunion — Part 9
Blake leaves her to finalizing the meal, and Heath is both happy and concerned. She feels safe in the kitchen, less so when reading a book, and Jude and George are apt to be strict. She isn’t really that ambitious a person. She wants to know as much as her head will hold, and it is obvious that Jude and George will help her fill it, but at the same time she is really quite happy working with Paige in the kitchen, working the sails, and studying as time and place permits. School had been a constant game of ‘I’ve got a secret’ that she knows will not be repeated with her new instructors. Thinking of such things, fighting with her pride, and wondering what will come of her education.
Right at dinner, Paige comes in, yawning, dressed and ready to work. Heath doesn’t know if Paige has been told yet, or if the girl is even really awake, given she’s just had one of her longer cat naps, the kind pf sleep specific to Paige, who, like Kevin, will try to get a full day’s work in, instead of being lazy and enjoying a part time job. More than once, Heath has wondered if Kevin and Paige might not be competing for time, but has kept quiet on this, because she still has no idea why Kevin and Paige even exist the way they do, as two people in one body, and has no idea how strong or fragile the balance of personalities actually is. Paige yawns again, pouring herself a cup of coffee, and drinks it while cleaning the dishes. Once the dishes are clean and ready, Paige starts readying the food for the crew, who she knows will come in one by one to get what they need.
“Paige hears that Heath will become a full time student soon.” Paige says, pausing to give Heath a congratulatory hug. “Paige is happy for you.”
“I’m glad you are, because I won’t be the mouse in the kitchen any more, and I will miss our time together, Paige.” Heath says.
“Paige and Joe have agreed to tend the kitchen together, so long as Paige is scheduled to work all of your hours in the kitchen as well. Joe says he likes to cook with such a charming young lady, but that he would be happy to keep scheduling our time together.” Paige says, and then giggles conspiratorially, “Blake was jealous. I made sure he stayed jealous.”
“Oh no, Paige, don’t tell me you did something sluttish now.” Heath says, surprised that she chose to use the word ‘sluttish.’
“Oh goodness no. Paige has standards. Paige is just a bit of a flirt. Paige is only a slut for those she loves.”
“Oh you bad girl.” Heath stops for a moment, sees that Paige is bravely trying not to cry. “Oh, honey, what’s wrong?”
“Paige isn’t smart like you.” Paige says with all seriousness, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, hoping her makeup survives. “Paige hasn’t done anything to help fix anything since her arrival.”
“Oh, Paige,” Heath says suddenly, not expecting the words to come forward against her will, “you helped fix me.”
“I did?” Paige is suddenly surprised.
Heath is quiet for a moment, sounding about to choke. “I didn’t know how to be a woman before you came along.”
“Paige did not know this.” Paige says, astounded.
“It’s because of you that Blake gave me a ring, and found one to match, one he keeps on his left pinky. I was so jealous of you, and then I wasn’t. I watched you, learned all the cat and honey and softness I have from you.”
“Really?” Paige says, surprised.
“You don’t think I learned any of that from Daria or Jynx do you.”
Paige snorts, knowing that whereas Jynx and Daria are both girls, neither of them revels in their womanhood. “Paige knows this body will not stay girl forever. Paige is flattered that some of her rubbed off on Heath before Paige loses the woman to the man.”
“Does Kevin even need to shave?” Heath asks this unexpectedly, and Paige has to admit she doesn’t know.
“Might want to ask ChoCho about that one, honey.” Heath says. “I’m not that friendly with Keith that I’d want to be inquiring of him about his resting habits.”
Paige laughs suddenly, because Heath’s accent is odd, even for a southerner. The two eat together, gossiping about little things, trivialities of a ships life. Heath doesn’t dare talk to Paige about her discovers, unless Paige asks, and Paige always answers with a ‘makes sense’ statement to everything Heath explains. Heath hopes it does, because she has tried very hard to have it make sense in her own mind for quite some time. As they are chatting, Jude comes in with several thick, dusty looking texts, and hands them to Heath.
“A little light reading before we start in on things tomorrow evening. Don’t feel you have to finish them in a sitting.”
“Was it Joe or Blake who told you to say that?” Heath asks.
“Joe, but I’m fairly certain he was translating.” Jude says. “You ladies have a good evening.”
“Oh we will, sugar.” Paige says, sounding, however untinentionally, a bit like Heath.
Heath giggles at a thought that has no words behind it, and squeezes Paige’s hand. “Kiyoshi!” She says suddenly as the young man walks in with fresh fish caught from the river. One looks like a silver carp, the other Heath doesn’t immediately recognize, though it must weigh twenty pounds. “Let’s get those gutted on deck, love. Closed quarters and fresh fish, not a good combination, ya know.”
Soon Paige is left alone. Paige finishes cleaning and eating, and some small part of her mind wonders if Heath knows just how obvious her crush is to everybody but her, and perhaps Kiyoshi. She doesn’t worry, though, because she knows Kiyoshi is an upstanding gentleman who ultimately fears death. Soon Paige finds herself on deck, lucky enough to watch George lob an odd half painted orange ball and to hear Kiyoshi, sounding a little bit whiny about having to gut his own fish. At least she thinks that’s what it is, because he is speaking in Japanese, as is Heath. Paige wonders, not for the first time, if her contributions are enough.
Daria steps up to her, putting a hand over her shoulder, as if reading her mind. “You are Heath’s left hand. It’s important. Never forget it.”
