Even though the children did as they were told. The beer was going down too easy for Rodger and his temper just continued to rise as he got drunker as the day went on. The frustration just kept adding up as the hours rolled on by. The children made sure to keep the house clean and stay out of his hair. The less they saw the better it was for them. Rodger was angry and letting it control him more and more as the frustration grew within him. He had no real outlet as he had to wait and hope that Freddy was making some kind of progress. As his life and future were slipping through his fingers. Without the girls, his hands were tied. He just sat in his chair drinking beer waiting on the phone to ring breakfast, turned to lunch, and then to supper. The children just left him alone trying to stay away from the house as much as possible only returning to eat and do the dishes.
As supper time came and went Rodger felt sorry for himself and the loss of his leisure life. Then a thought struck him why would the girls take off? Gina was not his real daughter, and she showed no love toward him, but Katie was different, she had never disobeyed him before. Just then a horrible thought hit him Katie had been up to when he had gotten a call from Stan. She did sound and act funny after the call. She must have heard something. What if she had heard it all his beer-soaked brain tried to think of just what could she have overheard. As he thought back, he remembered that the accident was mentioned but was it something that he had said? As the haze cleared his mind, he started remembering more about changing the will and selling off Gina and then finally selling Katie as well.
Rodger thought to himself if she had heard any of that would make her run and if Stan thought that she knew anything he would not want them caught he would want them killed. Rodger had no idea if she had heard anything, and he was not about to tell Stan that she might know something he would have them all killed just to make sure they didn't and probably arrange an accident for his whole family. Rodger was too nervous to eat, and he just wanted a redo on his life he never would have gotten tied up with Stan, to begin with. Bedtime didn't come fast enough he was hoping that Freddy would soon have some answers to bail him out of this.
Gina had been working hard with Tug all morning and soon she had him finishing off the final details of lunch. She knew that it couldn't be anything too fancy, and it was not like she was only making it for a family of four. It was for a full crew of hungry men that had big appetites most of the time it was not the quality of the food that was important, but it was that quantity that was provided that mattered sailing was hard work and made them hungry. Gina had considered that when she put the meal together. The pantry was fully stocked but the variety of what was there was severely limited. It looked like the only thing he had brought aboard was a few fresh supplies, mostly for breakfast and the rest was the things he needed to make stew. Gina was glad at least with a stew there were a lot of different ingredients that they could use to make things. It was a lot better than a plain dish like a boiled chicken with noodles every day. She still needed to work on a big scale so that it could feed all of them without making separate little dishes for everyone.
Then Gina came up with something that might work a roast with potatoes carrots and gravy. It was kind of like a stew so she figured that he couldn't mess this up too badly. Tug quickly prepared the carrots and potatoes. It was going to take a large roast to feed everyone but they had plenty it was just the start of their journey so there were no issues with the number of supplies that they had. Since this was a trade ship, they had plenty of stops to resupply fresh supplies. Once all the prep work was done it was put in the oven for a nice slow cook letting the fatty meat break down and build the flavors that they were looking for. Gina had made sure that he had seasoned it properly and then made sure the basting of it went well. She had him draw off the juices once it was ready to cook down to make gravy to finish it off. She knew that it was going to take a lot of gravy for the meal to turn out right.
Katie was glad to see Gina back in the kitchen. She seemed to be happiest when she was in there. Katie had watched her cooking with her mom many times. The love they shared between them was also brought to the food that they made. Katie and everyone else could taste it with every bite, the great care and love were evident in not only the way it tasted but in the way each plate looked. Then Katie heard what she had been waiting for as she heard Jake mopping his way to the galley. Katie had picked out a spot on a table and was laying across it she was laying on her side seductively. She had her knee bent and she was trying to show off her every curve.
That was the first thing that Jake noticed as soon as he entered the room, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. She let out a giggle when he tripped over the leg of a stool and fell to the floor, his eyes never leaving her curves even as he fell. The mop bucket tipped over and covered him with dirty water. He scrambled to his feet in an attempt to regain his composure. Even though he was covered from head to toe with the dirty water that was now dripping from his long dark hair. He felt so stupid standing there covered with nasty water and had no choice but to clean it all up before he could change.
Katie watched him as he stripped off his shirt and used it to wipe the dirty water from his face and to dry his hair some so that it would quit dripping down his face. He was close enough to touch Katie just wanted to reach up and run her fingers over his hard muscles as he flexed them as he moved. Katie watched his every movement it was like he was in slow motion and all she could do is look at him then a feeling started in the pit of her stomach it was like electricity was flowing threw her and the desire to kiss him was intense. It was like she was being drawn to his lips, she started to move when he turned away and grabbed his mop and started to mop up the spill he made. Katie didn't know just how to feel about it, she was kind of confused. Was he not feeling the same as she was or was it just the mess he made and the fact he had been covered in dirty water? She knew that he had to be feeling dirty now. She noticed him glancing over at her and then looking away quickly every time she caught him looking at her. That made her smile as she watched him work and as soon as he had the water cleaned up, he took off to go get clean. Katie thought to herself there is always tomorrow and just how clumsy can he be anyway.
It was not long after Jake left that Will showed back up to get the girls. Even though they were down there working, or at least Gina was. They still couldn't be there when the men came to the galley. Will watched them closely as Gina prepared the first two plates putting everything in a specific place on the plate and gently slicing strips of meat on top. Then carefully ladling the gravy coating everything just so. Tug watched her gentle hand moving so carefully and precisely as she applied everything to the plate. She watched as he did the next couple of plates, they looked a little sloppy, but they were not bad. Once she saw that he could finish them properly the girls took their plates to their room so they could eat.
Will escorted the girls back to the room the men had gotten used to watching them at the rail and now watched them as they carried their plates. The girls sat and ate slowly, it reminded them of Rita's cooking and every bite brought back memories of her and their love. It was the best and the worst meal of their young lives. As they ate not a word was spoken each was dealing with the thoughts that were overwhelming them. When they had finished, they each had cleaned their plates and then they took each other's hands and just sat there remembering the past.
They took their dishes back to the galley and they were thanked by everyone that they passed, they had nothing but great things to say about the food. Gina was smiling from ear to ear. She was ecstatic that they loved her food.
Captain Filmore told Will to bring them to his chambers. Will saw them coming on deck dropping their dishes off and told them to follow him. Will escorted the girls to the captain's chambers and stood by the door and waited for them to come back out.
Captain Filmore said, "First let me thank you for your hard work my cook really needed the lessons the meal was more than satisfying it was a delight to the pallet." He let out a little chuckle and his fat belly bounced. He continued," If you keep that up, I might have to make you part of my crew." and he continued laughing.
The girls giggled and Gina spoke up and said, "Thank you, captain." She giggled harder.
Captain Fillmore said, "I just wanted you to know your work was appreciated." Then he called Will who he knew would be close.
Will quickly entered the room, "Yes captain."
"Take them back to their room or wherever they want to go. Make sure you take care of them." The captain ordered.
Will said, "Yes Captain."
The girls made their way back to the galley under the watchful eye of Will. Tug had made enough of lunch that they would not have to do more cooking come dinner time. That was his usual way to save resources, they would make a bigger lunch and then finish it off for dinner. The girls seeing that they were not needed spent the rest of the day looking out into the water having each sailor treat them with more respect and thanking them for the great job that they had done. Will summoned them to their room for dinner when they got there it was already on their table it had been presented just the way Gina had made it look. Gina looked it over closely and could find no fault with it. Then the ultimate test the taste was the same. Tug had learned it well and now he could make it any time they wanted it.
They happily ate then returned the dishes and spent the rest of their day watching the ocean and relaxing. Gina spent her time trying to think of the next meal to teach him. She worked on it till they went to sleep.