Excerpt

The blustery northwest wind blew into Maywood Calliss face as he exited the pilothouse on the freighter, causing him to shiver. His ruddy complexion became more intense and his blue eyes appeared even darker as the young man, standing his full five-feet-six-inches, walked against the wind. The ship had arrived on schedule on November 20, 1922, and sat in Hampton Roads, awaiting the Pilot Boat to assist in docking at the Norfolk Pier. Maywoods work as quartermaster for this trip had been accomplished since the Captain would take the steering wheel, making the final stop. When Maywood joined the other three of the crew from Mathews County, Virginia, he said, Im going to beat Dick Hudgins time on this trip home.

That wont be hard, Jim replied. In my letter from Mama, she said that Dick picked up typhoid fever on his last trip South. It was too much, and they buried him just weeks ago.

Could have been any of us, Maywood said. Mosquitoes have bout picked our hides in tha sticky weather.

Inwardly, he thought: Now, I wont feel guilty when I ask Grace Richardson for a date. He, a 20 year-old brunette, had admired her from their first meeting. She had sold him a bottle of aspirin in Richardsons Drug Store. Now that Dick was out of her life, he may have a chance to know the cheery girl better. Shed let him know where he stood the first time he had asked for a date. It was evident she loved Dick and wanted nothing to do with anyone else.

The following morning, the three Mathews County seamen piled into Eds Model T Ford, headed for home. Eds younger brother, Jim, reached under the seat and removed the crank from its clip. He placed it in the appropriate hole in the front of the hood, turning it hard until the engine turned over. When he heard it start, he ran for his car door with the crank in hand, replacing it before he climbed into his seat next to Ed.

Prior to boarding the ferry to cross Hampton Roads, the group stopped at a general merchandise store near Willoughby Spit, buying enough bread, baloney and mustard to make sandwiches when lunchtime came. After borrowing a knife to slice the bread, they each grabbed a soda from the ice chest, completing their purchases. The seamen traveled over Hampton Roads by ferry, then through Newport News. When entering York County, the roads, with many vertical ruts, made driving hard and slower than the usual 25 miles per hour. Septembers storms had turned the wide dirt roads into narrow muddy paths.

They waited 30 minutes for the ferry at Yorktown, giving plenty time for their sandwiches and sodas. After eating in the car, they walked out in the sunshine, stomping their feet to warm them a bit. Eds Tin Lizzie had no heater. One by one, they strolled in various directions beyond the road and behind the bushes and brush to relieve themselves. Once on the ferryboat, it carried them across the York River to Gloucester Point. From there, they traveled northward and then east to Mathews County. Each of the seamen looked forward to a nights rest in his bed instead of the swaying hammocks aboard ship.

When Ed dropped Maywood off at the end of his lane just before dusk, he looked toward the yard for the car he and his younger stepbrother, Willie Owens, had purchased earlier in the year. It usually sat parked by Papas garage when both of them were at sea. Just as they had shared the cost, they shared its use. The automobile sat in place with curtains fully covering all the windows, meaning tomorrow hed have it to make his way into Mathews Court House (the term referred to both the court and county buildings and business district), hoping hed find Grace working.

It didnt matter that he had no key to the house since no one locked doors. Had they done so, a skeleton key that one could purchase at any general merchandise store unlocked most doors to homes. The exception was the large plantation homes with double doors, safely secured from entry with large brass carpenter locks and keys too big for one to just tuck in his pocket.

After a nights rest, Maywood was up and ready to pursue his yearning. Once in Richardsons Drug Store, he saw Grace nowhere. Hed just have to find if she still worked there. Who should he ask? Then, remembering that she assisted Dr. Ellis Richardson, he waited until the stately pharmacist came from the back with the next prescription. Dr. Richardson explained that the scent of ether in medications had made Grace woozy so shed had to leave. (The two Richardson families were not related to the best of our knowledge.) She found work at Marchants Dry Goods.

Down the street in Marchants Store, Maywood decided to purchase a few work handkerchiefs since he never had enough. Then he saw Grace, so looked around a bit before picking up the needed items. When pondering how to approach her, she came to his assistance. As Grace bagged the purchase, Maywood asked if she was busy that night. She had sewing to complete that would take a couple of nights. She had to leave early Friday to meet her papa after he got off from work. Mr. Richardson spent weekends and any other time off with his wife and daughters in Mathews.

After some persuasion, Grace agreed to see Maywood on Sunday afternoon.

Would Grace be the girl about whom he had dreamed? Would she be the wife and mother of his children? The book is based on a true story with turbulence and happiness.