Chapter 1
James Cavanaugh stepped out of the massive warehouse that was home to Cavanaugh Creations, the shipbuilding business that had been in his family for generations, and headed to his car after a long day of work. Gravel crunched under his feet with every step until he hit the pavement. He tightened his tan trench coat against the crisp nip in the air, never having felt more alive. He’d won another award. Alex would be proud. James felt the gentle pressure from the memory of his father’s embrace as if the man were hugging him from Heaven.
Dusk hadn’t completely set upon them yet. James’s lips tipped up at the corners, and he paused to look out over Skaneateles Lake—one of the eleven Finger Lakes and by far his favorite. The days were getting longer, the water free-flowing and getting rougher, as if eager for boats to try and tame its power, fish its waters, swim in its waves. A sign of spring. It was March in central New York. He loved spring. Spring meant warmer temperatures, melting ice, and sailing. He enjoyed sailing more than anything. Loved the water, loved boats, loved his life. Spring also meant rebirth, regrowth, and reinventing oneself. A world of new possibilities, where anything could happen.
“Mr. Cavanaugh, sir?” a deep voice cracked behind him, squeaking high for a moment before its owner cleared his throat.
James bit back a smile. He didn’t have to turn around to know young Barry Whitmore stood behind him. Barry had been hanging around the shipyard since he was old enough to venture out alone, fascinated with boats of any kind. His parents had given James the heads up that Barry would be asking for a summer job before heading off to the navy in the fall. They wanted him to go to college, but he had wanted to join the navy since he was a little boy and had never wavered. James had been friends with the Whitmores for a long time, but they had told Barry he had to ask for a job himself. If he was man enough to join the navy, then he had to start acting like one.
James fixed a serious expression on his face and turned around to face Barry, standing straight and tall with his hands behind his back. “Hello, Mr. Whitmore.”
Barry’s face was pale, making his freckles stand out in sharp contrast. He swiped his wild red curly hair back and then wiped his palm on his pants. “Good to see you, sir.” His hand shook as he reached out in an invitation to shake.
“Good to see you too, Son.” James shook the boy’s hand and was pleased to discover his handshake was firm. “How’s school?”
“Good. I’m graduating with honors.” He beamed, staring up at James with a bit of pride, a little fear, and a whole lot of admiration.
Barry reminded James of himself when he’d first met his own adoptive father, Alex Cavanaugh. While Barry was far more together than James had been and knew what he wanted to do with his life, he still looked at James like James had looked at Alex all those years ago. Hero worship was shining bright in Barry’s eyes, and James couldn’t help but be flattered. Or be taken back in time….
Jimmy Blake—as he was known back then—had just turned eighteen, had left the orphanage in Brooklyn New York, didn’t have anything or anyone, and didn’t have a clue what he was going to do next. He had been wandering for weeks in the city, cold and hungry and afraid, doing whatever he had to in order to survive: the perfect combination to make a person desperate. He couldn’t think about his loneliness or the guilt he felt. He could only think about making it through another day.
Rounding a corner, he saw a man heading straight for him that made him stop short. The man was tall with stark white hair and a long black coat that screamed of money and power, but that wasn’t what had captured Jimmy’s attention. There were plenty of rich businessmen in New York City, but something about this man was different. Jimmy didn’t how to explain it, but some imaginary force refused to let him look away. The man held himself with perfect posture: shoulders squared, back straight, every ounce of him radiating confidence and pride. That was something Jimmy had always wanted but never achieved, and that was his problem. He had no role model to guide him and no idea how to attain that stature.
Confidence, pride, and purpose.
His biggest fear was being a nobody. He couldn’t be nothing for the rest of his life, and he sure as hell couldn’t offer himself to anyone until he became something. Shaking himself out of wallowing in self-pity, he refocused on the task at hand: surviving. As the man drew closer, Jimmy prepared himself for what he had to do, yet he still couldn’t stop staring at the man’s face. His brown eyes seemed intelligent and shrewd, his jaw set in a firm no-nonsense line, yet the edges of his lips tipped up ever so slightly in a kind smile as he glanced at Jimmy.
Jimmy stumbled and bumped into him, mumbling sorry as he started walking again.
The man grabbed Jimmy’s arm, halting him. “No, son, I’m the one who’s sorry. Guess I’m getting clumsy in my old age.”
He looked to be in his fifties. That wasn’t that old. Jimmy shrugged. “No big deal, Mister.”
“It’s getting dark and not safe to be out alone. Do you want me to call your parents?”
“Don’t have any.” Jimmy shrugged.
The man frowned. “Can I at least pay for a cab to give you a lift home?”
“Don’t have one of those either.” Jimmy shocked himself by telling a complete stranger that. What had come over him?
The man stared at him for a long moment, and then nodded as though he’d made up his mind about something. “Cavanaugh.” He held out his hand. “Alex Cavanaugh. We have something in common. I don’t have a family, either. How about a job? Do you have one of those?”
Jimmy shook his head no, then warily grabbed the man’s hand to shake it. He blinked. The hum of a powerful force passed between them as he looked into the man’s eyes while still holding his hand in a firm handshake. It was like they were connected somehow, which was crazy considering they’d just met, yet Jimmy was afraid to let go. He’d felt lost and alone for weeks now after making a huge mistake by running away, yet he didn’t know how to go back and undo the mess he’d made. Jimmy didn’t want this weird yet meaningful encounter with this stranger to end, but he knew it had to end, especially after what he had just done.
“You look hungry,” the man said. “Let me make it up to you by taking you to dinner. Don’t worry, it’s just down the street in a public place within walking distance. I know we just met, but I see the drive and determination shining bright in your eyes.” He chuckled. “It’s strange but you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age. I’d like to run a business proposition by you. You need a job, and I need some help at my company this summer. The way I see it, this could be a win win situation for both of us. The job is at my shipbuilding business in upstate New York. If it’s something you’re interested, I will fill you in on the details over dinner. If not, at least your belly will be full for a change. What do you say?”
Jimmy stared up in awe at the larger-than-life, powerful man he’d run into that was about to change his life. This might just be the thing he needed to make something of himself, and then he would go back for his angels, he vowed. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, he took a breath and replied, “Okay.”
“Great,” Alex said. “What’s your name, son?”
“Jimmy Blake.”
Alex finally let go of his hand only to turn his palm up. “But first, Jimmy, do you mind giving me back my wallet so I can pay for our dinner?”
Jimmy felt his face flush red and then drain pale. “But, how…”
“Like I said, you remind me a lot of myself at your age.” Alex winked. “Only, I stole out of sheer rebellion.”
“Y-You’re not going to turn me in?”
“No, James. We all make mistakes. The key is to learn from them and do better. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yes, sir,” Jimmy said, and meant it.
Miraculously, Alex had seen something special in young Jimmy Blake. He’d taken him in, given him a job, mentored him and eventually adopted him, loving him, and teaching him everything he knew before passing away ten years ago. He’d changed James’s life for the better, and for that, James owed him everything. He would go to his own grave doing everything he could to make the only man who had ever believed in him proud….
“Mr. Cavanaugh, are you okay?” Barry asked, bringing James back to the present.
James blinked a couple of times. “Sorry, I’m fine. Just getting old, I guess.” He winked, then cleared his throat. “Good for you on graduating with honors. And how are your parents?”
“They’re okay.” Barry shrugged and shoved his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie. “They still don’t like the idea of me going into the navy, but they’ll get used to it. I have to be on the water. I bet you can relate to that.”
“You’d win that bet, my boy.” James winked. “So tell me, what can I do for you on this fine evening?”
“Well,” Barry started fidgeting, “I um,” he squirmed, “was wondering,” he coughed, “if you could use any help this summer?”
Barry had wanted to work for James since he had first gotten his working papers, but the shipbuilding business could be dangerous. James had always insisted his employees be at least eighteen. He studied Barry, mostly for show and to let him know this business wasn’t for slackers or those just looking for a paycheck, but he’d already made up his mind about hiring the boy years ago.
James held out his hand and said with a grin, “Welcome aboard, and when can you start?”
“No way! Seriously?” Barry sputtered, then cleared his throat again before shaking his hand firmly while amending, “I mean, thank you, sir. And I can start yesterday.”
James laughed. “That’s what I thought you’d say. See you in the morning, Son.”
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