After sharing a meal and bottle of wine with them, he hired them and sent them to Nigel. Lucky, too, hired several additional men, having come to the same conclusion. Both men’s ships were running understaffed.
Ian and Lucky sat in the outdoor cafe on a small plaza near the docks, finishing their wine. “I’m thinking we’ll need even more men,” Ian said, “but I want to see what our profit is on this run. If we can, I’d like to add in the cost of more sailors in next year’s budget.”
Lucky nodded, then changed the topic by mentioning something Ian had thought of every moment of every day since he learned of it. “She would have had the babe by now,” Lucky said. “Have you thought about what you’re going to say to her?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Lucky finished his wine, then asked, “Care to race home? I
