My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

14. Great Expectations

“Captain Nelson–Crane’s not the first young man my aunt’s taken a fancy to,” Chief Peabody said as we were all saying our goodbyes as Seaview was being prepped for departure. “Then,” he continued,” she casts them aside for a more mature man, like you, Admiral.”

“No,” I said as we observed Lee and Kate just holding each other  on the dock. “I think this is…for real.”

“I saw the way you looked at her…”

“You saw an old man with a dream.”

“She’s the same age as you within a few years, and old enough to be his mother.”

“If it’s true love, that won’t matter.”

“Well, you will warn him, won’t you?”

“I’m not sure I should. He could take it the wrong way.”

“Yes, I see. Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I hope you’ll come back once your expedition is over.”

“Count on it.”

“Excuse me, sir,” O’Brien approached, “Mr. Morton says we’re ready to cast off, but, er….”he stopped, nodding toward Lee and Kate.

“He does look a bit preoccupied…very well,  blow the horn.”

It was enough to warn Lee that Seaview was waiting on him. With a last lingering kiss, he took his leave of Kate, nodded toward Chief Peabody, and joined me at the foot of the gangplank.

In a few minutes we were underway. It was a lively mood aboard, and we had all had great expectations that we might actually find the Sea Nymph.

But my good mood didn’t last. I was torn as I considered what Chief Peabody had said. Was Kate really just stringing Lee along? Should I tell him? Part of me said, no, absolutely not, it would be butting in and he’d resent it. The other part of me wanted to warn him, like a lion protecting its cub.  In the end, I decided to err on the side of caution and not butt in.