Natalie sat at the kitchen table of Jack's cozy cottage in Maine. It was the first chance she'd had to catch her breath since she and Jack arrived two days ago. She didn't remember much of their drive to Boothbay from Vermont. She was suffering from a terrible hangover, the aftereffects of the Girl's Naked Night with Riley and Bridgid the previous evening.

Once they arrived, their days were filled with the construction of the Surprise II. Jack was anxious to show Natalie the other love in his life: his beloved ship. Her progress was nothing short of amazing and she was a vision. Her masts had not yet been set, but her hull and quarterdeck were complete. The building crew was in the process of finishing the areas below deck: storages rooms, cabins, sick bay and a small radio room. While the Surprise II was an exact replica in minute detail, she still was a modern ship outfitted with radio and an engine below per Coast Guard specifications.

Even unfinished, she was gorgeous; gleaming wood, polished brass, clean lines. Jack excitedly inspected every nook and cranny, explaining everything to Natalie as they toured the ship, introducing her to the building crew as they went along.

Standing on the quarterdeck was the construction chief Harold Quigby, a small, wiry man of about 60. Short gray hair, wrinkled face, bright blue eyes, stereotypical New Englander. Stoic, not much talk and a very dry sense of humor. The complete opposite of gregarious Jack. A second man stood with Mr. Quigby; tall, slim, horn-rimmed glasses and dark hair speckled with gray, looking much like a middle-aged Harry Potter.

"Quigby, my good man. How goes the ship?" Jack bellowed as they approached.

"Aubrey," he nodded. "Ma'am," he added, giving Natalie a nod as well.

"Is this him? The captain?" The second man looked at Jack with awe.

Quigby nodded. "That's him. This here's Professor Griffin," he stated. "He's up from Portland. Wanted to see the ship."

"Yes, and I'm very happy to meet you, Captain Aubrey." Professor Griffin shook Jack's hand with gusto. "I heard about your ship from the Maritime Historical Society and looked you up. I was fascinated by the articles on your shipwreck salvages."

"Ah, thankee, thankee, Professor." Jack beamed with pride.

"Please, call me Patrick This ship Captain, she's amazing. The level of detail is astounding."

Jack glowed. "Yes, she'll be a fine ship, once her masts are set."

"Tell me, Captain, do you plan to sail her?"

Jack smiled. "I plan do sail her, sir."

"Maybe I can be of assistance," Patrick smiled. "Would you mind meeting me and a colleague from the Historical Society tomorrow? We have a proposition that may help you with obtaining a full crew."

The next morning Jack sat with Quigby, Patrick Griffin, and Martin Samuelson of the Maine Maritime Historical Society. Martin began the meeting. "Captain Aubrey, I must say we are astounded by your ship and were wondering about your plans for the ship."

"Well, sir, I plan to sail her."

"Just what I wanted to hear, Captain. It would be a shame to build such a magnificent ship and not see her sail. Do you have a crew, Captain?

"I've not taken on my compliment of crew as yet, Mr. Samuelson." Jack's brows knotted, wondering where this conversation was going.

"Well, then, I wish to propose a partnership between yourself, the Historical Society and the History Department of the University of Maine."

"Partnership?"

"Yes, Captain. We at the Historical Society wish to promote the rich maritime history of our state. Patrick here teaches that history. And, quite frankly," Martin's eyes shined, "we would love to get our hands on your ship. You see Captain, neither the Society nor the University have the funds to build a ship of this size at this level of accuracy, much as we would like to.

"This is our plan: twice a year, the University will conduct a class in sailing which will include four weeks classroom instruction and eight weeks practical instruction aboard the Surprise II, hopefully. University students will comprise most of the crew in a learning capacity, while the Maritime Society will provide a few experienced sailors to help train the students in proper sailing techniques and celestial navigation. In this way, you will have a crew for your ship and we will have access to one of the finest historical tall ships we've seen."

Jack thought it over very carefully. He remembered the spankers aboard the first Surprise and how he instructed them, raising them to the level of good seamen. He quickly warmed to the idea and it made his decision very easy.

"Well, Martin, Patrick," he smiled. "This is a fine proposal and I agree, on one condition."

"Yes," Martin's eyebrows rose.

"That I teach the sailing."

Martin and Patrick breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed. Shaking hands, they planned to meet the next day to sign the paperwork that would make their agreement official.

Jack hurried home with the news. "Natalie, Natalie, my dear," he bellowed as he opened the door, "Give me joy! I have a crew!"