Maine on the Horizon

MAINE ON THE HORIZON

Water crashing along the shoreline, the raucous commotion of the Atlantic Puffins, nesting nearby on Eastern Egg Rock; for Maddie Cartwright, islands and isolation seemed a perfect choice for reflection on this summer day in late July. She was just another unassuming tourist, escaping the trappings of big city life.

Far from inconspicuous, however, were the Puffins, as their breeding season was in full swing along the craggy rocks of the island. The “parrots of the sea” were noisy indeed, and as the tour guide from the National Audubon noted, were headed to potential extinction before their sponsored “Project Puffin” restored them to these historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine.

She’d chosen Hardy Boat Cruises, a family-owned Eco-Tourism business dedicated to the environment, for her cruising adventure. Along the short 20-minute trip from New Harbor, she relished in the magnificent views of Pemaquid Lighthouse and Monhegan Island.

Maddie had spent countless summers vacationing with her family here in Maine, yet this year was noticeably different. Divorce can happen quickly when uncontested, and hers certainly did, although a year later, remnants of her husbands’ betrayal were still lingering in her soul. Mark was remarried; news delivered just before she left Boston days ago. With her failed marriage clearly in the rear-view mirror, she hoped that time away would lift her spirits.

She sighed and checked the time, aware that the ferry would be taking them back to land shortly. Resolved to face the questions and concerned looks with which she would surely be bombarded upon arrival, she squared her shoulders and waved goodbye to the Puffins.

Her parents, Joe and Deb Cartwright, had rented a coastal home on Muscongus Bay for their family to gather for an end-of-summer reunion. Maddie looked forward to spending time with her younger brother Danny, who despite being a brainiac and recent MIT graduate, had a keen sense of humor. Vacation traditions would inevitably win the day. Her parents, aunts and uncles would play cards and have drinks until the wee hours, then be up at the crack of dawn to rouse the household for a day of fun adventures, food, and afternoon naps. Evenings around the deck, slow walks along the shore, and the glorious anticipation of lobster, clams, summer corn chowder and brown bread for dinner. Sunrises and sunsets. Breathe in – Breathe out.

It wasn’t a long voyage from the harbor to the rental property. Following her navigation closely, she found herself driving along a seemingly endless road, finally rounding the bend to the house. Happily, there was her father unpacking his Land Rover. Throwing her car into park, she flew out the door.

“Hey Daddy – I made it.” She ran to him and was rewarded with a huge bear hug.

“Maddie my girl, welcome! And in time for dinner like the true Cartwright that you are. Mom said you were going on an adventure ahead of us. How did that go?”

“Good, good. It was a boat cruise out of New Harbor to see some sights and clear my head so I can enjoy our vacation. You know, a reboot of sorts…”

“Ah – well let me get your bags. Your Aunt Judy and Uncle Ben are already mixing cocktails, so heads up!”

Just as she turned toward the porch, she heard a familiar lyrical voice.

“Madison Eva Cartwright, is that you?” And in a flash, there was her mother, ageless in beauty and boundless energy. Towel in hand she reached out and grabbed Maddie.

“Yes Mom, I’m here…did you think I got lost?”

“Honey, you were always a bit of a daydreamer, so yes. Just glad you made it safe and sound.”

“Well Boston isn’t far away, the trip was easy, my excursion was pleasant, and now I can relax and daydream all I want.”

Laughing melodically, she dragged Maddie forward. “That you can. I have crab cakes all ready, and Mojito’s lined up. That is if my brother hasn’t downed them all!” Her laughter was medicine to Maddie’s heart, and she found herself grateful for the easy reentry into what was anticipated to be a long week.

Once inside, Maddie heard her cell phone ringing deep inside her carry-on bag. She didn’t recognize the phone number but chose to answer it.

“Hello, this is Maddie.”

“Hello, this is Captain Zach Harding of Hardy Boat Cruises. I’m calling because I found a journal on my boat today, and it had your name and number written inside. I’m guessing this is you, and that you’d like to recover the item?”

“Oh, thank you! I didn’t realize I had left it behind…yes of course I’d like to get it back.”

“You know where our landing is, so just come into office anytime and I’ll have it there for you.”

“Great – I’ll do that, thanks again.”

She gathered her luggage, found her bedroom, and sized up the space. Very New England in décor and feel. As a travel journalist for Boston Magazine, she had a keen eye for detail, and gave this room a thumbs up. Knowing that she had mere moments before her name would be called, she quickly showered and dressed for dinner.

Maddie was grateful that the initial family greetings, socializing, and dinnertime went by with ease. They all made effort to keep the conversations light, avoiding any deep diving into her personal life. Other than her work which was a constant point of interest.

“How’s the job? Still enjoying all the excitement of finding new hidden gems in the world of Conde Nast?”

“That was a great piece on antiquing in Massachusetts, who knew?”

“What’s your next assignment?”

As the question-and-answer time moved on to her brothers’ future endeavors, she relaxed into a wine induced lull, watching her animated relatives enjoying a balmy night as the sun slipped below the shoreline, and the moon took its place.

As predicted, at sunrise Maddie heard commotion in the kitchen, where she found her mom fussing over pancake batter, spatula waving in the air.

“Morning Mom, can I help? I may surprise you with my culinary skills - one of the many hobbies I’ve developed in the past year!”

Deb turned to her daughter and smiled. “You can do whatever you want, honey. Cook, sleep, don’t cook, don’t sleep. You are free to be you.”

And without saying a word about the past year, Maddie realized that her mother had once again made everything better. The little girl inside her quietly smiled and put on a patchwork apron, ready to cook.

One day melted into another, with shopping excursions, hiking, kayaking, and the annual Cartwright whittling competition to see who could turn a tree branch into a walking stick. By the third day, Maddie was determined to drive to New Harbor and collect her journal. Heading off alone, she rolled down all the windows, feeling oddly courageous. A strong breeze blew across her face, and she sensed the weather changing. Rain in the forecast? Storms ahead? Bring it on.

She pulled into the parking lot, and saw that the Hardy Boat Cruises office was closed, a sign hanging on the door, “back by 2pm”. She whispered to herself. “Hmmm, an hour to kill, and a storm brewing.”

Maddie strolled around the boardwalk; grateful she had brought a jacket. On the horizon she saw a mid-size vessel heading straight toward the shore as ominous dark clouds formed over the ocean. There was a lighthouse in the distance, actively guiding the boat to safety. As the wind picked up and raindrops fell, she made her way back to her car, and waited. She kept her gaze on the horizon, wondering how long it would take for that boat to make it in. Within the hour the rain ceased, and there was a crack in the clouds, allowing a beam of sunlight to burst through. She was convinced it was a sign, specifically for her, revealing that new and wonderful things were surely ahead.

The ship entered the harbor and coasted into the slip marked for Harbor Boat Cruises. Once docked, a tall man exited, and strode up the dock directly toward Maddie’s car. She swallowed hard, as the guy looked just like every handsome, rugged sailor you’d ever seen in movies or magazines. “Easy Maddie,” she thought. He headed directly to the cruise line office and ducked inside.

She counted to fifty, and exited her car, following him into the office.

“Hello?” Her voice echoed in her ears, and she felt like she was overheating.

The tall man appeared and seemed distracted. “Yes, can I help you?”

“Yeah, I’m here to pickup a journal that I left on one of your cruise boats? Captain Zach called me…”

“So, you’re Madison.” He was eyeing her carefully, and she felt like she was being sized up. “I’m Captain Zach. I have it right here.” He didn’t immediately hand it to her. “Can you prove that you’re the rightful owner of this item?”

“What? Of course I am! My name is in there, you called me, and I’ve waited in a freakin’ storm for you to get here and give it to me. So give it to me.”

“Hmmm. I didn’t expect a feisty girl. The author of this journal is insightful and kindhearted.”

He saw she was starting to fume, so he continued. “Calm down, I didn’t read it. Well, I read the last entry because it was written while on my boat – and it was a great entry.”

Maddie frowned. “It was about the Puffins for goodness sake! And the comparison to my life journey and their history, habitat and circumstances was strictly metaphorical.”

“Ah-ha. Well, you have a gift. And you’re a writer. In fact I looked you up, and your travel blogs have a lot of depth and vivid observations. Forgive me for reading your personal journal – I hope you will write more about our world here in Maine. You already have a fan base, Madison Cartwright.”

As he handed her the journal, she gave him a quizzical glance. “Thank you. Maybe I will make Maine my next assignment. I may need to interview locals, so stay tuned. If you’re such a fan, I’m sure you’ll want to add your two cents.”

Zach smiled. “Sure, anytime.”

Maddie looked at him with caution. “Bye!”

Days passed and vacation was over. Boston was beckoning, and after warm hugs and promises of “see you soon,” she left Maine behind, happier than she’d been in a long time.

Back in Boston, she did some homework of her own. Hardy Boat Cruises was the primary ferry for the National Audubon and Project Puffin, donating portions of every fare directly to the sustaining of the Atlantic Puffin community. Their contributions were also utilized for public education programs, actively working to help build a culture of seabird conservation and appreciation.

“Hmmm. So, Captain Zack. You want exposure, I’ll give you exposure.”

Maddie presented her story outline to her editor the next week. She was thrilled when it was green-lit, and immediately booked a trip right back to Maine.

Zack was preparing for the end of summer season, with the Puffin community due to migrate sometime around Labor Day. Business would slowly wind down, and focus would change.

Currently mid-week cruises were ongoing but rarely overbooked. Zack checked the logs and saw that there was an upcoming reservation for one person, with a request for him to be the captain. But the fares were 100% sold out. Very interesting. And the name of the guest was Eva Cartwright.

“So you come incognito, Madison? And so soon after leaving us…” He smiled, thinking his life was about to change for the better.

A year later, married and relocated, Maddie wrote the story Zach inspired; about how a woman who was vanishing emotionally, found her way to the rocky coast of Maine. And the Puffins who showed her how to be resilient, adapt, and how to find her way home.