She stood on the front porch of the light blue beach house, leaning on the rail and smiling as she watched them pile from the car. A light wind caught the ribbon on her broad brimmed hat and sent it fluttering in the breeze.

Virgil was the first to fly up the steps to greet her. "Gram!"

"Hi sweetheart." She said as she hugged him tightly. She let go and held him at arm's length. "You've gotten taller. You boys are growing up too fast."

"I know." Lucille said as she came up behind her son.

"Oh, my baby," Gram said as she embraced her daughter. "I have missed you all so much."

When it came Gordon's turn to hug his grandmother, he did so enthusiastically. He couldn't help but notice that she seemed thinner than the last time he had hugged her. "Gram, you got skinny."

"Gord," Scott hissed.

"It's all right, Scott." Gram told him. "He's just observant." She turned back to Gord. "Yes, I did lose a few pounds. I was getting fat anyway."

"Gram, you weren't fat." Alan blurted out from his father's arms.

She laughed lightly and kissed him on the cheek. "Well thank you for saying so."

As they stood talking, Gordon surveyed his surroundings. The sky was a brilliant blue and the breeze was warm, smelling strongly of salt. Beach houses and apartments lined both sides of the street and people walked along the sidewalk in pairs and groups simply drinking in the glorious day.

The sun shone off water, reflecting on Gordon's left. "Is that the ocean?" He pointed.

"No, that's where some of the sea water comes in land." Gram explained to him. "The ocean is across the street, but the patio looks out over the inlet. I have a dock out there as well."

"Good, cause if that was the ocean, I didn't know what Mom would have been all excited about."

Gram chuckled. "There are egrets and herons back there, and if you want, I'll teach you all how to catch crabs. How does that sound?"

"Sounds cool," John said excitedly. Gordon had no idea why. From what little he knew about crabs, he knew they pinched. He wasn't going to play with that kind of critter.

The process of unloading the van and stowing its contents took the better part of an hour. Five kids and two adults required a lot of equipment. Suitcases aside, there was also enough puzzles, books, toys, and games to keep five energetic boys happy and quiet for a three hour drive.

After everything was squared away, Gram set out a plate of sandwiches and salad. The boys tackled the food as though they hadn't eaten in a week.

"Virgil, where do you put all that food?" Jeff asked as he tore into his third sandwich.

"He's a growing boy." Gram replied. Virgil smiled at his father while he chewed. All of them knew that the statement had just trumped any argument their father could make.

Finally, the boys sat back, satiated for the moment. Gordon was content to sit and listen as the conversation buzzed around him. Gram asked the older boys about school and what they were planning to do for the rest of their summer. Virgil talked about his piano recital coming up in August. John told Gram about the new telescope he had just received for doing well in school the previous semester.

He had almost fallen asleep in his chair when Gram spoke up. "Now, I have a surprise for you all."

Immediately, his ears perked up any trace of grogginess gone. "What?"

She winked and rose. "Come with me and I'll show you."

His brothers all jumped up to follow her, but Gordon caught up with her first as she made her way to the patio. It over looked a large inlet, where long-legged wading birds searched for their meals. "There she is."

Gordon felt his hopes dashed as his brothers crowded behind him to get a better look, and exclaimed in excitement.

"Wow! A boat!" Alan said as he ogled the large white Explorer anchored to the pier behind Gram's house.

"Mom, where did you get that?" Lucille asked.

"Mr. Young next door had to go back to Charleston on business and I just asked if I could borrow it. He's always had a bit of a soft spot for me."

"Mom!" Lucille laughed.

"Just because I'm getting older doesn't mean I've lost all my womanly wiles." Lucille's only response was to laugh harder.

"We can use that?"

"Of course, John. Provided your mother or father drives it."

"Can we try it out?" Alan asked anxiously, his eyes shining with hope. "Please? I bet it goes fast!"

"Now hold on a minute, speed demon," Jeff caressed the top of his head. "We're here to spend time with Gram. Not go gallivanting all over the water."

"You're here to have a good time." Gram insisted. "I don't want you all to be just hanging around this house. I want you to have fun."

"We did come to see you, Mom," Lucille touched her shoulder. "I want the boys to spend time with you."

"And I want to watch them enjoy themselves. Do you still remember how to operate one of those boats, Jeff?"

He half-smiled. "I believe so."

"Then take the boys out in her. Have a good time."

All Gordon's brothers stared at their father. He finally threw up his hands in defeat. "All right."

There was a loud whoop and they all disappeared into the house. Jeff followed, Gordon noticed rather quickly. His father seemed just as eager as everyone else to try out the boat.

He however remained on the deck with Gram and his mother. What was the big deal about the water? The ocean was just an oversized lake as far as he was concerned. It was flat, blue, and boring.

A few minutes later the door on the lower level of the house slammed and Scott and Virgil ran across the sand. John followed in short order and all of the clamored down the dock.

"Are you coming, Gord?" Jeff reappeared, clad in shorts and a T-shirt. Alan was again in his arms, holding a small fishing pole.

"Nah," Gordon made a face. "I don't want to."

"Gordy, we're going to catch fish!" Alan swung the pole, nearly poking his father in the eye.

He flashed back to his last fishing outing. "No thanks."

"Its okay, Jeff. Gordon is probably still tired. He can stay here with me."

"I had hoped you were coming along, you being the most sea-faring of us all." Jeff moved closer to Lucille and Alan was squished between their parents. "I thought you might like to show us men up."

"No, that's okay. I'm going to leave you primitive men to your hunting and gathering." She grinned ferociously. "Just don't let any of the kids fall overboard. The Coast Guard frowns on that."

"Not even one just for bait." He tickled Alan, who squealed with laughter.

"Sorry. I'll see you guys when you get back."

He shrugged and gave her a light kiss, before carrying Alan back inside. "Suit yourselves."

"He's already starting to loosen up." Lucille said after Jeff had left. "I'm glad to see it."

"Has he been working hard?"

She nodded. "Starting his own company was supposed to make life a little easier, but lately Tracy Corporation has been running him ragged."

Gordon half-listened as his father appeared on the dock. John was standing on the deck in a life preserver, "Gram! Mom! We're going to catch a mess of fish for dinner!"

"My money is on the fish!" she called back. The Scott and Virgil joined in, assuring both women that they would have more gilled delights then they could ever hope to eat.

"All aboard!" Jeff yelled as he started the engine. He looked back at his wife and bowed dramatically. "Farewell my beloved, for I'm going to sea."

"Adieu, my love!" Lucille called back, despite the retching noises her sons insisted upon making when their parents displayed affection. "Fare the well!"

With that, the boat pulled away from the dock, turned and picked up speed. It was only seconds before it disappeared from sight completely.

Gordon went back inside first, and looked around the spacious home. It was light and airy, painted a light yellow. On the walls, he saw shells and beach scenes and near the door hung an old ship's wheel like he had seen so many times in pirate movies.

But it was an object standing in the far corner that really caught his attention. It sat quietly against the wall, looking quite innocent. Virgil had one, but it was rare that Gordon was allowed to touch it. Slowly, he reached out a hand to the strings and ran his forefinger across them. The instrument hummed loudly, much to his delight.

"Do you like that?" Gordon spun around, assuming immediately that he was about to be creamed for touching the acoustic guitar. Instead, Gram smiled and knelt to pick up the instrument. "I haven't played this for a very long time."

He watched as she hefted the instrument against her body and strummed the strings. Her fingers moved down the bridge and the chord changed in pitch. Smiling and humming the melody to an old familiar melody Gordon quite remember, she went and sat on the sand-colored couch.

He followed and climbed up beside her. "Virgil doesn't play stuff like that."

Lucille laughed. "He's apparently hit his rebellious rock and roll stage."

"He has a range of tastes is all." Gram assured her. "He loves his classical music on the piano, doesn't he?"

"Where did you learn to do that?" Gordon watched, mesmerized by the movements of her hands. "Virg had lessons."

"I did too." Gram smiled. "My father taught me when I was a girl. Just like I taught your Mom."

Gordon's wide amber eyes turned to his mother. "I thought you only played piano."

"I only piano because that's what a lot of the students who come to me for lessons want to learn." Lucille shrugged. "I play a lot of instruments."

"Sweetie, your mother can play any thing she turns her hand to." She motioned for Lucille to join them on the couch.

"I always did like the guitar best, I have to admit." Lucille made a face. "Pianos are a bit hard to carry to a campfire."

"I want to learn!" Gordon bounced on the cushions excitedly. "Show me!"

"Come here." Lucille picked him up and set him on her lap, putting the guitar in front of both of them. "Now, I'll work the bridge and you work the strings."

The first few notes were clumsy, but steadily Gordon got the idea. The notes began to flow from the guitar, sending a feeling of delight and pride coursing through him. Steadily and melody emerged and his mom began to sing. "Row, row your boat. . ."

Gordon began to sing along and laugh. Before he had only been intrigued by the instrument, purely because he was forbidden to touch it at home. At this point, he was in love.

Gram clapped loudly when they were finished. "There you go. You played your first song."

"Teach me to make the notes up here." Gordon stretched a hand for the bridge, finding that his fingers just couldn't quite reach it. He frowned.

"You need to get a little bit bigger for that." His grandmother told him.

"Or we could find you a smaller guitar when we get back home." Lucille rubbed his back in comfort. "If you really want to learn."

"Will you teach me?" Gordon asked.

"Of course!" She hugged him tightly. "And when you learn some, I'll blow the cobwebs of my old guitar and we'll play together."

Often times, Gordon had watched Virgil and Lucille at the piano, playing together and laughing. He had always wished he could do that, too. "Can we play something else?"

Chapter Three: Love At First Sight