He rented it to Jim’s brother during tourist season, because it helped them both and was the practical thing to do. But it bothered him some to see the fine old vessel used that way. Just as it bothered him some to know other people lived and slept in the house that was his.

But when push came to shove, money mattered. Seth’s laugh snuck through his ear protectors and reminded him why it mattered now more than ever.

When his hands cramped from the work, he turned off the lathe to give them a rest. Noise filled his ears when he took off the protectors.

He could hear the pounding of Cam’s hammer echoing from belowdecks. Seth was coating the centerboard with Rust-Oleum so the steel plate gleamed with wet. Phillip had the nastier job of soaking the inside of the centerboard case with creosote. It was good old-growth red cedar, which should discourage any marine borers, but they’d decided not to take chances.

A boat by Quinn was built to last.

He felt a stir of pride watching them and could almost imagine his father standing beside him, big hands fisted on his hips, a wide grin on his face.

‘‘It makes a picture,’’ Ray said. ‘‘The kind your mother and I loved to study. We had plenty of them put aside, to take out and look over again once you all grew up and went off your own ways. We never really had the chance because she left first.’’

‘‘I still miss her.’’

‘‘I know you do. She was the glue that kept us all together. But she did a good job of it, Ethan. You’re still stuck.’’

‘‘I guess I’d have died without her, without you. Without them.’’

‘‘No.’’ Ray laid a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, shook his head. ‘‘You were always strong, heart and mind. You came out the other side of hell as much because of what’s inside you as what we did. You should remember that more often. Just look at Seth. He handles things differently than you did, but he’s got a lot of the same qualities inside him. He cares, deeper than he wants to. He thinks deeper than he lets on. And his wants go deeper than he’ll admit even to himself.’’

‘‘I see you in him.’’ It was the first time Ethan had allowed himself to say it, even to himself. ‘‘I don’t know how to feel about it.’’

‘‘Funny, I see each one of you in him. The eye of the beholder, Ethan.’’ Then he gave Ethan a quick slap on the back. ‘‘That’s a damn fine boat coming along there. Your mother would have gotten a kick out of this.’’

‘‘Quinns build to last,’’ Ethan murmured.

‘‘Who’re you talking to?’’ Seth demanded.