You could have called it morbid. Shelley didn’t get it. He should have been celebrating—his promotion had finally come through. He was going to be senior toolpusher, the person who directed the entire drilling operation on the Discoverer Spirit. His only superior on the drill floor would be the OIM. In fact, it was common for senior toolpushers to become an OIM. But instead of enjoying the news, he’d been worrying about things on the order of: Did Shelley know how to drain the RV water system and get it winterized? Would the kids learn the right way to handle a hunting rifle if he weren’t around to teach them? After years of putting it off, he sat down with Shelley and drew up a will.Shelley had lots of experience running the house and tending to the kids for long stretches without a husband’s support. She was used to it, still proud of the work Jason did. This time was tougher, though, thinking about all the things he’d been saying, and the fact that he shouldn’t have been leaving in the first place.The plan had been for Jason to spend time with Shelley and the kids before moving on to the Spirit.
