The Captain's Second Chance

by Elana Johnson

  “Everyone,” a booming voice said, causing the nervous chatter to quiet.

  “That’s my dad,” Brooklynn said, straining up on her tiptoes to try to find him.

  “We’re going to put a movie on in the small gym. We’ve got ushers with flashlights if you’ll come this way.”

  He went with Brooklynn though he wanted to leave. Several people braved the weather and left the community center, but he and Brooklynn allowed themselves to be herded into the small gym.

  Her father started the movie, one of those kid’s animated ones, and returned a few minutes later with a huge bag of popcorn that people started passing around.

  Dave’s nerves felt like they’d been tangled in the garbage disposal. He didn’t want to sit here and watch this movie.

  His phone rang, a clear, loud sound that echoed through the gym. He answered it quickly so it would stop ringing, and stood up to leave so he could talk freely.

  “David Reddington,” he said, because he’d caught Brian’s name on the screen briefly.

  “Dave, I need you here. How hard would it be to get here?”

  Hard, he thought. “I can do it.”

  “How soon?”

  “What’s going on?”

  “We’ve got three civilian boats stalled and taking on water in the storm. The Adelie is on her way to assist, and I’ve got Audrey getting her bird in the air. I want you on the Swordfish in forty minutes.”

  “Forty minutes?” He almost choked. “Sir, I live twenty-five minutes away.” He turned back to the gym, wondering if he could really leave Brooklynn here.

  “You’re the best sea captain we have,” he said.

  “Surely Captain Hiller can take the Swordfish back out,” Dave said, but he was already moving toward the exit. He paused and turned back to see Brooklynn coming toward him.

  “Hiller is ill,” Brian said. “Get here as fast as you can, Captain. That’s an order.”

  Dave hung up, his resolve hardening. “I have to get to port,” he said. “They’ve got a rescue mission underway.” He leaned down to kiss her quickly. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.” He started to turn, but she grabbed onto his arm—hard.

  “Dave,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “Please don’t go.”

  “I have orders,” he said.

  “I have a bad feeling,” she said, lifting her chin and containing her tears so they didn’t streak down her face. “Please, don’t go. I love you, and I can’t…I can’t bear the thought of you out there in that storm, on a boat. Please.”

  Dave looked into her eyes, torn right down the middle. He hadn’t told her that he’d been reading about retirement. Filling out the paperwork. Making sure all of his investments were up-to-date and in order. She’d sort of asked, weeks ago, but he’d said nothing.

  He was wasting time he didn’t have. Time the people stranded out in the ocean probably didn’t have.

  “Can you get a ride home with Darcy?” he asked. “Or your dad?”

  “Dave,” she said, still pleading with him.

  “I love you,” he said, pressing another kiss to her forehead before turning and jogging out of the building.

  The drive to Port Angeles was terrifying, and Dave kept a steady stream of prayer going the entire way. He pulled up to the dock, parking illegally and jumping out of the SUV. Brian met him wearing full rain gear, and that was when Dave really knew the grave situation they were in .

  “The boat’s ready,” he said, handing Dave a thick, plastic container and walking with him toward the Swordfish. “Give me your keys, and I’ll have someone move your car.”

  Dave handed over the keys. “I’m not in my uniform.”

  “We have one for you on the ship,” he said. “Your exec has the coordinates, and I’ve got Matt getting his helicopter ready.”

  “Can he fly in this?”

  “Audrey’s been out there,” Brian said. “She says it’s okay. Difficult, but okay.”

  Dave didn’t know how that was possible, but he nodded. “Is she back?”

  “Yeah, she’s refueling and taking the mandatory break.”

  “All right.” He went up the gangplank to the ship while Brian stayed on the docks. Once on the boat, everything got packed up, and they set off. He stepped into the cockpit and shed his soaked jacket.

  “Get me up to speed,” he said to the man standing there. He missed his boat. He missed his crew.

  But there were people out there who needed help, and that was what Dave had trained his whole life to do—help people.

  As the man talked about the drifting boats and their calls for help, Dave changed into the officer’s uniform provided for him, his mind whirring around the situation—and Brooklynn. He’d promised her he’d call, but he didn’t have time right now. It would be a miracle if his phone even had service in this soupy weather.

  “How far out are we?” he asked.

  “Fifteen minutes.”

  “And we’re at full speed?”

  “We’re at full speed for these conditions, sir.”

  He nodded and looked at the plastic file. “And what’s your name?”

  “Brandon Lillith, sir.”

  “All right, Officer Lillith. Let’s get there, get everyone to safety, and get home.” He picked up the radio. “I can talk to the whole crew on this?”

  Officer Lillith nodded, and Dave pressed the button, completely unsure of what to say to assure these people he would do exactly as he’d said. Get them out there. Get everyone to safety. Get everyone home, safe and sound.

  But he had to do it. He had to get back to Brooklynn as fast as possible.

  Chapter Twenty

  Brooklynn watched Dave walk out into the rain with all the confidence of a man who could battle the ocean and win. But she’d known another man like that, and he’d lost.

  Her soul raged the same way the storm did, and she spun away from the rain assaulting the glass doors. She would not let her tears run down her face the way the water did the windows. Oh, no, she would not.

  She held her head high and went back into the small gym to find her father. He could spare twenty minutes to take her home. He must’ve seen her and Dave leave, because he sat on the end of the bleachers right beside the door. He stood almost as soon as she’d entered, and by the time her eyes adjusted to the dark, he wrapped her in a hug.

  “Dad,” she said, very close to snapping into a thousand pieces. “Can you drive me home?”

  “Sure, baby,” he whispered. “Let’s go.” He didn’t ask any questions, something Brooklynn appreciated in that moment. They dashed through the driving rain to his truck, which was about a million years old. It still started and the heater still blew, so he refused to get another one.

  “Where did Dave go?” he asked once he’d fiddled with all the dials and pulled out of the parking space.

  “He got called out on a rescue mission.” She stared numbly out her window, her arms cinched tightly across her stomach.

  Her dad didn’t take the turn he needed to in order to deliver her back to her pups and her bad coffee and the silence in her house. She didn’t say anything, and they continued toward her childhood home on the edge of town.

  “Your mother’s home,” he said. “She’ll keep you company. I have to get back and make sure everything’s okay with the Fling.”

  “I know, Dad.” Brooklynn swung her attention toward him. “Thank you.”

  “He’s a good captain,” her dad said, and that only made Brooklynn’s fury and frustration swirl dangerously together. She’d never seen a tornado in real life, but she felt as if she had one clashing with her lungs.

  Her teeth hurt she pressed them so hard against one another. She looked away, glad when he turned onto the lane that led past all the trees and to the house.

  Dave hadn’t hesitated for long when she’d begged him not to go. What would he ignore next time?

  There won’t be a next time, she thought. Her heart shrank at the idea of not havi
ng another day with him. Another kiss. Another embrace. At the same time, she didn’t think she was strong enough to weather storms like this.

  “There you go,” her dad said, pulling up to the house. She’d still have to run through the rain for several steps to get under the eaves of the porch, but it was as close as he could get her.

  “Thanks, Dad,” she said, glad when none of her irritation bled into the words. Her parents had been nothing but supportive all these years, and as she got out of the truck she saw a light flip on and the front door open. Her mother was there, waiting to receive her with open arms and hopefully something with a lot of chocolate in it.

  She barely heard her father’s rumbly truck pull away because of all the rain. Her mother beckoned to her from the front door, but Brooklynn stood just outside the envelope of safety and let the rain soak her.

  Tilting her head back, she looked up into the sky, feeling the very heavens weeping and wailing around her.

  Please, she thought, unable to form much more of a prayer than that.

  “Brooklynn,” her mom called, and she had the distinct feeling it wasn’t the first time. “You’ll freeze to death.”

  But the rain wasn’t really that cold. Or maybe she was just so numb that it didn’t feel too icy. No matter what, she turned slowly in a full circle, her mind spinning at a much faster rate than her body.

  She felt removed from the earth, from reality, and she hated it. Something Dr. Jackson had said in their last group session flowed through her mind.

  We all make decisions, he’d said. Sometimes they impact others, and sometimes they’re more contained.

  She had a decision to make.

  Reality came zooming back, and she shivered when she realized the rain had soaked her clothes to the skin. She dashed up the steps and into her mother’s arms, her tears mingling with the rain on her face.

  An hour later, she emerged from her old bedroom, wearing a ratty pair of sweatpants and her brother’s too-big sweatshirt. The scent of chocolate chip cookies hung in the air, and she padded into the kitchen to find her mother there, pulling out the last tray of baked goods.

  “There you are,” she said, setting the tray on the stovetop. “I was just about to come looking for you.” She looked at Brooklynn with concern radiating from her eyes.

  Brooklynn tried to smile, but it felt wrong on her face. If anything, the day outside seemed darker, more ominous, and she tore her eyes from the windows. “These look good.”

  “Coffee or hot chocolate?”

  “Hot chocolate.” She was already keyed up, and she didn’t need the extra stimulant. A sigh leaked from her mouth as she sat at the kitchen table and let her mother bring her sugar and chocolate.

  She sat beside her and patted her hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “You don’t know that,” Brooklynn said, more acid in her tone than she liked. She didn’t touch her cookie or her mug, though the steam rising from it comforted her the slightest bit. “No one can know that, Mom.”

  “Did he say he’d call?”

  “As soon as he could.” Brooklynn folded her arms, the only thing she could think to do to keep all her vital parts where they should be. She felt like her skin was trying to claw itself off, and her foot started tapping.

  It had certainly been long enough for him to drive to the port. Surely, he’d call before he set sail. The minutes ticked by, and her mother ate enough chocolate chip cookies for both of them.

  Dave didn’t call.

  Her worry ate through her as time marched forward. The door opened, and her father came blustering in. “Whoo-ee,” he said. “It is coming down out there.” He swept the kitchen, where she and her mother sat at the table. “Heard from Dave?”

  “No,” her mother said, getting up. “I’ll start dinner. What do you want, Brookie?”

  “I’m not hungry,” Brooklynn said. She couldn’t imagine putting anything in her mouth right now.

  “You have to eat,” she said.

  Her father removed his hat and coat, the water dripping onto the floor beneath the hooks where he hung them. Brooklynn couldn’t even imagine what the weather would be like on the ocean.

  Her mother set a pot filled with water on the stove, ignoring Brooklynn completely. Fine. Didn’t matter. Let her make dinner.

  Just the fact that it was dinnertime was upsetting.

  Her brain wouldn’t seem to shut off, and she hated the track it was currently on. She needed to break up with Dave. Then it wouldn’t be her job to worry about where he was and if he was coming back.

  She could groom the canines around town, make her banana bread at night, and take her little dogs for a walk in good weather.

  She could be lonely. Desperate. And single forever. Never kiss Dave again.

  Her heart didn’t like the sound of that, though her brain really didn’t want to be this agitated ever again. She’d already been through a vigil on the beach once. She couldn’t do it again.

  As darkness fell, the scent of garlic and steak filled the house. Brooklynn couldn’t stand the thought of Dave on a boat on the ocean—in the dark.

  Everything was harder at night.

  She exploded to her feet. “I’m going to Port Angeles.” She reached for her coat.

  “Do you think that’s wise?” her dad asked.

  “Dinner’s ready,” her mom said.

  She faced her dad. “Can I borrow your truck, please?” Brooklynn held out her hand as if her father would drop the keys in her palm.

  “Brooklynn,” her dad said, standing up from the spot he’d taken on the couch.

  “Dad, I can’t sit here.”

  “It’s still raining outside,” he said. “The roads could be icy.”

  She’d stood in the rain, and it wasn’t that cold. Of course, it had been a few hours—why hadn’t Dave called yet?—so maybe the temperature had dropped.

  “Dad, that truck will never go off the road.” Brooklynn lifted her chin.

  He glanced into the kitchen and back to Brooklynn.

  “Mitch,” her mother said, but her dad dug in his pocket and handed the keys to Brooklynn.

  “Thanks, Dad.” She hugged him quickly and put her coat on. “I’ll call you when I get there.”

  “If you don’t, I’ll call you,” her dad said. “Be careful.”

  Brooklynn didn’t feel much better once she was behind the wheel of the truck, but at least she hadn’t had to dash through the rain to get to it. She kept the windshield wipers going at double speed and both hands right on the wheel where they were supposed to be.

  Tension pulled through every muscle in her body, but she made it to Port Angeles in forty minutes. She dialed her dad, and he answered with, “You’re okay?”

  “I just pulled into town,” she said, unsure of where to go next. “I’m going to go see what I can find out.” She could see the ocean frothing in front of her, and she turned down the street that ran along the coast. “There’s a ferry station here.”

  “Keep going,” he said. “It’s out by the bird refuge.”

  “Bird refuge?” Why hadn’t she asked more questions about where Dave worked? She had no idea where to go to find him. “Oh, there’s a sign.” She continued down the road, and it seemed to like she’d drive right off the edge of the world and into the water. “I’ll call you later, Dad.”

  “Thirty minutes,” her dad said, and she agreed.

  After hanging up, she swallowed, glad the road turned and started arcing north. The bird refuge came into view, and she kept going. Finally, finally, it looked like a station up ahead, and that had to be the Coast Guard station.

  Waves crashed on both sides, and she saw a boat dock on her right as she came up to the station. A man wearing a bright yellow poncho over his Coast Guard uniform walked down the road, his head bent against the weather.

  This was the absolute edge of the planet, and she wondered how in the world Dave drove up here every day.

  “We’re closed, ma’
am,” the officer said. “You can’t go in.”

  She didn’t want to go in. Did she? “I’m just looking for information,” she said. “My boyfriend—” Her voice stopped working, cracking and breaking on the word. The man peered at her through the rain.

  “Ma’am?”

  “David Reddington,” she blurted. “Captain David Reddington. Do you know if his ship is back in?”

  “All the ships but one are back in, ma’am,” he yelled. “Which one was he on?”

  “I don’t know,” she said.

  “Just a minute.” He stepped back over to his station and ducked inside. She could just make out his silhouette as he picked up the phone.

  Her nerves remained agitated, but at least she was doing something. She didn’t dare look right, though, because the ocean foamed right there, and she couldn’t bear the thought of a wave crashing over her, sweeping the truck right off the map.

  The man approached again. “He’s on the Swordfish, ma’am. They’re fifteen minutes from port. The CO is sending someone to talk to you.”

  Talk to her. Like, alert her of Dave’s death? That he was hurt?

  “Do I wait here?” she asked.

  He turned and pointed almost immediately to her right. “Pull in to that little lot there. I’ll take you into the building to wait for her.”

  Brooklynn nodded and moved her truck where he told her to. She flipped up her hood and dashed through the rain to the little blue building where he stood waiting for her.

  “A woman named Audrey is coming,” he said. “She’s one of the helicopter pilots who works rescue missions with the ships.”

  “Thank you,” Brooklynn said, glad this building had heat, because it had grown cold in the hours since Dave had left. She hadn’t waited fifteen minutes before the door opened again. This time, a waterlogged woman walked through it, and she looked about how like Brooklynn felt. Ragged. Tired.

  “You must be Brooklynn.” She put a smile on her face and shook Brooklynn’s hand.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Audrey Lynn. I was out on the rescue mission just before Captain Reddington arrived.”