by Abigail Keam
And it almost did.
Many times Mike thought the boat was going to sink when large waves swamped it, but the Sea Horse pounded back against the water. The boat relentlessly pushed against the wind until it finally made it behind Key Largo.
Battered and bruised from being tossed around in the boat, Mike finally thought he was out of danger when he began to see familiar landmarks of Key Largo. He was almost there.
But a rogue wave pushed the Sea Horse into a sand bar. Mike fell to the floor, hitting his head. He lay there several minutes before realizing that the Sea Horse was listing and taking on water.
Rubbing his forehead, he pulled back his hand only to discover blood. “Shake it off, buddy. Shake it off,” he told himself.
Mike pulled himself up and stared out a window. The boat wasn’t too far from the shore. The bad news was that he had to get into the water to get to the shore and it was pitch black and raining like the devil. Mike was afraid that if he got into the water, he might be swept into the bay.
He retrieved flares from his emergency supplies and shot several off toward the land so he could see more clearly. He gauged that the water was not deep and he would have only six or more feet to wade to reach the shore. The risk was acceptable.
He put on his safety vest, wraparound glasses, hardhat, and weights around his ankles. With rope and a prayer, Mike jumped off the boat into the turbulent water.
The Sea Horse provided some protection from the bay but not from the water spilling over from the Atlantic Ocean across the Key. Mike strained against the wind and the slapping water but made it to shore.
Once he felt solid ground under his feet, Mike leaned against a tree and threw off the weights. He turned back and forth, trying to determine where he was.
Mike laughed when he discovered that he was only a mile from the motel. Bearing his head down, Mike made it to Highway 1. The road was clear of debris, except for water and a few trees down here and there, but he could walk it . . . or wade it.
Determined, Mike gritted his teeth and began the punishing mile to the Pink Flamingo Motel.
50
Exhausted, Mike made it to the driveway of the motel. He prayed that he would find Eva there. The wind had pulled off his hat and he could barely see, but at least his glasses kept the rain out of his eyes.
As he began sloshing through the driveway, he saw Eva’s truck with the tree fallen on its hood. “Oh, God, is she in there? Please let her be all right.”
Mike hurried over and climbed over the tree. He peered into the truck’s windows.
Eva was slumped against the steering wheel, not moving.
Mike tried the door but couldn’t pull it open. He banged on the windows. “Eva. Eva! Can you hear me?”
51
From a great distance Eva heard someone calling her name. The voice became louder and louder until Eva realized that she was not dreaming. She slowly opened her eyes.
She gasped when she saw a palm tree lying on top of her hood.
Someone pounded on her window. Eva turned her head. She blinked several times until she focused on the face.
It was Mike!!!!
“Mike! Mike! What’s happened?” Eva tried opening the door but couldn’t.
“Eva, the truck is taking on water. You’ve got to get out,” yelled Mike. “Turn your head away. I’m going to break the glass.”
Eva looked down. Water was seeping in the truck. She glanced at the highway. Large waves were now slapping across the road. It wouldn’t be long until she’d be deep in water inside the truck. Eva pushed against the door again but to no avail.
Mike was gone.
“Mike! Mike! Don’t leave me!” she cried. She began pounding against the window. “MIKE!”
“Here, Eva. Turn away.” Mike had a large branch with him. He swung it like a baseball bat against the truck. Nothing happened. He swung again with all his might.
The window shattered.
He swung again, breaking out the entire window. Grabbing a tarp that was floating in the water, Mike put it over the frame. “Can you climb out?” Mike yelled into the wind.
Eva nodded, slowly moving her arms and then her head through the window opening.
Mike grabbed her under the arms, pulling her out. “Is anything broken?”
Eva shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she yelled back.
Mike slowly helped her to stand. “We’ve got to get to the office. The tree is blocking the way out. This is it. We are stuck. Eva, do you understand me?”
Eva nodded. She followed Mike’s instructions as though following a faint voice calling from inside a tunnel.
Grabbing Eva around the waist and under her arm, Mike helped Eva back to the office. It was still dry. Mike found emergency lanterns under the counter and turned them on. Checking the windows and doors, Mike secured the building as best he could. Finding sand bags stacked against the building, he pulled them inside and placed them against the doors.
Once done, he then turned his attention to Eva. She was shivering. Mike pulled off her wet clothes and dried her with several towels.
Eva was so cold and uncomfortable that she didn’t care that she was naked. This was no time to be prudish.
Rummaging through her closet, Mike found a soft lounging gown and put it on her.
Eva slumped against him, thankful that he had found her. She was oblivious to the storm outside, feeling warm and secure now.
Mike carried Eva to her bed and wrapped warm blankets around her. “Don’t fall asleep,” he warned. “You need to drink some water first.”
Mike went through her closet again and laid out some sturdy clothes and a raincoat in case they had to hightail it to the roof. Then he went into the kitchen. The electricity was out. So was the landline phone and his cell phone. The cell tower must have been demolished by the storm.
Sighing, Mike opened the refrigerator. Items were still cold. Mike found bottles of water and some ice. He went back into the bedroom. “Here, Eva, drink some water and I found a soft drink with lots of caffeine in it. Drink that, too.”
Eva obeyed and drank greedily.
While Eva was hydrating, Mike went into the bathroom, got out of his wet clothes and dried off. His teeth were rattling. He opened his medication pouch and gave himself a shot of insulin. After wrapping a towel around his waist, Mike went back into the bedroom and sat in a chair. Opening up several bottles of water, he drank freely. Then he drank several diet soft drinks that contained caffeine. Feeling better, he asked Eva, “Are you hungry?”
Eva looked at him with large frightened eyes. “Are we going to die, Mike?”
Mike smiled. “I don’t think so. Eva, I hate to tell you this, but we are not even in the hurricane’s main thrust. We are on the outskirts of the spiral.”
“You mean others have it worse?”
Mike nodded. “Right now, the east coast of Florida is being pummeled. We’re getting it easy.”
Eva bit her lip. “Such force. I’ve never seen anything so powerful.”
“We just need to wait it out. With some luck, we can stay in here nice and dry, but I’ve laid out some clothes in case we have to move in a hurry. Understand?”
Eva nodded.
“I’m hungry. I think I saw some canned tuna fish and crackers in the kitchen.”
“A veritable feast,” replied Eva, returning Mike’s smile.
Mike pushed himself out of the chair and ventured into the kitchen, returning with a couple of oranges, a box of crackers and an opened can of tuna fish. He sat on the edge of the bed sharing the food with Eva.
After eating his fill and drinking some more water, Mike’s lids drooped while his chin nodded on his chest. Suddenly he was snoring.
Eva had never seen anyone fall asleep so fast sitting up.
She scooted over and climbed out of bed, going over to Mike. Taking the water bottle out of his hand, Eva gently coaxed Mike into bed, wrapping a blanket around him.
“I guess I must love you, Mike Bi
shop,” she whispered, “because I don’t mind you eating crackers in my bed.”
Eva glanced up at the roof as the storm threatened to tear it off. “I hope you’re right about us being safe, Mike.”
Eva limped into the guest bedroom and pulled the mattress off the bed. Dragging it into her bedroom, she secured the mattress against the large plate window . . . just in case the wind blew a tree limb through the glass.
The new windows were supposed to be hurricane proof, but Eva wanted to protect them as much as possible if the windows failed.
Mike groggily opened his eyes, “You shouldn’t be up. Rest,” admonished Mike.
Eva went over to Mike and put her arms around him. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.”
Mike hugged her back while smelling the ocean in her hair. “It’s no one’s fault. It just is.”
Something slammed into the back of the bungalow. Both Eva and Mike jumped.
“A tree must have fallen against the building,” suggested Mike.
Eva nodded in agreement and started to comment, but then noticed that Mike had fallen asleep again. She climbed into bed and snuggled against Mike, determined to keep watch as he slept, but it wasn’t long until her eyes closed and she was fast asleep herself.
Every now and then the bungalow groaned as something crashed outside, but Eva and Mike didn’t hear it. They were slumbering in each other’s arms.
52
Mike was the first to wake up. He found Eva curled up next to him clutching his hand. At first he was pleased, but Mike wondered if Eva would feel the same way when she awoke.
He extracted his hand from hers and felt her forehead.
Eva was not hot so there was no fever. That was good.
Mike strained to listen. He heard rain on the roof but it wasn’t the fierce pounding of the storm. The rain was gentle. He heard something else too.
Carefully he got out of bed and went to look for his clothes. He found them in the bathroom dry to his touch.
Dry?
How long had they been sleeping?
Mike looked at his watch. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He tapped on his watch but the time and date stayed the same.
He quickly put on his clothes and shoes before going back into the bedroom.
Eva was waking up. “Have I got a headache,” she complained, rubbing her head.
Mike went into the kitchen and retrieved some water out of the fridge plus some aspirin. He noticed that the water bottle felt almost tepid now. He went back into the bedroom and handed both to Eva.
She took them gratefully and finished the bottle of water greedily. Wiping her mouth, she stared at Mike. “So it wasn’t a dream,” she said. “You’re here. Did you come back for Mary? Is Mary okay?”
Mike grinned. “Mom is fine. I talked to her yesterday. She was in a van with a group of youngsters. She’s probably in Orlando now.
“Mom called me and told me that you were probably still in Key Largo. I confirmed that with Dennis, and so I came looking for you on the Sea Horse.”
“I have a vague memory of trying to get out.”
“You did try, but as you were leaving a palm tree fell on the truck. You were unconscious for a long time until I found you. In fact, I should have kept you up but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It took me a long time to get here.”
“I don’t think I was unconscious. I think I was just exhausted.”
“Anyway, we should go to the hospital to make sure.”
“I’m up for that. Can we get out of here?”
Mike waved to a chair. “Some clothes are there. I’m going to try to call my family.”
“Can you rustle us up some breakfast?”
“Surely, partner,” drawled Mike. Giving Eva one last look, he went into the kitchen looking for some food. He decided on cereal and tepid milk. It was still cool enough to be fine with cereal.
He set the table and then dialed his cell phone. It worked!!!
On the first ring, it answered.
“Mike! Mike! Is that you?” asked his mother, frantic with worry.
“Hi, Mom,” replied Mike, his eyes flooded with tears. “Everyone all right?”
“We’re fine. Just worried sick about you.”
Mike heard Jenny hooting and hollering in the background. He heard his mother scolding her to be quiet.
The sound was going in and out.
“Mom! Mom! I’m fine. I’ll be in touch when I can.”
“Did you find Eva?”
“Yes, and she is with me. Mom, can you hear me?”
The connection was dead. Mike would try again later.
Eva walked in the kitchen. “I never knew cereal and milk could look so good.”
“Let’s get something in our stomachs and try outside.”
Eva poured milk on her cereal. “Sounds like a plan.” Crunching, Eva looked at the floor. “The floor is dry.”
“Yeah, maybe the water has gone down.”
Mike watched Eva eat with relish, but he felt uncomfortable himself.
“You’re not eating,” noticed Eva.
Mike pushed the bowl of cereal out of his way. “Eva, I’ve got to ask you something and I want the honest truth. Are you going back to Dennis?”
Eva swallowed and thought quietly for a moment.
Uh oh, thought Mike.
“Mike, I wouldn’t go back to that guy for any amount of money. He left me high and dry. You were right about him. He’s glossy on the outside, but the core is rotten.”
Mike sighed. “If that’s true, would you give a guy like me a chance?”
“I told you that I didn’t want to play games. I want a guy for keeps . . . a forever guy.”
“I can be that guy, Eva. I’m tired of being alone. I know I have no money. I live with my mother and I have diabetes, but I’ll work hard, very hard to make it big someday.”
Eva shook her head. “I have had a man with lots of money. It didn’t make us happy. I want a guy who will spoil me with the little things of life, pay attention to me, adore me.”
“That I can do,” smiled Mike.
“Work with me to build this place back and build for the future. I noticed that there was an apartment building, an architectural gem from the sixties, down the road for sale.”
Mike broke into gales of laughter. “You’re thinking of expanding?”
“Why not?” grinned Eva. “With my know how to bring these places back to life and your skills, I think we might make great partners.”
Mike stood up and strode over to Eva. He pulled her to him and kissed her gently on the mouth. “Can you take some of this?”
Eva touched his face. “I think I can stand it . . . uhmm, maybe twenty times a day.”
Mike kissed her again, this time more passionately. Finally he came up for air. “Where do we go from here?”
“You are going to officially court me, Mike Bishop . . . flowers, candy, walks in the moonlight. You are going to introduce me to your family as your girlfriend and then you are going to ask me to marry you.”
“I don’t have money for an engagement ring, Eva. I’m broke. Everything I’ve got is in Jenny’s college fund or the house fund.”
“Keep it there. All I need is a band of gold. If you don’t think the same way I do, Mike, now is the time to tell me. Don’t waste both our time if you’re not ready to commit.”
“And let some other guy steal you away, hell no. But Eva, you’ve got to know something. I’m an island boy. I’ll never be happy in New York or some landlocked place. I’ve got the sea in my blood.”
“That’s okay,” replied Eva, reaching up to kiss him again. “I’m an island girl too.”
53
Holding Eva’s hand, Mike opened the door to the office and looked out.
Eva gasped when she saw the debris.
“It’s not bad, Eva,” cautioned Mike. “The bungalows are still here. If they haven’t flooded, the clean up will be quick.”
“But who can I ge
t to do it? Everyone has been hit,” asked Eva, looking about the devastation.
“I’ll be here and I’ll make money helping others clean up. Don’t worry,” he said. “It will be fine.”
“Do you hear that?” asked Eva, turning toward Highway 1.
Mike and Eva gingerly picked their way through trash, downed trees, broken furniture, bicycle parts, and other debris to the road. North on the highway, a road crew was removing downed trees and another crew was working on the lines.
Eva jumped up and down when she saw them. “I’ve never been so happy to see a bunch of dirty, cussing men, but I’ve got to tell you, Mike, I love men with tools and equipment.”
A motorcycle cop who had escorted the workmen spied Eva and Mike. He rode over to them. “You folks okay?” He noticed their bruises and cuts.
Mike pointed to Eva. “She needs to have her head examined.”
Both Eva and the cop stared at Mike.
Mike grinned. “I don’t think that came out right. She hit her head on a truck window. It needs to be checked out. And she has a cut on her foot, hence the garbage bag.”
“I can take her. There are ambulances stationed on the other side of the crew. They can help you, Miss. Can you hold onto me?”
Eva looked at Mike.
“Go on, old girl. I’ll be fine. Get checked out and I’ll start working on cleaning up the place.”
Eva turned to get on the motorcycle when she saw something in the sky over the Atlantic Ocean. “Look,” she cried pointing.
Mike and the cop followed her gesture.
All three of them make the same cry of joy of seeing something so beautiful over the water–a double rainbow.
“That’s an omen,” whispered Eva.
“It sure is a sight to behold,” concurred the cop before returning his attention to Eva. “Let’s get you fixed up. I should scold you for not evacuating with the rest.”
“I tried, Officer. I really tried to get out but something always held me back.” She looked at Mike. “And now I know why.”
“I hope it was worth risking your life,” said the cop.