by Jamie Summer
“Somehow, I don’t think we qualify as regular guys, not with the amount of time we spend talking about women who don’t want us,” I joked. Scott looked at me, narrowing his eyes. “Just saying. You know it’s true.”
He stayed quiet, probably mulling over my words.
“Anna seems to be coming around, though,” he finally stated.
“Good. I’m honestly very happy for you,” I told him. It had been painful to watch those two tiptoe around each other for so long.
“However, I know Maddy is still set on leaving tomorrow. I understand it’s the last thing you want to hear, but maybe it’s for the best. Maybe it gives you the chance for a fresh start. Find someone who makes you completely happy without any heartbreak and convenience involved.”
His words hurt, but only because he had a point. Bridget didn’t love me, and Maddy didn’t want me. There wasn’t much left for me in the equation, so a fresh start might be exactly what I needed.
The thought was freeing, like a weight lifting off my shoulders. My feelings for Maddy wouldn’t vanish, but maybe if I didn’t have to see her, they would be pushed into the very back of my mind where they used to be. Make room for someone new.
“Come on. Let’s get home. Earl’s already announced last call, so you know the town will be bathed in darkness before long.” Scott got up, brushed the few sand grains off his jeans, and walked off. I hesitated, but eventually followed.
While the ocean hadn’t given me any of the answers I had come looking for, Scott sure gave me something to think about.
The clouds hung low when I woke the next day. I took a few moments to lay there before swinging my legs out of bed and walking over to the coffee maker. I hit the button before getting dressed. Five minutes later, I emerged from the bedroom wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt, the usual attire I wore to work. I was happiest in those clothes, and Dustin didn’t care, as long as we did our work.
The coffee was ready, so I grabbed a cup and poured some, adding milk, then sat out on the porch. The house I had restored years ago was set on the edge of the forest, overlooking part of the town, as well as the harbor. The view was one of the reasons I had chosen it. Breathtaking didn’t even begin to cover it.
It was shortly after nine a.m., so the ferry should arrive sometime soon. I knew they had left the mainland earlier to make sure they got everyone safe before the storm hit. I had no idea if the second boat was already here, but I didn’t see anything at first glance, so I figured they would probably arrive together.
While my gaze searched the area, I burned my mouth on my coffee when I caught sight of something I hadn’t expected.
What the hell?
I closed my eyes, just to make sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me. When I opened them again, I still saw hundreds of people standing at the pier. The island itself only housed a few hundred people, yet at least half were down at the harbor. Were all of them waiting for the boat to take them to the mainland?
I tried to find Maddy in the crowd, with no luck. Her blonde head was nowhere to be seen.
I downed my coffee, panic seizing me. There was no way everyone would fit on the boats. It wouldn’t matter if there were two of them. There were too many people.
Why is everyone suddenly so eager to leave? What happened to not leaving the island behind? Wasn’t that what everyone had preached?
I shook my head, unable to grasp the reason for the sudden change in people’s minds. Yet I couldn’t blame them. The mainland would be safer than the island during the storm.
I grabbed my keys from the counter and headed for the door. I needed to get down there.
It took me less than five minutes to reach the harbor. I had to park a hundred yards from it, the crowd too thick to even consider squeezing through.
I still didn’t see Maddy.
It could be a good sign that meant she was somewhere in the middle, hopefully close enough to get out of here. It could also mean she wasn’t here yet, which could be fatal. I was sure she wouldn’t get a spot on one of the boats if she arrived now. No matter how much I desired she stay, I didn’t want the mere fact she couldn’t get on the boats be a deciding factor.
I heard the sound of engines way before their scheduled arrival time. Maybe the storm had prompted them to leave earlier in order to not get caught in it.
I spotted the ferry and another vessel approaching the harbor. Talking increased, voices grew louder. It looked like people were starting to fight over the spots on the boat.
I heard women, men, and families arguing their way off the island. I didn’t know where to look as I knew mayhem would start the moment the boats docked.
I tried to control my breathing and ignore the slight shaking of my hands. I couldn’t let this get to me. I needed to focus.
Every time I tried to, though, my mind went to Maddy. How would she get off the island? How would she be able to push past all these people on her way to a safe passage?
Unless she were in the crowd, waiting for her turn, there was no hope.
There was no possibility of her leaving Crystal Cove. None at all.
Chapter Thirteen
Maddy
I stared at the sight in front of me, unable to comprehend what I saw.
“Holy shit,” Anna breathed out next to me. “What happened?”
I shrugged, not having an answer.
“I think people started to realize the severity of the situation and decided to not take any chances,” Grace explained, but her words did nothing to quell the rising panic within me.
I won’t be able to get off this island. There’s no way.
“Maddy, we’ll find a way for you, okay? Promise,” Grace told me, but I couldn’t hear her above the rush of blood in my ears. I felt as if I were drowning, the panic threatening to overtake me. My vision started getting black around the edges, a sure sign of a panic attack trying to surface.
“We got you,” Anna said, her hand grasping my arm. She kept me grounded, and I felt my vision slowly returning to normal. The pain in my chest was the only reminder of the misery surrounding me.
“If all these people want to leave, I’ll be stranded here. Some of them are gonna be stranded here,” I explained, sure I wouldn’t be the only one left behind.
“We’ll figure something out,” Anna promised, but I had a hard time believing her. What was she going to do? Make another boat magically appear?
I cursed myself for my bitter thoughts. Anna wanted to help, nothing else. Instead of snapping at her, I merely nodded.
I saw the boats in the distance, the size of them only confirming my fear. There was no way all of us could fit. No chance in hell.
Grace and Anna must have realized the same because they exchanged a worried glance.
“We’ll make it work,” Grace said again, though her words lacked the conviction of earlier.
We made our way over to the edge of the crowd, at least two hundred yards away from where the boats docked. Everybody started to push onto them the moment they stopped. It was like a scene out of one of those movies where the world was going to end and the only way to survive was to get onto the savior’s vessel.
It was madness.
I tried to ignore the panic rooted within me. It was there, under the surface, just waiting to emerge until the time was right. I couldn’t let it get to me. If I even considered the possibility I wouldn’t make it onto that boat, I was going to fall to pieces. It was the last thing I wanted.
I took a few deep breaths, wiping my clammy hands on my jeans, and followed Grace and Anna as they inched toward the harbor.
I watched the scene in front of me, shaking my head. Longtime friends pushing each other out of the way, families being separated so someone else could make it off the island.
The survival instinct kicked in full force, and while I completely understood the urge, I couldn’t help the surprise I felt at the recklessness with which people tried to get on board. Did the news of the storm hit
ting earlier make them go crazy? Or had the storm somehow grown in power, making those who were going to stay decide they wanted to keep on living? I had no idea the reason for the mass of people at the harbor, but it certainly hadn’t been what I expected. Not after being at Earl’s last night and hearing most of the patrons there talking about staying in the shelter, some even in their homes.
“They are already closing the ferry,” Grace explained, and my eyes went to the boat. The official from the ferry—easily recognizable by the jacket with the logo on it—stood at the entrance, holding up his hands. He attempted to ward off any more passengers trying to get on his vessel, but the more people pushed, the harder it got for him. Several men joined him, some I recognized as locals.
They yelled at everybody to get back, citing safety concerns. I didn’t know if people cared much about safety at this point. Or maybe they cared too much.
Something apparently clicked because people started to move away from the dock, making room for the ferry to leave.
We were nowhere near the entrance to the harbor, and the confirmation of my fears hit me like ice water.
I wasn’t going to make it. I was going to be stuck on this island and there was nothing I could do about it.
Nothing at all.
My body went numb, void of feeling. I didn’t panic. I stood there feeling nothing at all. I watched in a trance as, after another ten minutes, the second boat stopped taking on passengers, too. A lot more people could fit on that one, but not nearly enough to get everyone off this island. I was never good with numbers, but I would say at least two hundred people still milled around the harbor.
There were loud words of complaint, women and men alike yelling at more boats to show up. I knew it was no use. No other boats were scheduled today.
Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe.
The storm was supposed to hit the day after. I doubted anyone would want to venture out the day before a catastrophic storm, and I couldn’t say I blamed them.
“Maddy—” Anna started, but stopped herself, obviously not knowing what to say.
“Let’s get back,” I whispered. The sound of engines starting drew my gaze toward the harbor. I watched the ferry and the Coast Guard boat leave, so many people still standing around.
The faces on the boats were blurry, but I imagined they looked guilty. Sad. Unhappy about the amount of people who didn’t get off this island, yet happy they weren’t among that number.
The yelling hadn’t stopped, and I saw several of the men who had helped keep the crowd from going wild still up by the docks, trying to rein in the anger directed at them.
I caught sight of the dark head joining them, my heart skipping slightly. The traitorous organ supplied an endless amount of hope at seeing him, something I didn’t want, or need, at this point.
Jake stepped up, waving at the crowd to move. Others joined him, and though it took some time to get them to back off, everybody eventually did.
“Everyone, listen up,” a voice called from my right. I spotted George, the mayor, on a platform by the ferry-house. His eyes were focused, sharp, a man on a mission. “I know this situation we find ourselves in isn’t satisfactory. I realize that. However, we need to make the best of the situation at hand. The shelter has enough room to provide a safe haven for everybody when the storm hits. We’ve stocked it with food and other supplies we may need, as well as back-up generators when the power goes out.” Nobody spoke. The unruly crowd had quieted the moment George started to speak. “This shelter is perfectly safe. It will keep you and your family away from harm. Please, go to your houses, collect the belongings you need, and make your way there. It will be the safest place for you once the storm hits. While the strongest part isn’t supposed to hit us until the day after tomorrow, I would highly recommend getting settled into the shelter today. There’s plenty of time left, so please heed my advice. Thank you.”
George stepped down, all eyes trained on him. It was as if everyone held their breath to see what he did next. He vanished into the crowd, his blond head moving above it.
Murmurs started the moment he was out of earshot, a quiet buzz at first, then conversations erupted all over.
“Let’s get back,” Anna echoed my words from earlier. This time, I turned toward the road, picking up the box I had carried here and put down at some point, the weight much more than I remembered. Or maybe it had simply seemed that way because of the severity of my situation.
“Maybe they will send another boat tomorrow Or later today. I mean, it’s only shortly after ten a.m. Maybe the Coast Guard will radio the mainland and ask for a third ship,” Grace commented.
A small surge of hope ran through me. “Maybe.” My stomach jumped a little at the prospect of another boat coming, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up only to have them crushed again shortly after.
Grace stopped, turning to look at me. “Maddy, I know this isn’t what you wanted. I know the last thing you imagined was to be stuck somewhere you can’t wait to escape from. However, if no ship comes, I will do my damnedest to make sure you’re safe.”
I averted my gaze, turning to face the ocean. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, the memory of what it took from me vivid in my mind.
“People around here still care for you, Maddy, and they don’t want to see you unhappy. Whatever it takes to make you feel at home here, I’m sure they will do exactly that.”
I nodded, still not looking at her. I feared if I did it, I would break down. I wasn’t sure I deserved their kindness and understanding.
Two years ago, I left without a word and didn’t once turn to look back. I owed my childhood to these people. Each and every one made sure I had a happy and safe environment to grow up in. When my dad died, I forgot all about that and left. Knowing they cared and wanted only the best for me warmed my heart, but I also felt a sliver of shame at my behavior.
“Madeleine, you listen to me. I can see your wheels turning, and I’ve never liked it. You love to tell yourself you don’t deserve any of this, but you do. You deserve even more. People don’t stop caring because you leave a place behind. So whether you get a chance to get off this island or are stuck here, you don’t have to face anything alone.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. Hastily wiping it away, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, the salty ocean air tickling my nose. I used to love the smell…before the water became the very thing I hated most.
“Maddy?” Anna’s timid voice drew my gaze. I saw my friend’s worried expression. “My mom is right, you know? We all love you.”
I nodded, another tear making its way down, silently dripping onto the ground.
“I love all of you, too,” I whispered, my voice raspy and tight. I couldn’t say any more because the emotion clogging my throat wouldn’t let me.
These people cared. And whether I deserved it or not, I knew I wasn’t alone, no matter what happened.
And that counted for more than I was ever going to be able to repay them for.
Chapter Fourteen
Jake
The crowd slowly dispersed, a few staying behind to call out more obscenities. As if there were something we could have done to stop the boats from leaving. There had been more people on board than there should have been, so letting on any more would have been suicide.
Not everyone understood, though. Several young men and women stayed behind to throw angry glares at us, but there wasn’t anything I could tell them that would make them feel better. The boats had left, and I wasn’t sure there was going to be another one.
Maddy.
I hadn’t seen her get on either of the ships, so I was pretty confident she was still on the island. I felt happy about still having her here, but I knew watching those boats leave probably crushed her spirit. She had wanted to get off the island before the storm came. Now she wouldn’t get the chance.
“Hey, we need to take the new arrivals to the shelter,” Sully said. The boats had brought the last of our su
pplies. I glanced over at the huge pile of non-perishables, such as canned foods, crackers, and water. There were also a few generators, the sight of which made me sigh in relief. From what Dustin mentioned, the mainland hadn’t even been certain they would be able to send them because everyone inland was preparing for the storm, too, even though they weren’t supposed to be hit with even a fraction of what we expected.
“Yeah. Let’s do that now,” I replied.
Sully walked over, taking out his knife and opening the plastic around everything. We loaded the boxes onto a truck he had brought, and half an hour later, we drove to the shelter. Scott had joined us, so unloading didn’t take long.
When George saw us, he walked over and thanked us for the help. “You guys need to make sure to move your own stuff here, as well. I know some of you had planned to leave…” He looked directly at Sully when he said it, “but I won’t lie. I’m glad you stayed behind. We need men like you to keep everyone calm. You saw the mayhem earlier. The people are terrified. For a valid reason. However, panic is the last thing this group of people needs. We’ve gotten through some rough patches on this island, so I’m sure we’ll work this out, too.”
Sully’s gaze was glued to George, and I wondered what was going through his mind. This morning, I had talked to him about leaving again. He assured me he had a change of heart and only sent off his family. They had protested at first, then saw his reasoning and decided to visit her sister up north.
Did they make it onto one of the boats?
“I love this island and the people on it. There are too many I care about still here, so there’s no way I’m leaving.” Sully’s tone was final. A small smile spread on George’s face at my friend’s words.
“Thank you. I truly appreciate it. Now, there are a few beds I would like to get set up over there.” He pointed to a corner. “The kitchen also needs some repairs before we can get it working. Do you think you could help us with that? I have a few people down here already, but most are old and have their families bringing their stuff from their houses.”