by Jamie Summer
“Everything okay?”
I heard Scott’s voice right next to me and turned to face him.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m okay.”
He gave me a pat on the back before refocusing on his task.
“I’m gonna go downstairs and let everyone know we’re in the clear.”
Steve barely nodded, too immersed in whatever he was doing. I walked out, motioning for Scott to follow. There was nothing up here for us to accomplish right now anyway, and most certainly not at this time of night. I was pretty sure Steve would follow us when he’d finished checking the communication center.
The moment we stepped into the shelter, I was bombarded with questions.
“What’s going on?”
“Is it over?”
“Are we okay?”
I held up my hand to quiet the voices. “Everything seems to be over. The sky has cleared and there is no ocean movement. I think—” I stopped, taking a deep breath before uttering the next words. “I think we’re okay.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Maddy
I alternated between staring at the clock and staring at the silent radio. Ever since we showed up, nothing had happened. Kendall had gotten us more coffee, but besides that, everything had been quiet.
I asked questions, lots of them. But no one had been able to find any answers for me. It was seven a.m., but we still had not received any word from Crystal Cove. They assured me it was a mere electricity issue, but how exactly could they know? They didn’t have any contact with the island, so telling me crap like that only made sure I got angrier with every passing second.
“We’ll hear from them. The first boat leaves in an hour.”
Kendall was the only person who had been able to keep me sane through this, but even her words started to feel hollow. The longer I went without any news, the more I fell into the dark hole full of fear, doubt, and agony.
“I know. I still think I should be on it.”
When news had come through that the storm had almost passed, the Coast Guard scheduled one of their ships to leave as soon as they were sure it was safe. According to Mike, it would be another hour before they had the all-clear. However, they wouldn’t let any civilians on it.
“You can’t. They told you that. They need to keep the boat empty of all non-essential personnel in order to maximize the space they have for any injured. You know it’s important. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but transporting anyone to this island who needs it always comes first.”
She made sense, which was the reason I hated her a little that moment. I didn’t want her to.
“I need to know they are okay,” I whispered, my fingers massaging my temples as I felt the pain of the persistent headache pushing against my skull.
“And you will. They will radio in the moment they set foot on the island.”
I had heard all of this before, but it didn’t mean I liked what Kendall repeated to me any more than when I had to listen to the Coast Guard explain it the first time.
Suggesting we get some breakfast, she took me to the same bar I had spent my time in the day before. The same bartender greeted me, a smile on his lips.
“Glad to see you back,” he told me. I managed to smile, but the uncertainty in my heart slowly overtook every piece of me.
“I wish I weren’t.”
He nodded. “I know, but you need to focus on the one thing no one can take from you—hope. If you lose sight of it, you’re a lost cause. Don’t. Keep it within your heart and never let it go. It’s the only way to live.”
He looked at Kendall and asked what she wanted to order, ignoring me for a moment. He had said his piece and let me deal with it on my own. It was only when he came back with Kendall’s breakfast that he asked me what I wanted.
I had failed to study the menu, so I told him to bring me whatever he saw fit, which ended up being a stack of pancakes, bacon, and hash browns. It would’ve been the breakfast of champions any other day, but staring at it this morning, the only thing it did was bring back memories of the morning I had spent with Jake just two days ago.
It felt like a lifetime had passed since then.
Kendall sat next to me, eating, as I slowly sipped on another coffee that had miraculously appeared in front of me.
“You should stop after this one. Otherwise, I think you’re gonna end up dancing on one of those tables. I’m not sure your conscience would agree with it,” Kendall remarked, peeking into my almost empty cup.
“Don’t care. Anything to keep me from doing something stupid.”
“What would that be?” she asked, arching a knowing brow at me, as if she knew exactly what I had in mind. She leaned closer. “Do I need to handcuff you to this chair to make sure you follow orders?” I didn’t meet her gaze, which was all the answer she needed. “Ugh, Maddy. You’re gonna be the death of me.”
I picked up a piece of bacon, then put it back down. I wasn’t hungry.
“You either eat on your own or I will cram it down your throat. You hardly ate anything for dinner, and we’ve been up all night. If you want to go play hero, you need all the energy you can get.”
I couldn’t argue with Kendall’s point and grabbed a few slices. The salty taste of it made my mouth water, and suddenly, the emptiness in my stomach didn’t only come from worry, but from lack of food. I ate a few more bites before calling it quits. I had eaten something, which should appease my new friend.
And it did. Not completely, though. “I will keep you here at all costs. You know that, right?”
“You can’t actually handcuff me in here,” I remarked, sure she neither had the guts nor the resources to pull that off.
She glared at me. “Try me.” I swallowed. There was a resolve in her eyes I hadn’t seen before, which made me rethink my plan of sneaking onto the boat unnoticed. “Thought so. Now, where were we? Right. You were eating and not thinking about anything else.”
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye before going back to my food.
“When did you become so bossy?” I wanted to know, the change in her demeanor surprising me.
“Since I started caring. I don’t want anything to happen to you, and—” The bell above the door made her halt, and we both turned toward the newcomer.
“We’re looking for volunteers to help with the rescue of Crystal Cove. We’re short on staff and could use every hand available.”
My heart skipped a beat at the man’s words and I raised my hand immediately.
“I’ll help,” I called. The man gave me a nod as a few other people volunteered.
“I will, too,” Kendall said, her voice a mixture of fear and happiness.
“You don’t have to,” I assured her, but she shook her head.
“I need to. I want to. Something tells me you could use a friend when you go there.”
I couldn’t deny the power her words had on me. I had merely met her the day before, yet she was already going into a danger zone with me.
“Thank you. It means a lot,” I whispered, hoping to convey how grateful I truly was.
Kendall nodded as the smile on her face widened. “Seems like luck is finally on your side.”
All the volunteers were called. Before I left, I handed the bartender a twenty and thanked him quickly before Kendall and I followed the crowd to the harbor. It felt like I had made another friend there.
As we got down to the water, my eyes widened at the sight in front of me. There wasn’t only one ship ready to go. There were five of them. Two Coast Guard, one fishing boat, and two commercial ones. There were several people on all of them, all expectantly looking in our direction. I took in the scene, mesmerized and in awe of the way this town came together to help the island. My stomach felt fuzzy, the warm feeling coursing through me like a breath of fresh air.
I was so caught up in thankfulness, I completely missed Kendall calling me. Twice.
“Maddy, we gotta go. This one is ours,” she explained, pointing h
er thin finger toward the fishing boat. I felt both dread and elation at the prospect of setting foot on one of these. I hadn’t been on one since my dad died.
“What is it?” Kendall asked when she saw my hesitation.
I pointed at the vessel we were supposed to go on, knowing she’d understand. After all, she had to sit through several hours of my family history.
She put her hands on her hips. “Maddy, I never knew your dad, but from what you’ve told me, he was an amazing person, someone who lived for his job. I don’t think he would’ve wanted you to spend your life scared to step on another one of the boats he loved. He would’ve wanted you to embrace it, continue to love it when he couldn’t anymore. He would’ve wanted you to take your life into your own hands and not let your demons define you.”
I stared at her, feeling how my heartbeat turned erratic as my throat dried up. I had no idea what to say, so I stayed quiet. Kendall’s gaze held mine until I couldn’t bear it anymore and looked away, toward the boat I knew my dad would’ve wanted me to go on.
I took a deep breath and stood a little taller, recalling the last time I had been fishing with him. It was two days before the storm hit. The two of us had spent the morning fishing, returned to the harbor, then went back out to simply enjoy the wide horizon. There hadn’t been anything special about that day, yet it was one of the best memories I had of my dad. It spoke of our relationship better than any words could. It showed we didn’t need much to be happy, didn’t need shiny things or big houses. All we needed was a boat and the two of us. We talked for hours about the most random stuff, and I remembered how happy I was.
This was what I needed to focus on. The good times, the moments nothing and nobody could take away from me.
“Shall we?” Kendall asked. I nodded, taking the first steps.
I was already exhausted when I set foot on the vessel, one of the crew helping me onboard. I was tired, mentally and physically. Not sleeping last night didn’t help the situation. However, the prospect of seeing Jake again in a few hours had me wide awake.
He’s okay. He has to be.
The words kept replaying in my head as I followed our volunteer group, consisting of seven men and women, down to what I assumed to be the command center. It wasn’t huge—the boat itself was of the smaller variety—but held a couch and a table, several papers laid out on it. Two men stood over them, studying them carefully.
“Boss, we got the volunteers,” one of the men in the front said, causing one of the guys at the table look up. His gray eyes were hard, probably from seeing too much and working a job that required a lot of work and little pay. His face softened and lips quirked.
“Welcome, everyone. Truly happy you were willing to help out. I know our friends on Crystal Cove appreciate it.” He spoke with a deep and gentle voice, a complete contrast to the look in his eyes. “We’re leaving in about thirty minutes, so make sure you pay attention when Jones here goes over the boat’s logistics with you. Once we leave, we need all hands on deck. Even more so once we get there. Do any of you have any medical training?” A woman about my age raised her hand. “Perfect. We believe we’ll need medical assistance. We have no idea what we’re walking into, so be prepared for anything. This may not be for the soft-hearted, so I want to make sure you’re all aware of that.” He paused, watching everyone in the room. “Anyone reconsider going?” No one stepped forward. I felt a surge of pride go through me. “Thank you.” He motioned toward a man to my left. “All right, Jones. All yours.”
“All right, everyone. Get moving,” Jones yelled. His voice was strong, authoritative, not leaving any room for argument. We did as we were told, and within minutes, we were back on deck. Jones went through the basic explanation of what a fishing boat consisted of, the things we needed to watch out for, and where we would find all the necessities. He also pointed out where the Coast Guard, in accordance with the city council, had placed provisions, generators, and whatever else they were able to spare now that the storm was over. I watched attentively, though most of the features he talked about were already familiar to me. I hadn’t been on a vessel like this in a few years, but I still knew where to steer, where to throw out the nets, and where to find a safe spot if push came to shove.
I pictured my dad on his own boat, going through his routine of setting everything up, making sure the vessel was up to par. As I took a deep breath, the knot in my stomach loosened slightly. Kendall was right. Being here was exactly what I needed in order to face another part of my dad’s death. He wouldn’t have wanted me to avoid fishing boats the rest of my life.
Jones continued talking, but I barely listened. I fought through the fears and doubts, feeling how I was able to push them back a little more the longer I was on this boat.
“Wow, it’s amazing,” Kendall commented. I turned my attention to her.
“What’s amazing?”
“You didn’t listen to a word he said, did you?”
I shrugged in answer, not feeling bad for daydreaming.
“Anyway, he showed us where all the provisions are stored so we know where to go if that’s our job once we make it to the island.”
I nodded, pointing toward the door that led to the underground chamber. “You mean over there?” I asked, and she arched a brow at me.
“Show off.”
Her comment made me laugh as we both turned toward Jones, who still wasn’t done with his explanation. Our guided tour through the vessel went on for another twenty minutes, only stopping because we were ready to depart. It was clear Jones loved this boat and liked to show it off. I didn’t blame him.
Once the ropes were cast off and we were on our way, Kendall and I grabbed a soda and sat down outside, overlooking the calm ocean. The sun shone brightly, warming my face. With the beauty that presented itself to us now, it was hard to imagine a storm had raged through here just hours earlier.
We didn’t talk much. Nervousness took over, and I felt the buzzing in my ears increase the closer we got to the island. Whatever thought crossed my mind was pushed back by another seconds later. And then another. I had a hard time concentrating on anything when all I saw were the different scenarios of what had happened to my home. One worse than the other.
There wasn’t anything to keep me busy, so I was alone with my racing mind, trapped in an endless loop of horrible outcomes. My whole body reacted, the jitters within me becoming worse with every nautical mile we traveled.
“Is that it?” Kendall asked. I stood, watching something sparkle in the distance. I calculated in my head.
“Yes,” I breathed, holding onto the side of the ship. My legs felt wobbly.
I was finally back.
I would see them all again.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Whole.
I hope.
It took another half an hour for the island to come into view. I didn’t move, not wanting to miss any moment. Crystal Cove looked pretty much the same from this distance. I had no idea what I had expected. Part of the island to be missing maybe?
I turned, seeing the other ships following close behind, all approaching slowly, quietly.
“Everybody, fifteen minutes until we reach our destination,” Jones called out.
I didn’t take my eyes off my home. The closer we got, the clearer the destruction became.
The beach barely looked like a beach anymore. There was dirt and debris everywhere. From trash to algae to wood. Trees were broken, branches dangling precariously. The rock outcropping I used to sit on with Jake was nowhere to be seen.
Tears came to my eyes at the sight, spilling down my cheeks. Kendall took my hand and squeezed it tightly, while my other covered my mouth, trying to prevent my imminent breakdown from escaping.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
The foggy haze in my head cleared slightly, but it couldn’t erase the pain in my heart. The sight of my home broke me.
“Maddy...,” Kendall said, awe in he
r voice.
I followed her gaze. Then I saw it. People walking on what was left of the beach. There were maybe four, but we were still too far away for me to make them out. The sinking feeling in my stomach returned, a fight between hope, nervousness, and agony.
“I’m here,” Kendall whispered. I glanced at her, nodding.
“Thank you.” I turned toward back the island.
As the vessel moved closer, the features of the people became clearer.
It was as if my heart recognized him long before my eyes did. Jake stood at the very edge of the shore, his gaze focused on the approaching vessels. He wore the same clothes as when I had left, but they were now wet and dirty.
It didn’t matter. Nothing did.
He’s alive.
A sound escaped my lips.
He’s alive.
Relief crashed over me. For the first time in hours, I was able to breathe freely, without hesitation.
Jake was alive.
I repeated the words over and over in my mind as my gaze stayed on him, fearful he’d vanish if I looked away for a second.
It became readily apparent when he spotted me standing on the ship. His eyes widened, something I was able to see even from the distance still separating us. He quickly walked into the water, one step after the other.
What does he think he’s doing?
Scott ran up behind him and grasped his shoulders. He whispered something into Jake’s ear. After a moment of hesitation, Jake nodded.
“Get ready to disembark.” Jones’ voice drifted to me, making me turn around. “Two minutes!” he yelled before making his way over to the main cabin. I focused back on the shoreline, knowing several people were taking positions.
Two minutes later, just like Jones had promised, I heard the anchor splash into the water. The harbor was on the other side, but I knew not every ship could dock there. Which was exactly why we were doing so a little farther out to sea. A few lifeboats would take us to shore.
I walked over to the ladder where several people readied to get off the ship, careful not to lose eye contact with Jake completely.