by Rula Sinara
She rushed down the beach but not so fast that anyone would wonder what was wrong. She bounded up the back steps to the bed-and-breakfast, grabbing the box of tissues Melanie had on the console behind her sofa.
“Everything all right?” Melanie asked, peeking out from the pantry.
“Yes. It’s just a cold. I’m going to go lie down.”
“I can make you soup or tea.”
“No, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I just need a little sleep.” She hurried upstairs, collapsed on her bed and let the hurricane of tears she’d been holding back loose.
* * *
DAMON WAS FURIOUS that Scarlett had shown up in town. The reality was that he couldn’t stop her. Turtleback Beach was open to tourists and she could come there if she wanted. Especially since he was late on his deadline and had been brushing her off. He had that problem. Avoiding people when life got overwhelming.
He locked the door as Scarlett walked back to her car. They had gone over what he had for his next deadline and agreed to buy him a little more time with the publisher. He then warned her not to stay in the Outer Banks because word was the storm had picked up speed and was coming ashore a day sooner than expected. She didn’t need to get stuck with flooded roadways or any potential evacuations. Everything was still fluid with the situation. He needed to let Zuri know, too.
Duck followed him through the house. She sensed he was on edge. He knew she did because dogs were uncanny that way. He locked the door to his office, so he wouldn’t forget if Caden came over again. He’d forgotten on Christmas Eve, and had tensed when he went to get Caden’s gifts where he had them hidden in his office closet, but then he realized everything was fine. Nothing was touched or moved. Zuri was still asleep in the guest room and Caden was out cold on the couch with his book on his face. He was in the same position, with Duck draped over him, that Damon had left him in the night before. He needed to be careful though.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned against the glass of his deck door. The sea was already showing signs of the storm coming in. He needed to get over to the station for his shift. They needed to communicate with the fire department and sheriff’s office to coordinate efforts depending on how severe the storm was predicted to be at landfall. There would likely be power outages and possible water supply contamination and closed roads. They’d been waiting on any state warnings or closures to come through so they could act on them. His team needed to clear and patrol the beach regardless. The riptides and undertow were extra vicious in this kind of weather.
Scarlett said she had been in Charlotte, so she had decided to just drive over when she got word his publisher needed material by New Year’s Day and signatures before a filming date could be set. He looked at the time. Had Scarlet not shown up, he would have been able to go and make Zuri pack up an hour ago. She and Caden needed to leave ASAP.
* * *
ZURI ROLLED OVER and pulled the covers to her chin. She had mild shivers and wasn’t feeling well, but she wasn’t sure if stress had lowered her immune system or if what happened had rattled her to the point of shaking. She wasn’t sure if she was more angry at Damon or disappointed in herself for not being more careful. How could she have let this happen again? How?
Her phone charging on the nightstand lit up. She hoisted herself up and checked the screen. There were two texts. One from her boss and one was from Damon. She tossed the phone on the bed. Dr. Farthan was probably just thanking her for the taffy and wishing her happy holidays. Nothing happy about it.
And Damon...she willed herself to ignore him. It didn’t work. She could always check the text and not answer it if she didn’t feel like getting into it with him. She opened the message from work first and all it said was for her to check her emails. She opened Damon’s.
I think you should leave town sooner than planned. Things are not looking good. On my way.
She sat up and threw off the covers. Her temples pounded and she squeezed her eyes, but she was not going to cry. Not this time. She’d been through this before. The whole history repeats itself? She’d show history what she was made of. She blew her nose, then checked her email. No way. Seriously?
She got it. She was being offered tenure track. Her pulse raced. It was a sign. Both texts coming together like that. The universe was telling her she didn’t need him. That she’d be all right. That her parents had been right about making sure their daughters got college educations so they could always stand on their own two feet. They were thinking financially, not emotionally, but it was all a matter of survival at the moment.
“That’s what Damon wants, that’s what he’ll get.” She got up, pausing for a second to steady herself when the room spun, then grabbed her small suitcase. She threw Caden’s onto his bed as well, so he could pack as soon as he got back from lunch with Sara and her parents. She emptied her sweaters and underwear from the dresser drawer and the items she’d hung in the closet to keep them from wrinkling. She grabbed her phone charger and threw it in the suitcase. “A ride. You need to change your Uber reservation.”
She sat down and dialed. No luck. She even tried a few local shuttle companies but either there were no drivers available until the one she’d prearranged for the thirtieth because they themselves were on vacation, or they were all booked up because of the holidays.
She held her head in her hand, then went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. It didn’t really help.
There was a rap at the door. Ugh. She knew Melanie meant well and probably went and made soup and tea even if Zuri had told her not to bother, but she really didn’t want to be seen this way. There was another knock. You know hot tea would make you feel better. It would. She pushed her hair back and opened the door, then slammed it, but Damon caught it with his leg. He was holding a tray in his hands.
“Whoa, you don’t look so good.”
“Why thank you, Damon. I have a mirror,” she snapped. Don’t cry. He’s not worth it.
Damon set the tray at the foot of the second bed and put his hand to her head. She pulled away but his touch felt good even if she didn’t want it to.
“Melanie said you weren’t feeling well. I think you might have a low-grade fever.”
“I’m fine. And we’ll be leaving as soon as I arrange transportation. I got your message loud and clear. We won’t cramp your style.”
“What in the world are you—”
She held up a finger.
“Don’t worry, we can talk about visitation and what’s best for Caden, but he needs to finish his school year. I’m sure you can agree with that.”
Damon’s face scrunched and he shook his head.
“What are you talking about, Zuri? I was talking about the weather. The storm that’s coming. Cramping my style? Visitation? What about us?”
“Us? What about your girlfriend? The babe who had her arms around you earlier?”
God, she hated how she sounded. Like she cared. Like she was jealous and petty. Petty. She’d used that word on her mother regarding Damon’s mother. It was genetic. She was turning into her mother. Now she and Damon could join the family war. Man, her head hurt. Maybe she did have a fever and it was frying her brain cells.
Damon sat on the edge of her bed and scrubbed his hands across his head, then took a deep breath.
“Zuri. That woman you saw wasn’t what you think. She’s not someone I’m interested in. She’s someone I work with. Scarlett is my agent.”
“Right. That’s why, in her own words, she told me she was your girlfriend.”
“That’s our agreed MO if anyone who doesn’t know who I am around here sees her and asks questions. She must have thought she needed to shield me from you. She said my publisher was pushing for more publicity because the series has been optioned for movies and she knows I don’t want fans around here.”
“Fans. Oh, gosh. I was carrying
your book because Caden wanted the older copy he has signed.”
“That explains a lot. I’m sorry, Zuri. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I want you happy and in my life.”
She snorted and it wasn’t because of her stuffy nose.
“I was considering leaving my position in Boston for you and so that Caden could be with us both. You know me, Damon. I’m not the kind of person who wants to be in the spotlight and if this ever does get out—because I believe in Murphy’s Law and chaos and you won’t be able to hide forever—then I’m not going to be that girl on the sidelines while you’re surrounded by groupies and fans and media. It’ll be high school all over again. I don’t want Caden subjected to that either.”
“That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it because I won’t put you or him or anyone I love at risk.”
Love? He was referring to his son. Not her. Of that much, she was sure.
“You can’t predict the future, Damon. You couldn’t have predicted becoming a father senior year or your parents divorcing or Vera dying from cancer or your brother drowning. You can’t tell me that everything will be okay and that you can protect us or keep your life sane and simple. Things happen, Damon. Life is unpredictable. That’s reality. Not fiction.”
His eyes darkened and the creases that ran along his forehead and framed his lips and tugged at the corners of his eyes twitched with the pain she knew her words inflicted. She didn’t want to hurt him. She really didn’t, but she was hurting and confused and...scared. Scared of losing everything all over again. Scared of not being able to protect Caden from any more upheaval in his life.
“I’ve seen and felt more reality in this world than you’ll ever understand.”
He started slowly for the door but was at it in one long stride when Melanie called his name. There was no mistaking the worry in her voice. Damon looked back at Zuri and he didn’t need to say a word to know the same terrifying thought came to mind. She jumped from the bed and hurried after him.
“Damon!” Footsteps pounded the stairs before he reached the landing. Melanie sounded breathless. “Damon. Sara’s parents just got back and thought the kids would be here. They wanted to check out the shops after lunch and the kids said they were going to Castaway Books, but Eve said they never showed up there. They walked around for thirty minutes and haven’t found them. And Sara hasn’t answered her cell phone. That’s what has them worried. I know they have to be somewhere, but the weather is changing fast and I don’t know if maybe they went hiking inland again or if they’re on the beach somewhere. I looked from the deck and can’t see them.”
“It’s all right. I’ll find them,” Damon reassured. “Kids explore around here all the time. Sara knows the area.”
He followed her downstairs, keeping his cool, but Zuri could see the tension in his shoulders. She speed-dialed Caden’s new cell number but there wasn’t an answer. Damon looked at her and she shook her head.
“Don’t worry,” he told Sara’s parents. “We’ll track them down. They’ll probably show up here any minute. I’ll call around and let you know where they are.” He dialed a number on his cell.
“Hey, Carlos, I know they’ve only been missing an hour or so, but if you see Sara and Caden, could you or whoever’s on duty pick them up? I’m about to check the beach area. They may have gone toward the marsh. Parents are worried...yeah...thanks.” He dialed again. “Mark, we have a couple of ducklings on the loose and the tide is coming in...thanks...take Duck with you. I’ll be there in a second.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sara’s dad insisted. Damon nodded.
“So am I,” Zuri said.
“You’re not feeling well. I’ll find them,” Damon said.
“I’m coming whether you like it or not.”
The throbbing in her head had suddenly cleared and felt like it had traveled to her chest instead. Kids explored. It wasn’t the first time. It hadn’t been that long. But then why was her gut telling her something wasn’t right? Parental instinct? What happened to Caden having a cell phone to make him safer? She should have turned on his tracking. They’d barely set up a few phone numbers. This was all her fault.
“Sara’s phone,” Zuri said. “Can you track her location?”
“Yes, I forgot. We’ve never needed to but yes,” her mother said, searching her phone. “Here.”
Damon looked at her screen and Zuri could tell from the way his mouth flattened that he didn’t like it.
“They’re on the beach beyond the pier.”
Damon called in the location to his team. They were by the water. Zuri touched her necklace and the pulse in her chest thrummed against her hand. She took off after Damon, but he was so much faster than she was. The wind surged and the waves got louder. They had to be safe. They had to be.
* * *
CADEN LAUGHED AS he and Sara ditched the waves. They’d taken off their sneakers and socks and he didn’t care if it was cold or not. He was having a blast. This was the best day ever. He hadn’t told anyone about who his dad really was, not even Sara yet, but he had wanted to. He didn’t, though, because he realized this gave him an edge. He felt empowered and special. Bolder.
His dad wasn’t just D. L. Dylan. His dad was basically Chase Falcon himself. The character who’d given Caden hope and helped him escape when school sucked and made him see what it meant to be fearless and brave. That’s who he wanted to be like.
He didn’t care if he’d always been the very opposite...a geek like his aunt. He didn’t want to be that person. People could change. Sara made him want to change. Meeting his father made him want to change. And thinking of his mom made him want to, as well. She had liked his dad at one point in time. That meant she liked the kind of guy he was, and Caden wanted his mom, even in spirit, to be proud of him.
They ran back onto the cold wet sand, right to where the water had pulled away, drawing the sand out from under their feet.
The shock of cold water helped him forget that his mom wasn’t here. That Christmas wasn’t the same without her. He just wanted to run and be with Sara and forget how much he was hurting inside. Being around Sara kept him from crying because he didn’t dare let her see him break down. He didn’t want to cry. He wanted to be strong. Invincible. Immune to pain.
“Ready? It’s coming,” Sara said. She grinned at him, challenged him. He thought she was really pretty. He was so glad she’d forgiven him.
He fiddled with the bracelet she’d tied to his wrist as he stood, ready to run. He looked over his shoulder.
“Now!”
They raced up the beach, missing all but the mist that sprayed them from the crashing wave and laughed hysterically.
“Oh, geez. Did you see that? It was huge!” Caden said.
“Gargantuan!” Sara said. She spread her arms out and faced the ocean. “‘I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.’”
“Hey that’s from Moby Dick! I read that this year.” He loved that she read as much as he did and loved books like he did. He wanted to be great like his dad, but he didn’t think Sara cared that much about it. Not after the lighthouse. He could be himself around her and it was okay. But that only made him want to be braver even more.
“Hurry, another is coming.” Sara ran to the wet sand again and he followed. “Wait, see that? Oh, my God, that shell is huge! I can reach it. I have time.”
It was huge, but it was half-sunken in the wet sand and way too close to where the earth disappeared beneath water.
“Sara, don’t. That’s not a good idea. Get back.”
“Don’t be like that. I can reach it easily.”
The next wave was still rolling in. Maybe she did have time, but he was getting nervous.
“Leave it. It’s not worth it. Come on. We should head back. Your parents will be wondering where you are.”
He walked
toward her, the sand slipping and sucking at him, making it harder to move fast.
“Sara, don’t be like Elsa in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It’s not the Holy Grail. It’s not worth it. Leave it.”
She didn’t listen. She grabbed the shell and lost her footing. Caden lunged and held onto her arm. It happened all at once. He heard the lifeguard whistle. He heard the dog barking. He heard their names and the horror in his aunt’s voice. But the wave caught Sara first, then him and the ground disappeared. He found his footing, barely, and came up for air. Sara. She was only a few feet from him, gasping and flailing.
He could reach her. He had to. Swimming in the ocean isn’t like a pool. His aunt’s warning filled his ears. It didn’t matter. Sara was now a little farther. He could get to her before it was too late. He swam toward her, fast and furious, struggling to keep afloat. He touched her but her hand slipped from his. He reached again and had her, but the current sucked them out much farther from shore than they had been when the wave first hit.
“Hold on!” He held her from behind because he remembered Chase Falcon doing that so that the person he was saving wouldn’t pull him under. But they were both getting hammered by the waves and farther from shore by the second. He thought he heard a motor then saw something red bopping in the water. Then something dark...like a seal...or a shark. Panic zipped through him and water filled his mouth. Then another wave covered them. Sara slipped away from him and he couldn’t swim anymore.
* * *
DAMON SWAM LIKE he had hellfire behind him, fueled by terror and adrenaline and something he’d never felt before in all the rescues he’d ever done. Duck was just ahead of him. She had reached and entered the water faster than he could. He couldn’t wait for the boat or backup. He’d grabbed Mark’s buoy and ran with it.
He dove under every wave and beat the water behind him. He couldn’t let them die. He couldn’t fail this time.
You’ve got this.
