“I think so,” his father said nodding.
His mother settled two fresh beers in front of them and sat down beside his dad with her hands tucked between her knees. “I know so,” she said quietly. “I don’t think she expected Drake’s heart was as brave as hers. She truly didn’t think he’d go after her. All that girl considered was saving what Drake loved, not realizing it’s her that means the most to him.”
Layton gaze shot to the ceiling, his heart giving way to doubt, and he felt tears well in his eyes. They were surely dead. A gust of air escaped his heavy heart, and he buried his face in his hands. His mother’s arms wrapped around him.
“Now, now, honey, don’t you dare give up on your brother. I’d know if they were gone, and I refuse to believe that the sea would take your brother from us.”
He swept the tears away and said, “She can be a spiteful bitch, Mom.”
Layton and his parents watched the aftermath on the TV, whiling away the tense hours. The Coast Guard had been searching for four hours with no sign of the Rebecca. No further communications had been received. His mother was a stunned mess and his father increasingly silent.
The big grandfather clock in Drake’s massive vaulted living room struck seven p.m. and the sound echoed hollow in his heart. The Coast Guard had given up the search with darkness and said they would resume again tomorrow, but Layton held little hope. He thrust himself to his feet and walked to the window, staring out at the sea. Both he and his brother had made their livings from it, but now it looked like his brother and Twila had given theirs like so many others.
“Looking for someone, brother?”
Layton swung around, and his parents jumped from the couch. Everyone seemed afraid to move as if two ghosts stood before them.
Drake grinned his devil-may-care smile down at Twila with his arm swept tightly around her shoulder. “Oh ye of little faith,” Drake said.
Then they were all over them. Layton had to confess he might have landed one a little too long on Twila than his brother would have wanted, but too damn bad.
* * * *
Sitting around the large wood dining room table, their bellies full and their hearts happy, Drake and Twila recounted their story. After getting the Rebecca restarted, they’d taken an enormous wave over the top of the Rebecca that knocked out their communications and their radar. Wilma drove over them like a freight train with wind gust in excess of one hundred and sixty miles per hour. They had to lash themselves to the bulkheads to stop from being thrown around, but the Rebecca held steady. Once Wilma passed over them, they headed for the Keys but couldn’t dock. His pier had been torn to pieces so they anchored offshore. Back on dry land, and happy to be there, they walked the two miles to his house.
“Did you call the Coast Guard? They were out looking for you,” their father asked.
“I did. They told me you’d been calling every two hours,” he said surveying his brother.
“Have to admit I was a little worried.”
Drake sat up and took Twila’s hand in his. “So you guys ready to get on a plane?”
“Plane?” his mother chirped. “You just came home after a harrowing experience.”
“Thought you might want to go to Atlantic City with us,” Drake said, beaming a smile down at Twila.
“You’re going to be busy. Since when do you take time off?” his father asked.
“Since we’re getting married tomorrow.”
“Aww.” His mother rose with her arms outstretched and gave them both an enormous hug careful not to touch his burned arm. Then she backed up and placed her hands on her hips giving Dad a harsh look. “Well, don’t just sit there, old man. We need to pack.”
His dad rolled his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. “Yes, dear.” Looking at him he said, “A warning son, a woman is worse than a hurricane. She doesn’t just pass by with her wrath, she just takes a breath until she’s ready to blow again.”
They all laughed when his mother gave his dad a good smack on his ass.
“Watch it, woman, I got old bones.”
“Oh pshaw, don’t hear you complaining in bed.”
“Oh, no, no, no!” Both boys backed away flailing their arms. “Don’t need that info, Mom,” Drake said.
“Jesus, Mom.” Layton winced. “Yuck.”
“What?” she drawled, “You think you boys showed up in the cabbage patch? Your father’s hot in bed.”
“That’s it,” Drake said, giving her a teasing scowl. “We’re going to bed. See you all in the morning.”
Twila was laughing her head off when he grabbed her around the waist. “Coming to bed, Mrs. Addison?”
“Not Mrs. Addison yet,” she teased.
“Close enough.” Before leaving, his brother motioned to him. “I’ll be there in a second, sweetheart. What’s up?”
Layton shoved his hands deep in his pockets and gave him an inquisitive look. “So…Twila doesn’t happen to have a sister does she?”
He gave his brother a good one in the bread basket, but not enough to knock the wind out of him. “No.” He turned to follow Twila. He couldn’t wait to bury himself inside her to make sure they were both alive.
“Cousin?” He heard from behind him.
“Noooo,” he called over his shoulder.
“Aunt?”
“Shut up,” he pitched, without looking back.
“Second cousin maybe?”
“Find your own, asshat.”
* * * *
Layton chuckled, but he couldn’t rid himself of the niggling jealousy in his belly. He wandered out onto the deck. Lights twinkled down the coast. Many people had lost power during the storm. Not many homes like Drake’s had a backup. No matter what, Floridians always found their feet, even when Mother Nature tried her best to blow them over. Resting his forearms on the railing, he stared out over the water. The full moon shone a brilliant beam of light upon the calm sea. Drake’s happiness enveloped him, and it was because of Twila. He grinned when the phrase, ‘she completes me’ flitted through his mind. Looking up to his older brother hadn’t ceased just because they weren’t getting into trouble at school anymore or trying their best to drive their mother nuts. He’d been playing the bachelor game for years just like Drake and wondered how long he’d have to keep moving the chess pieces until he found his mate.
Drake had it easier. Layton hadn’t thought past his next specop mission. Surviving was one thing, but coming home to an empty apartment sucked. Throwing back drinks and playing pool on his down time kept him out of trouble. Definitely didn’t have a problem getting laid, but nothing clicked between him and a girl enough to make her breakfast or get her phone number. The girls that hung out at the bars wanted what he did, nothing special, just sex.
“Hey, what’s up?”
Drake took a pose beside him staring into the darkness.
“Shouldn’t you be burning up the sheets with your fiancée?”
“She’s taking a shower.”
Layton turned a cocked brow at him. “Alone?”
“Okay, so she threw me out saying I’d hung onto her enough for the last fifteen hours.” He chuckled. “Somethin’s-up-with-my-brother radar is pinging.”
“Nah, bro, everything’s good.”
“Sorry if we scared the shit outta ya.”
“Still got my big brother and now a new sister-in-law.” Drake disappeared for a second and when he returned, he nudged his elbow with a beer. “Thanks.” In unison they twisted the cap and flung it at the ashtray on the table. Drake’s stayed. His slipped off the lip and landed on the floor. They both hauled back a long draw.
Drake dangled the beer from his fingers. “You’re thinking about leaving specops, aren’t ya?”
“A bit,” he admitted.
“What else?”
Layton shrugged.
“I didn’t see Twila coming, ya know. I didn’t want the white picket fence. Wasn’t even considering a girlfriend.” Drake cranked his head to look at him. �
��Didn’t imagine I’d ever have a family, but that’s all I want now.”
“You both went through a crazy experience. Maybe once it settles down, that’ll change.
Drake gave him a cocked grin. “That’s what I was thinking before Wilma. Now, I’m hoping that in nine months you’re going to be an uncle.”
Layton chuffed a laugh and stared straight below the deck. “I’m happy for you. Both of you. She’s a real sweetheart.”
“She’s more than that. She turned my empty into full. I plan to piss her off, make her laugh, and hold her when she’s sad for the rest of my life.”
Drake elbowed him, and he shook his head. “Guess I’ll have to be happy with being an uncle. Doubt I’ll ever be a father.”
“What are you boys still doing up?” his Dad said, standing in the doorway.
“Listenin’ to Layton mope that he’s not in love yet.”
“Screw you, I didn’t say that.”
Drake spit out a laugh. “Written all over ya.”
“Did I—” his father began.
“Okay,” they said in unison. “Time for bed.” Dumping their beers on the table they whistled past their dad.
His father gave a good belly laugh. “You tired of my stories?”
Layton patted his dad’s shoulder when he passed him. “If it’s about meeting Mom, we’ve heard it about a hundred times.”
“I was gonna say, when I dated a stripper.”
He and Drake stopped dead in the middle of the living room and slowly cranked a look over their shoulder at their dad.
“Just kiddin’. It was about your mom.”
They rolled their eyes.
“Layton, my son. When you least expect it, your forever girl will be like a bright light shining in your eyes. You won’t be able to see anything else but her.”
“Sure, Dad. Thanks.”
“He’s actually right, ya know,” Drake said, walking down the hallway beside him. He stalled with a hand on the mastersuite door. “I didn’t think past the end of my dick for years, but when I saw Twila, my first thought was about her, not about me. I was hooked, and I’m gonna tie the knot good and tight.”
“She would have died out there without you.” Layton had his hands drilled in his jean pockets. He couldn’t imagine giving his life simply for love. His job was all about taking chances, but for his country not a woman.
“Maybe, but where she goes, I go.”
The door to Drake’s suite opened. He couldn’t see Twila, only Drake’s expression when he turned his head.
“Sweet Jesus, I’m a lucky man.” Without a backward glance he was gone and the door slammed shut.
“Lucky bastard.”
Epilogue
“So what do you think, Mr. Addison?” Twila asked, taking a step back and viewing her handy work.
Addison Geriatric Services. Caring for your loved ones like they’re our own logo had arrived from the sign makers. She pressed the last edge down on the window of her new office.
Drake lifted the camera, zoomed in and snapped a shot. He lowered it to his chest. “Think it’s pretty much perfect, Mrs. Addison.”
“Hey, I like,” Penny said, appearing in the front door.
Penny had the same training as she did and since hiring her, Penny had proven herself by setting up a marketing plan and bringing in clients. Her brilliant red locks and sharp green eyes glittered at both of them.
“I’m so excited,” Penny said, clapping her hands together.
Penny was all of twenty-five and her bubbly personality lifted everyone’s spirits. Joining her and Drake, they all admired the sign.
“Hey, hey, looks pretty good.”
They swung around to see Layton with Drake’s mom and dad in tow, everyone wearing a smile. Yet, Layton’s seemed to settle into a dazed look when his gaze fell on Penny.
“Hi,” he said sedately. “I guess you must be Penny.”
Penny opened her mouth, but nothing came out so she closed it and nodded.
Becka didn’t seem to notice the interaction and neither did Gordon as they offered Twila a congratulatory hug. They babbled happily while Layton continued to stand stone still and stare at Penny.
Penny was the first to break the connection. “I-ah, bought a cake. Why don’t ch’all come on in and have some.”
Layton nodded once and watched her disappear through the door.
“What’s the matter, brother?” Drake asked, giving him a poke in the ribs. “Didn’t think I’d ever see the day a woman could stop the bullshit from pouring out of your mouth.”
“Where the hell did she come from?” he asked, still looking a little stunned.
Twila wrapped a hand around the bulging muscle of his upper arm. “Texas, Layton.”
“Uh-huh,” was all he offered.
Twila twined her arm through her husband’s and herded her family toward the front door, nudging them to go ahead.
She looked up at the modest window. So much had happened in the last seven months it made her dizzy to think about it. Marrying the man of her dreams, surviving the hurricane and learning to let go of the past had her heart swimming in happiness. She brushed a hand over her swelling stomach, their new family member only two months away from joining them.
Drake had to expand the business, tripling it in size and manpower. The gossip mill picked up their story. When people found out the Rebecca survived a cat3 and a rogue wave the size of a ten story building, his sales jumped by five hundred percent. He’d given more responsibility to the men he trusted to run the company, and he was home by five every night.
Twila missed her parents, especially now with the baby coming. Fear and grief of the ever after have their moments, but the joy of living, as Drake reminded her every morning with a kiss, telling her he loved her beyond reason, was more important.
“Layton,” Becka shouted. “You could just thank Penny for bringing the cake, kissing her is not necessary. You’ve scared the poor girl.”
Twila broke out laughing. Oh, yes, living in the moment was definitely a lot more fun.
The End
About the Author
I grew up on the beautiful West Coast of British Columbia with the Pacific Ocean on my western doorstep and thousands of acres of forest on the other. After finishing school, my life took a drastic twist, and a lifelong working relationship with the marine industry began.
After a twenty-year hiatus from my creative writing, the stories swirling in my mind began to swim hard to surface, and I threw them a life ring. My life is a mix of creativity vs. black and white procedures. With a lifetime of working in the marine community, there’s plenty of stories to tell. It’s a different world, different language, unsung heroes and heroines aplenty, heated moments, and blissful silence when all is well. Reading and writing is the way I turn down the loud hum that my work causes, and after thirty years of humming, it’s time to vent.
https://www.facebook.com/natasza.waters
https://twitter.com/NataszaWaters
or email me at [email protected]
Other books by Natasza
Too Grand For Words
His Perfect Imperfection
Committed to Chase (Field Stripped Anthology)
August 2016 SEALed with a Weekend (Desiree Holt’s KW)
“A Warrior’s Challenge Series”
Book One - Code Name: Ghost
Book Two - Code Name: Kayla’s Fire
Book Three - Code Name: Nina’s Choice
Book Four - Code Name: Luminous
Book Five – Code Name: Forever & Ever coming soon
Message from Natasza
Thank you for reading “Twila’s Tempest”. I love to visit Florida and while staying with my brother-in-law, this little story sprang to life. The good people of Port St. Lucie have recovered a few times from hurricanes. They rebuild after each one, but one thing that is never extinguished is their spirits. The restaurants, tourist shops and open-air markets are a must. Of course, jus
t down the road is the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce. Remember the incident which gave life to the movie “Captain Phillips”? The lifeboat resides at the museum. When you see those small port holes, you’ll appreciate the expertise it took for the SEAL snipers to take those shots in less than perfect conditions, a stressful environment and a distance that made success unlikely, but they’re Navy SEAL snipers, and they rarely miss.
Visit my site to read a sample of my other books and listen to the story scene song lists.
http://voicebetweenthelines.com/music-inspiring-my-writing
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