Home to the Harbor--A Novel

by Lee Tobin McClain

  Icy water hit the side of his leg, and his heart sank lower. No one could survive for long in these temperatures; hypothermia would soon set in.

  “Let’s call in the Coast Guard,” he said as big drops of rain started pummeling them.

  Bisky grimaced, looking up at the sky. “Hate to do that, but...”

  William knew why: they weren’t sure that Sunny’s boat was in distress, and they also didn’t have a location. The watermen were careful not to tie up the emergency channel with general calls.

  A voice came over the radio set. “I’m west of Teaberry up through Kentstown. No sightings.”

  “That sounds like one of Rooker’s buddies.” Bisky steered them toward Teaberry Island.

  “I’ll try to contact her,” William said, because there wasn’t much he could do to help. He felt useless, ineffectual. Like before.

  Bisky shook her head, water flying off her as if from a wet dog. “Just monitor Channel 16.” She gripped the wheel and guided them through a swell, and then spoke again. “Why didn’t I get a fixed-mount radio with GPS?”

  He beat back his emotions and pushed buttons, trying to figure out Rooker’s radio, while Bisky fought the rough water. Waves slapped them hard, rocking them from side to side, and the sky let loose with torrents of rain. Finally, he heard a call on Channel 16. “Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard,” came the thready female voice. He was pretty sure it was Sunny. “She’s okay, she’s calling the Coast Guard, but not Mayday,” he yelled to Bisky, but she was focused on managing the boat and, amidst the wind and rain, didn’t hear him.

  He knew enough not to muddy the channel with talk, but he listened to her describe their location. She insisted she wasn’t in distress, but was taking on a little water, which sure sounded like distress to William. The Coast Guard watchstander sounded calm, though, and told Sunny to switch to a nonemergency channel where they could communicate without jamming up the emergency one.

  He made his way to Bisky and told her Sunny’s location. “She’s okay, she says, but they’re taking on water. Should I contact Rooker?”

  “Anyone searching will be monitoring Channel 16,” she said, and turned the boat so sharply that he nearly fell.

  The sky seemed a dark blanket over them, spitting rain in sheets now, and William’s hands ached with the cold, but he shook it off. How would Sunny be able to manage?

  “I see her boat!” Bisky gunned the motor, and the boat churned ahead toward a dark spot William could barely see, and then he could. The boat seemed to be foundering. “Sunny!” he yelled. “We’re coming for you, don’t give up!”

  “She’s overboard!” Bisky said, and William ran to get the rope and life preserver.

  He tossed it carefully, but the waters swept it past.

  Sunny was floating—thank God she was wearing a life jacket—but her eyes were wide and scared. “I don’t know what happened to Caden!” she screamed.

  William threw the life preserver again, and this time, Sunny grabbed it and held on. He hauled her in and lifted her into the boat where she collapsed on the deck, shivering.

  “See if Rooker has any blankets below,” Bisky cried, but William was already there, digging in the storage bin, finding a couple of old wool blankets and a poncho. He went back up and helped Bisky wrap Sunny in the warm materials.

  Sunny fought off the blankets and tried to stand, then collapsed again. “Caden... I don’t know where Caden is.” She was so out of breath she could barely talk.

  “Was he on the boat or overboard?” Bisky spoke sharply.

  “On the boat...but he might not...be anymore.”

  William looked over to where Bisky’s boat was now listing and bobbing in the rough waters. “Pull over there close and I’ll try to climb across.”

  “Stay here,” Bisky ordered Sunny, and then rushed back to steer Rooker’s boat into position.

  The moment the two boats touched, William crossed the gap between the boats and climbed over, barely making it, the slippery railings nearly sending him into the churn. On the boat, he squinted and searched around, reeling and falling on the slippery deck, his vision hampered by the rain. Finally he found Caden sprawled in the boat’s tiny cabin, barely conscious. “Hit my head,” he grunted out, rubbing the side of it, and then closed his eyes.

  William picked up the boy, no easy feat, and carried him to the deck. “Found him, he’s hurt,” he yelled.

  Bisky pulled the boat close again and William threw an arm over the rail and held them together. Bisky reached over and gripped Caden under his arms, Sunny holding her from the back by the waist of her pants. Between them, William pushing and Bisky pulling, they got the boy over to Rooker’s boat. Sunny pulled him to the deck, checking him, while Bisky took over holding the two boats together and William climbed across.

  “We made it!” Bisky was laughing and crying.

  William looked back at Bisky’s spinning boat, decided he’d better focus on getting the people to shore, and went for the helm as Bisky knelt by the two teenagers. He managed to steer the unfamiliar boat in the direction they’d come, Bisky calling out supporting instructions.

  But as they headed toward Pleasant Shores, the storm already waning, William’s heart was heavy in his chest. He’d helped, but not enough. He hadn’t saved Sunny; Bisky had. Without Bisky, he would have been totally ineffectual, as he had been with his daughter.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  BISKY WASN’T SURE HOW, but somehow, they made it back to land. William steered the boat while Bisky hugged and fussed over Sunny and her friend, a kid Bisky didn’t even know, who’d apparently hit his head in the tossing boat. He now appeared to be coherent and hopefully okay.

  It seemed like all of Pleasant Shores had learned about the search and gotten involved. Several other boats flanked them on their ride, one of them towing Bisky’s waterlogged boat. As soon as they reached Rooker’s dock, there were people ready to help them tie up and climb off the boat.

  William carried Sunny inside and upstairs, and thank heavens for that, because Bisky was jelly-boned after all the terror and excitement. The other teen—Caden, his name was—was shivering and panicky, and maybe he wasn’t as okay as he’d initially appeared, because he was spouting nonsense while his parents helped him into their fancy car and drove him away.

  It all blurred in Bisky’s mind. She was dimly aware of Mary and Kayla hustling her off into a hot bath, bringing in tea and cookies to get her strength up. They ignored her protests that she needed to tend to Sunny. “Put on your own air mask first,” Mary scolded. “Anyway, Ria’s giving her the same treatment. She showered her off and put her to bed. The tea they made Sunny will help her go to sleep.”

  Bisky stopped midsip and held her cup toward Mary. “I don’t want to sleep.”

  “No, your tea is regular green tea,” Kayla assured her. “A little caffeine, not much.”

  As soon as she’d stopped shaking, gotten cleaned up and warmed up, she put on warm flannel pants and a hoodie and made her way upstairs to see Sunny. Ria was sitting in a chair by the bed while Sunny dozed. She jumped up and hugged Bisky, told her Sunny was going to be fine, and then left them alone.

  Bisky leaned over the bed and put her arms around her daughter, and the shaking of Sunny’s shoulders told her Sunny was crying a little, just as she was. Finally, she let Sunny sink back down onto her stack of pillows and settled herself on the edge of the bed, holding her beloved daughter’s hand.

  “Am I in trouble?” Sunny sounded weepy.

  “Absolutely.” Bisky tried to make her voice steady and firm. “We’ll figure it out later, and yes, there will be consequences. But...” She felt her throat tightening. “I love you so much, kid. I was so scared.”

  They hugged again, and the feel of her warm, healthy, alive daughter in her arms was bliss.

  “I was scared too, Mom,” Sunny said, s
inking back down again. “It was all my fault. I’m sorry I sank our boat.”

  “You didn’t sink it. The twins’ family hauled it in. It took on a little water, that’s all.”

  “Oh, good.” Sunny’s wide smile was momentary, and then she frowned again. “Is Caden okay? He needs us to take care...of him.” Sunny’s voice was fading. That sleep-inducing tea must be taking effect.

  “He’s fine,” Bisky said, stroking Sunny’s hair back from her face and adjusting the blankets around her. “He’s going to be just fine, and so are you. Now, get some rest.”

  Downstairs, more of her friends had arrived: Ria’s husband, Drew; Amber and her husband, Paul; Bisky’s cousin Gemma and local hardware-store-owner Isaac, newly an item. Everyone fussed over her, making her sit down while they brought her hot oyster stew and saltines and a glass of wine, asking her to recount what had happened. She thanked everyone and looked around for the one person she really wanted to thank. “Where’s William?” she asked.

  “He was here,” Kayla said, looking around.

  “Pretty sure he went home to shower,” Paul said.

  Of course he must have. He’d been soaked. Bisky chatted a few more minutes and then excused herself, stepped into the dining room where she could hear better, and called him.

  The call went to voice mail, which was disappointing. When his greeting ended, she left him a message: “Thank you for everything you did today. Come back over if you want some food and company. Most everyone’s over here.”

  She went back out and talked with her woman friends, told the story over and over, accepted their congratulations and hugs. It was warm and wonderful and she had another glass of wine. This was why she loved her hometown and always would. They pulled together and helped each other.

  And her daughter was safe. She kept looking upward, partly toward Sunny’s bedroom, but partly to offer repeated prayers of thanks.

  Drew sat close to Ria, and Amber was actually in Paul’s lap. Seeing the happy couples made her wish William would come back. And she didn’t want to examine exactly why she wanted that, or what it meant. She’d figure that out another day. All she knew was that she longed to be close to him.

  She checked her phone, but he hadn’t called back, so she texted him another message and waited to see if he’d respond.

  No answer.

  In the living room, people were still talking and laughing, most starting to drift out now, waving, hugging her, telling her to get some rest.

  She waved back and smiled and hugged, but she kept checking her phone and there was still no response.

  He’d probably gone straight to bed, exhausted. But a feeling of unease settled in her stomach and wouldn’t go away.

  * * *

  SUNNY WOKE UP sore in every muscle. At first she thought her head was just pounding, but then she realized the pounding was at her bedroom door.

  Bright sunshine poured through her window and slowly, the previous day’s events came back to her. Ugh. Her stomach knotted. She’d really screwed up and for a minute there, she’d thought she might die. And cause Caden’s death too.

  Where was Caden, anyway? Had he gotten any of the help and support she’d gotten from Mom and her friends last night, or had he trudged home to the Blue House alone?

  “Let me in!” It was Kaitlyn, and Sunny sat up, blinking, relieved to see a friend.

  “I’m so glad you came over.”

  “Here.” Kaitlyn thrust a bag of donuts at Sunny. “My mom made me bring it.” She spun and walked toward the door.

  Sunny sat up and swung her flannel-clad legs to the side of the bed. “Wait! What’s wrong?”

  Kaitlyn turned back. “Besides the fact that you ruined Venus’s and Caden’s lives?”

  Sunny’s stomach lurched. “What do you mean? Caden’s fine, right?”

  “His parents found him, because of all the calls that went out about your boat being gone. Someone knew he was on it and let them know.”

  Sunny’s heart sank. “Oh, no. Where is he now?”

  “They took him home. And he’s not answering his phone.”

  Sunny closed her eyes and leaned back against her pillows. “What about Venus?”

  “Her mom’s boyfriend came over this morning and dragged her back to the island. She might have to homeschool there. Or else the whole family might have to move.”

  “What? She wants to stay here!”

  “Exactly. But apparently, her mom and her boyfriend got mad that Venus let you see those pictures. They were supposed to be private because she’s gotten harassed by dogfighting people. Now, she’s afraid word will get out where she is.”

  “I wouldn’t tell.” Shame welled up in Sunny. She’d caused that with her thoughtless actions.

  Muffin nudged her way into the room and jumped up on Sunny’s bed, and she cuddled the dog close. She wished she could go back to yesterday morning and start things over.

  Kaitlyn turned as if to leave and then spun back. “Why did you go over there without us? Without even telling us?”

  “I...” Sunny trailed off, because her own reasoning wasn’t clear in her own mind. If you could even call it reasoning. In truth, she’d just gotten the idea and run with it.

  “Don’t answer,” Kaitlyn said, pacing from one side of Sunny’s bedroom to the other. “I know you wanted Caden for yourself.”

  “That’s not true...” She trailed off. It wasn’t true. Was it?

  “You’ve been acting like me and Venus are idiots for being boy crazy, but you’re just as bad. Worse.”

  Sunny stared down at her quilt, ragged now. It was a Dutch Doll pattern her grandmother had made, out of her baby clothes.

  She longed for those days, when she was a little kid and Mom made all her decisions and no one got mad at her, except maybe for spilling her juice.

  Now, she was old enough to seriously screw things up. And she had. Her throat tightened and tears welled in her eyes.

  She looked up at Kaitlyn. “How can we fix it?”

  Kaitlyn lifted her hands, palms up. “We can’t.”

  Sunny thought. “What if we go over to the island and talk to Venus’s mom? Tell her how sorry we are. I mean, how sorry I am. Explain that we’re not going to tell anyone where she’s at.”

  “Pretty sure she doesn’t want to talk to you. And what about Caden?”

  The thought of him, back at home with his parents in that vague bad situation he’d run away from, turned Sunny’s stomach into a tight knot. “I’ll think of something,” she said, but weakly.

  “Count me out,” Kaitlyn said. “I’m sick of your big ideas.” She stomped over to the door and left.

  Muffin leaped off Sunny’s bed and followed her.

  Sunny sank back down onto her bed and cried a little into her pillow. Even the dog had abandoned her.

  She could smell the salty dirtiness of her own hair. Last night, she’d only rinsed it. Downstairs, Mom was banging pots and pans. She heard her talking to Kaitlyn, both sounding cordial. So Kait was making nice, not wanting to involve Mom in the drama. Though Mom would probably find out some of it, at least.

  Anyway, Sunny would probably be grounded for the rest of her life, or else kept so busy with chores that she had no time to see her friends or fix anything.

  If she even had any friends left. She pretty much didn’t. And now that that was the case, she could admit it: she’d really liked Caden. Had thought that maybe, if their friendship came along and worked, she’d like dating him.

  But she was just like Mom, who sometimes claimed she was too big and bossy to have a relationship. Men didn’t stick around women like them.

  At least Mom kept friends, though. She could hear, now, that someone else was in the kitchen. It sounded like Mary.

  They were laughing. Because Mom was a good friend who didn’t screw up othe
r people’s lives.

  Sunny wasn’t.

  After a few more minutes crying under her covers, she sat up. Enough. She was going to figure out some way to help Caden and Venus. And find out who was abusing the dogs.

  She didn’t know how, but somehow, she was going to do it. Or die trying.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  WILLIAM SPENT THE next while trying not to think. In a rote manner, he went through his responsibilities with the teenagers, fixed a couple things around Victory Cottage. When he ran out of things to occupy himself, he contacted Mary and asked if she needed him to do anything else.

  He’d expected her to put him to work fixing up things around her store. Instead, she suggested he start to do a few repairs on the Blue House. She also suggested that he ought to get Paul, Trey and Drew to help him.

  He didn’t have it in him to call the other men, but he whistled to Xena. They trudged over to the Blue House together so William could look things over.

  To his surprise, he found evidence of a squatter there. Not a messy, partying or drugged-up squatter, but someone who washed his dishes and folded his sleeping bag and, evidently, used the shower.

  He was pondering all of it when Xena barked, and then Sunny walked through the door, Muffin following behind her. He was surprised, but genuinely glad to see her. He hadn’t talked to her since the boating disaster.

  The two dogs greeted each other, tails wagging.

  “I’m glad to see you’re okay,” he said, then looked at her closely. She had the swollen eyes of someone who’d spent a lot of time crying. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She was clearly lying. Listlessly, she wandered over to the sleeping bag and duffel, knelt and started looking through it.

  Xena walked over to her hesitantly and sniffed her shoe, then nudged her hand. Sunny rubbed the dog’s head, absently, and then Muffin pushed her way in, obviously looking for her share of attention.