The Long Way Home

by Phillip Overton

  Chapter 9

  “For the last time, no!” Rowena said firmly to her sister as they sat around the table the next morning eating breakfast.

  “Oh how can you say that? No person could have just vanished into thin air without a trace. I’m telling you Rowena, I believe an Angel saved Simon’s life last night and I don’t care what you think!” Gail snapped back.

  “It was night time Gail. Perhaps he didn’t want any of the attention we would have layered on him and simply snuck away when we had our backs to him. So no, I don’t believe it was an Angel or anything!”

  “Look, I thought the same as you at first,” Tim added. “I looked all around the wharf and there’s no way anyone could have rowed away in a boat that far, and so fast without being seen or heard.”

  “He’s right Rowena, even without the flashlight there was a full moon, we could almost see clearly to the other side of the harbour. A speed boat would have had trouble escaping our sight in the time it took for us to turn around. How he even got to Simon before it was too late in a tiny row boat is beyond me.”

  “It was luck, that’s all. I don’t know why he was rowing a boat past your wharf late at night, but we are extremely lucky that he happened to see Simon fall in.”

  “Lucky? How can you say that, and that doesn’t even explain how he disappeared.”

  “Maybe he didn’t want to hang around. Maybe he didn’t want us to know who he was. I mean c’mon Gail. What was he even doing out there on his own anyway? He could have been a burglar, did you stop to think about that? If he had stopped long enough for us to thank him we may have been able to identify him, I’d be checking with your neighbours to see if any of them had their houses broken into last night.”

  “Now you’re being stupid! Why can’t you just open up your mind to the possibility that maybe, just maybe Simon had his guardian Angel come to his rescue last night?”

  “Because that’s your line of thinking, not mine!” Rowena snarled back. “Don’t you think I might have had enough of being told what I should be doing? What I could have done better? And maybe I am just getting sick of being treated like an idiot who can’t do half of what her big sister can. I’ve been through enough this year without being told what I should think as well.”

  Gail and Tim fell silent as they sat opposite her at the table. It had been a long night by the time they had seen to Simon and then settled the kids back in their beds. They had stayed up long after Rowena had turned in for the night discussing their thoughts on the evenings’ events. Tim at first had been a little skeptical of the idea but had soon been convinced of his wife’s belief that the person responsible for saving Simon from drowning was in fact an Angel. He could find no other explanation for it and the realisation still sent shivers up his spine. So he was surprised then when his sister-in-law became so bitterly opposed to the idea.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way,” Gail offered. “I didn’t mean to come across like that. I’ve always only wanted to help.”

  “I know Gail, and don’t think I haven’t appreciated all that you have done. It’s just that I don’t need all that religious garbage shoved down my throat on top of being made to feel like I’m not good enough to be a parent.”

  “Rowena you are a good mother. Simon loves you.”

  “Not as much as his father. I get stuck with raising him on my own while he only spends Saturdays with him and comes across as the hero. Then the other day after Simon got frightened on the ghost train he chooses to go off with Tim instead of his own mother. It’s just not fair.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you Rowena,” Tim apologized. “We’re only trying to make it easier for you to handle all the changes you’ve had to make this year.”

  “Oh I know it’s probably just me being silly. I’m so thankful for all you’ve done, both of you. It doesn’t mean it’s not hard though.”

  “I understand,” Tim said.

  “Last night though, you and Simon looked so close to each other,” Gail added. “There’s a special bond between a mother and her child in a time like that, no one else can ever take that away from you Rowena.”

  “I guess so.” Rowena paused for a moment, recalling the events of last night. Her sister was right, after nearly losing Simon she had wanted to hold him so tightly in her arms. He had responded by burying his head into her shoulder, desperately clinging to her. It was one of those horrible moments that ended well and would probably stay fresh in her memory for the rest of her life.

  “Let’s get these plates cleaned up then,” Tim said as he got to his feet, thinking it was probably a good time to drop the subject.

  “One more thing,” Rowena said as Tim started to stack the dishes beside the sink. “Can both of you please not talk about this with Simon. I don’t want you filling his head with ideas of Angels and near death experiences. He’s had enough issues to deal with this year without dumping religion on him as well.”

  Gail and Tim stopped what they were doing and looked at each other.

  “Sure,” Tim finally said.