“Cade!” Katie caught the frolicking boy by the back of his shirt, jerking him to a stop. “Where’s your brother? Where’s Dax?”
Cade’s song died as he slowly lifted his arm and pointed toward the water. Far out, past the breaking waves, Katie spotted a lime-green smudge.
“Dax!” Carla cried, running toward the ocean, still holding the crying toddler. “Dax! Noooooo!”
All the sounds faded until Katie could hear only the sound of her heartbeat, like a bass drum inside her head. Her eyes focused on the small boy, clinging to the dilapidated raft as it drifted seaward, only partially floating above the surface.
Nine years old. My sister’s age.
Ignoring the fear vibrating throughout her body, Katie slung the life vest strap over her shoulder and bounded past Carla to the water’s edge.
“Go get the lifeguard!” Katie yelled, as she splashed through the waves and dove into the salty water of her nightmares.
15
Fighting against the heavy headwind, Gary and Steven, once again tacked back and forth, sailing toward the beach, Katie’s pink cottage their bright target. From his position on the front of the catamaran trampoline, Gary kept watch, hoping to spot another dolphin, like the one who’d kept them company for several minutes on their way out. Instead, a flash of bright green caught his eye, then disappeared.
“Steven!” he yelled, pointing toward where he’d seen the color in the ocean waves. “There’s something green floating in the water, out there!”
He and Steven had already collected a piece of plastic and an empty water bottle, intending to dispose of the trash on shore.
“Coming about!”
Gary responded to Steven’s shouted command by rote, pleased that they were more in sync than ever. Now sailing parallel to the shore, Gary peered ahead, pointing toward the green plastic when it came into view again. Then he saw something bright orange. What was it? A lifevest!
“Go that
way!” Gary gestured twenty degrees to starboard. “There’s somebody in the water! Over there!”
Steven turned the rudder, letting out the sail to slow the boat.
“Two people! Do you see them?” Gary asked.
“Got ‘em!” Steven said.
Two heads bobbed in the water, one with an orange lifejacket. An arm waved in the air. Why were they out so far?
Gary shouted as they pulled up within a few yards of the swimmers. “Are you okay? Do you need—” He choked on his words when her recognized one of them. “Katie! What are you doing out here?”
Without responding, she swam toward the catamaran, tugging the boy in the lifejacket behind her. Gary held his breath until they made it to the boat. Steven quickly hauled the boy Gary now recognized as Dax, onto the catamaran.
“I’m s-sorry,” Dax sobbed. “I d-didn’t mean to.”
Steven hugged the crying boy, who seemed to hold onto him with as much grief as fear.
Katie put her hands on the hull and pushed up out of the water, arms shaking, but fell back before Gary could grab her.
Her head came up from under the surface, and she gasped, treading water in the ocean swell, her white coverup floating around her like a cloud. “Sorry… too tired… I’ll try again.”
He sat down with his feet on the hull and reached under her arms, lifting her from the water with sheer strength and adrenaline. Rolling back on the trampoline, he hauled her up with him, until she came to rest, lying on his chest, trembling in his embrace. She was safe in his arms, and he wanted to keep her there, forever.
“He got caught in a riptide. His float was sinking,” Katie said, with a shuddery voice. “I almost didn’t make it in time.”
“Shhhhh,” Gary whispered as he rubbed her back with calming strokes, while their hearts thudded against each other. He marveled that she’d swum so far out to rescue the boy, despite her utter fear of the ocean. In truth, even though the risk of a shark attack was miniscule, she could’ve drowned in her attempt. She’d risked her life for this boy she barely knew. That inner selflessness attracted him even more than her outer appearance.
In that moment, certainty set in. This woman was exactly what he needed, though he’d long ago given up his search. She was his destiny. Everything on his bucket list had become inconsequential. His life would be complete, if only he could have Katie by his side.
He continued to soothe her, until he realized she was crying.