just being at Evie’s reminded you of what happened last time.”
“It wasn’t this bad last time,” I moaned.
He reached over to pat my arm, “It’s going to be alright.” I hoped that he was right, and I told Cruz what I saw. He knew how to get to the spot where the competition was being held, so I closed my eyes and prayed as we crept along the rain slicked roads at a snail’s pace. We finally arrived at the point, only to find a deserted rocky beach. The wind lashed the waves and the rain was pouring down on the rugged shoreline.
There wasn’t a soul in sight.
We drove a ways down the coast and pulled over at lonely gas station. I got out and ran into the garage, looking around frantically for any sign of life. A man working on a car glanced up at me. Startled, he hit his head on the fender.
“Can I help you miss?” he sputtered out. He stared at me as if I were an apparition.
“The big wave contest at the point – what happened?” I asked, panicked.
“Oh, they called that thing off when the storm rolled in,” he said, “This is no kinda weather to be out in.”
“Thanks!” I cried and ran back to the car in the driving rain. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe nothing had happened. I told Cruz the news and he was relieved.
“See? Nothing to worry your pretty little head about!”
“Can you take me to Ethan’s, just to be sure?” I asked.
We drove to the apartment, amazed at the size of the waves we saw along the coast. The sea looked angry, raging at the sky and tearing at the land. I felt a little tingle of fear in my spine. I raced up the stairs despite my crippling boots, and pounded on the door.
Ethan opened it, a hard, worried look on his handsome face.
“Thank God!” I threw myself onto him, wrapping my arms around him with relief.
Cruz came up behind me, “She thinks something’s going to happen to you. You should have seen her– she just went totally ballistic! Hey mom… What’s going on?” I looked up to see Abby’s tear streaked face. The pain behind my eyes returned with a vengeance, and the roar of the ocean filled my ears. This time I saw Dutch, surrounded by huge waves. He was covered in bright orange and clinging to a white cube. My knees gave out and I slumped to the floor.
Now it was Ethan’s voice calling my name as I struggled back to consciousness. Abby was holding my hands, and Ethan was kneeling over me. I was lying on the couch. I bolted upright.
“Oh my God! It wasn’t you, it was your dad! We have to go find him!” Ethan looked at me in stunned silence.
“Oh Abby,” I hugged her, “Don’t worry, we can find him.” They looked at me as if I’d gone crazy, and I made a serious effort to regain my composure, drawing in a deep, shaky breath.
“What’s going on?” I asked, “Tell me.”
Ethan sat down and grimly explained what had happened. Dutch had taken a group out on a fishing charter when he got caught in the sudden squall. He had radioed in a distress call before his signal was cut off. The coast guard sent a clipper boat out to his last known position and they’d been sitting in the apartment, anxiously waiting for word. Ethan looked miserable, and my heart ached for him.
“It will be fine,” I said slowly and firmly, “They’ll bring him back. I saw him.” They all looked at me funny, and started trying their best to get me to lie back down. I finally clammed up in frustration, unable to find a way to make them believe me.
We waited for several hours. Cruz made some coffee and sat with his arm around Abby, who was fighting back tears. Ethan paced nervously, sitting and standing every few minutes. I didn’t know what to do. The wind and rain howled outside.
There was a rap on the door and we all jumped. It was the harbormaster with news. He looked sick as he spoke to Ethan.
“Son, your dad’s vessel went down.” Ethan blanched and I stepped to his side.
The man went on to say that they had rescued the passengers clinging to the inflatable, but Dutch hadn’t made it onto the lifeboat. They’d called off the search due to hazardous conditions, but would mount a recovery operation at first light.