Charlie St. Cloud Page 0,59

There was no mistaking it. She was real.

When they let go, she moved toward the big leather couch, plopped down in the middle, and buried herself in the pillows. “I can’t frigging believe this is happening,” she said. “I just can’t . . .”

“Tell me about tonight,” Charlie said, sliding in beside her.

“I went to my mom’s with Sam,” she said. “I couldn’t take it. It was just too sad. I can’t believe I put her through this again.” She pulled a pillow into her lap. “My crazy friend Tink thinks he’s going to rescue me tomorrow. God bless him. Poor Mom is clinging to that hope.” She threw the cushion down.

Charlie put his arm around her. He could feel her shaking with every breath. And that was what seemed impossible to explain. She was a spirit and yet she was shuddering right there in his arms.

“What about you?” she said. “Where’ve you been tonight?”

“I went down to the dock to see what was going on.” He stroked her shoulders and her hair. “Coast Guard says Querencia was destroyed by fire. They’ve been picking up charred wreckage all over Cape Ann. They think there’s no way you survived.”

“Do you believe that?” she asked.

“No,” he said, trying to convince himself. “Not until we find your body.”

Tess was staring at the burning log. “A fire . . .” she whispered. She seemed lost somewhere for the longest time, and then suddenly her eyes sparked and she said, “Charlie, my God. I think I remember what happened. . . .”

The boat had been upside down forever. It was pitch black in the cabin, and the floodboards were floating around her. She was doused with diesel fuel, battery acid, and salad dressing. The water was rushing in, but she couldn’t tell how much or how fast. And, most frightening of all, the boat was making the most horrible noises. Querencia was in agony. Tess was praying to her father to guide her through the ordeal. She was too proud to activate the EPIRB beacon or radio for help. She would tough it out until there was absolutely no other choice.

Then, like a miracle, the boat righted herself.

Thank you, Dad, wherever you are. . . .

Tess feared that the boat had been dismasted in the rollover. She crawled through the galley, pushing pots and pans and gear out of her way. She zipped up her suit, fastened her mask, and climbed up the ladder of the companionway. At the top, she stopped for an instant to listen. She could hear the fury of the storm, but she needed to check the rigging. She held her breath and opened the hatch.

The pressure changed instantly as the wind burst inside along with a gush of seawater. She quickly hooked her tether onto the jack line and pulled herself on deck. The sky and sea had merged into one great wall of white, and it felt like she was flying.

She wasn’t sure she could stand upright in the high winds, so she stayed in a crouch as she scanned Querencia for damage.

Sure enough, the mast had been sheared like a toppled tree from the deck, leaving only a jagged stump of carbon-fiber splinters. The remains of the pole, fastened by halyards, were swinging from the boat and slamming into it like a battering ram with every ransacking wave. Tess knew she had to chop them loose immediately or they would pierce the hull, and she would founder.

The boat was pitching violently. She scooted to the cabin locker and pulled the bolt-cutters from the bracket. It took all her strength to slice through the stainless-steel rod rigging and to sever the main halyard, two jibs, and spinnaker. Instantly, a massive wave swept the mast away.

Then she duckwalked to the cockpit and surveyed her instruments.

Damn!

The autopilot was off. How long ago did that happen? Must have been when she lost power. She punched the button to get it going again, but it was out. She tried the backup. It was gone too. Now there was no choice: She would have to steer her way through this. But where the heck was she? She peered at the compass, trying to get her bearings. North. South. East . . .

Before she could finish, a wave smashed into the rear deck, slamming her hard against the wheel. It knocked the wind out of her, and she bent over, gasping for breath. A thunderous boom overhead made her stand right up. She looked to