Louisa Chambers, do solemnly promise that no matter where life takes us, we will return to Brant Point on the day of our golden birthday.
He’d drawn two straight black lines where they were meant to sign the agreement—which obviously wasn’t legal or binding, but which charmed her just the same.
“This way, we know that no matter what, we’re always coming home to each other,” he said.
“But that’s twelve years from now,” she said.
“Do you think we’re going to lose track of each other?”
She shrugged.
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“Then why sign this?” she asked, blinking back new tears.
He reached out and touched her cheek. “It’ll give us something to celebrate.”
She knew it wasn’t only that. She knew he worried they would lose touch, the same way she worried. She knew that while he hadn’t said so, there was a part of him that thought she might meet someone new or they might outgrow each other. They’d argued about it off and on since the beginning of the summer. He was convinced she’d leave him for someone more serious, more put-together.
Still, she liked the idea of having something to hold on to—an assurance that no matter where life took them, along the same path or in completely opposite directions, they promised to connect one more time.
Right here, on their thirtieth birthday.
“I’ll sign your crazy pact,” she said. “But you have to promise me we’re going to try to make this work.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“PHONE’S BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK.”
Cody sat in the chair opposite Master Chief Duncan McGreery, staring out the window where the American flag hung proudly on the side of the black-and-white lighthouse. Brant Point was the backdrop for so many of his childhood memories. But he still never thought he’d be back here.
“When I told you to drum up good press for the Coast Guard, I had no idea you’d work so fast.” The phone on the master chief’s desk rang, and Cody winced at the sound. Peace and quiet would go a long way right now.
His superior took the call, and Cody only listened long enough for the sound bite.
“Yes, we do think XPO Boggs did an excellent job this morning. We don’t like to use the word hero, but I’d wager that’s exactly how Miss Chambers is feeling.”
Don’t bet on it.
The image of Louisa’s lifeless body would haunt his dreams, same way the others did. But Louisa had survived. He’d saved her. That should ease some of his guilt, shouldn’t it? He did a quick gut check. Nope. Still there. Would it ever be enough?
“Boggs.”
Cody could tell by the other man’s tone that he’d said his name more than once.
“Master Chief?”
“You okay?”
“Never better.”
“Do we need to have a conversation about why you went in the water after that girl?”
“She was in distress,” he said.
“But that wasn’t your job,” the master chief said. “Not to mention you broke protocol.”
Cody could’ve guessed this would come up. He cleared his throat. “Just wanted to lead by example. You said the men needed that.”
“Right, by example. You showed them how to break protocol.”
Cody didn’t respond.
Duncan wasn’t only his superior officer; he was Cody’s friend—one of the few he had. But being Duncan’s friend had proven to be problematic the second the master chief had called about the opening at Brant Point station.
“I need some help building morale up here,” Duncan had told him. “I need someone who can help me lead.”
“Must be a hundred other guys who could do that,” Cody remembered saying.
“Not like you,” Duncan said. “It’s a young crew, Boggs. They’ve had a rough go of it. Could really benefit from your kind of leadership.”
Cody understood. The men at Brant Point needed to be led, mentored, and brought up by someone who didn’t care about being their friend. That was Cody. It was what he was known for. Maybe this was always where he was meant to be. He’d done well for himself, despite the early setback. After all, he seemed born to lead, and just because it wasn’t his original plan didn’t mean he wasn’t fulfilling what he’d set out to do—save people from the ocean.
He loved his job. He liked moving up through the ranks. He liked the responsibility of being in charge. He liked doing his part to save lives, to serve whatever community he was a part of—it changed every few years.
When he was promoted to executive petty officer, he’d been