Page 83 of The Voice We Find

“I’m just thinking how none of this is by chance.” The awe in her voice is unmistakable, and I have enough self-awareness to know she’s not speaking about us, not directly anyway. The expression shewears now is one I, too, have worn dozens of times while standing on this side of the open water. There’s something about the vastness of the ocean that beckons to something deep within.

“All of this—the sun, the ocean, those birds in the sky, every creature in the sea ...you and me.” She takes in a deep breath, then slowly releases it with her face tilted toward the sky. “I was just chatting with Portia and Gabby about that last Tuesday.” Her smile is huge when she declares, “Nothing is ever random. God has a plan for everything, and we’re all a part of it.” She fills her lungs with the salty air. “There is nothing outside His redemption because redemption is His plan. I think that’s one of the most comforting things about having a relationship with God.”

Unbidden, several Scriptures I memorized long ago chase across my mind, reinforcing Sophie’s claims as truth. Yet my chest burns with a familiar discomfort. I remember what it was like to feel that way about the things of God. To look at creation with wonder and awe, to see myself as part of God’s divine master plan. But that was two dead parents and one injured sister ago. And no matter how my views may change or shift, I’d never get a second chance to make things right with the two people who fought the hardest for me. I’d never get the chance to tell them I was wrong.

Where’s the redemption in that?

“You were right.” Sophie nudges me. “My feet don’t hurt now that they’re numb.” Her delight over this revelation pulls me out of my spiral. “So what do we do now?”

This, at least, is an answer that requires no amount of self-reflection. “Now, we learn to surf.”

For the next couple hours, I teach Sophie the proper way to pop up and balance while still on the sand before we progress to the water and learn paddle techniques, along with how to adjust her position on the board. I also show her how to bail. It will be a while until she’s ready for the final step in the four-part cycle of paddle, adjust, chase, surf. She’s fallen off her board dozens of times by this point, and though her arms visibly shake with signs of fatigue, she continues to climb back on. Again and again. I keep waiting for herto call it a day as her arms are likely leaden weights by this point, but unlike other first-timers I’ve been around, Sophie doesn’t seem defeated by her slow progress; she seems all the more determined by it. And my admiration and respect for her grows with each wave she balances on.

“You should surf, August,” she calls out as we paddle toward each other in the shallows. She’s lying prostrate on her board, her cupped hands treading at half speed through the open water. “I can hang out on the beach and wait for you.”

I’ve been straddling my board, using it more as a floating device today than anything else so I can be close when she needs me.

“I’m good,” I say. “I’m happy to go at your speed.”

“I don’t want you to miss out. All you’ve done is watch me get on my board and then promptly fall off.” She offers me a tired grin. “I’ll be happy to watch you while I take a rest in the sunshine.”

When she shakes her wave-beaten head, I can’t imagine that lopsided bun will be easy to untangle once we’re out of the water. Yet even so, Sophie is the only person I know who can still look radiant after succumbing to dozens of wipeouts.

“Nobody’s a natural on their first or even their tenth time out—and if you hear otherwise, they’re lying. You did great.” I hook my foot under her board and draw her in close. The waves and weather really are perfect today. “How about I help you get settled on the beach, and then if you’re really sure you’re okay with me going out—”

“I’m sure. Although...” She shoots me a withering look. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know if I’m gonna have enough muscle left to walk back to the Bronco when it’s time.”

“Then you can borrow my muscle.” It’s only after I say it that I realize how cheesy it sounds, but Sophie isn’t looking at me like I’ve just said the world’s dumbest pickup line. She’s looking at me the way I hope I’m looking at her. Like she’s mine. Like we belong together.

Once we wash up on shore, I reach for Sophie’s board and disconnect the leash from her ankle, gladly taking on the extra burden so she can wobble up to dry land. I set my own board aside near ourpile of belongings and watch her plop onto a beach towel with the bonelessthwunkof exhausted surfers everywhere.

I plant a quick kiss on the top of her head and tell her I won’t be long out there.

“Take your time,” she says. “I was thinking about calling Dana since it’s nearly ten her time.” Sophie collects her phone. “I bet she’s just eating breakfast right about now.”

I turn toward my board. “Have a good time.”

“Wait, wait!” Sophie calls after me, making a halfhearted attempt to swipe for my leg even though I’m out of reach at this point. “You should meet her first. She’s my family—the chosen kind.”

“Sure.” I plunk down on the beach towel beside her while she taps on her phone. I’ve heard a fair amount of stories about Dana, but I’m unprepared when she answers the video call with giant foam curlers in her hair while eating what looks like leftover chow mein from a to-go container.

“Hey—” Dana stops mid-bite, eyes rounding.

“Morning,” Sophie chirps as she swivels the camera to include me. I wave idiotically.

“Hey there,” I say awkwardly.

“August just gave me my first surfing lesson this morning, and I wanted him to meet you before he goes back out.”

Dana puts her chopsticks down and moves a hand to the curler bobbing near to her ear. “Hello, August.” And then, “Please tell your girlfriend how much I appreciate her giving me a heads-up prior to this phone call so I could make myself presentable.”

I laugh. “Will do.”

Sophie rolls onto her belly. “Consider this payback for all the times you let Jason into our apartment while I was nap-drooling on the sofa.”

“Fair enough. In that case...” She takes a huge bite of her congealed noodles and grins.

I laugh at their friendly banter. It’s good to see this side of Sophie. She’s told me how much Dana did for her after she lost her incomeand needed a job. It reminds me of what Chip did for me after the accident.

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