Page 85 of Max's Mission

A muffled, high-pitched shout of surprise stopped him in his tracks.

“Emily?”

Tad turned around again, running across and up toward the sound.

Rustling to his left drew his attention.

He saw a flash of blonde.

“Emily?” Hurrying over, he saw her sitting behind a log.

Relief flooded his veins, making him lightheaded. “Oh, thank God.” Rounding the log, he squatted beside her. “Sweetie, are you all right? Why didn’t you answer me?”

She looked up, a fierce pout on her face. “I wanted to surfs.” She crossed her arms and glared.

Tad’s eyes widened. She’d become far more independent and fearless in the time he’d been gone. He remembered her being strong-willed and a bit of a daredevil, but it still surprised him how determined she was to get to the beach.

“I heard. How about we go home and talk to your mom about it?”

“She said no.”

He touched her knee, unable to help himself. “Did she give you a reason?”

“She said it’s not safes.”

“So, why did you go, then? Your mommy wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Daddy Max left. He’d stay if it wasn’t safes.”

Tad’s heart clenched. He knew he’d screwed up, that it was his fault that he’d never hear the girls call him that again, but it still hurt.

“Come on.” He stood up and held out a hand. “Let’s get you home. Your mommy is very worried.”

With a huff, she took his hand, knowing she’d lost her battle to get to the beach.

Tad glanced up the hill, then down, debating which way to go. It would probably be easier to go back to the road, then walk along the berm to the driveway, than to fight their way back up through the jungle.

Decision made, he scooped her into his arms, knowing it would be easier to carry her down the hill. She wasn’t much taller than a lot of the vegetation.

“So, you wanted to surf, huh?”

She nodded.

“Whose surfboard were you going to use?”

“I use a boog-board.”

“A boogie board?”

Again, she nodded.

“Ah, I see. Where did you plan to get one of those?”

“They has them at the beach.”

“Oh. That makes sense, I guess.” He said a silent prayer she hadn’t made it down there. Tad had little doubt his resourceful daughter would find exactly what she wanted and go running into the ocean. He knew she could swim; he’d seen her. But swimming in the pool and swimming in the sea were two different things.

They emerged from the jungle, and he turned right. “I need to call the others. Let them know you’re safe.” Tad shifted her to his other side and reached into his pocket for his phone.

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