Page 34 of Kiss Me at Midnight
Once they were untied and pushed back, Jud started the engine and backed out.
“If anything happens to my grandmother…”
“She’ll be fine.” Jud hoped. “She volunteered, after all.”
Dotty and Paulo had a head start, driving slowly out of the marina toward the open water. Jud followed them.
A few minutes later and they were outside the slow zone, pulling up next to Dotty and Paulo. No other boats were headed in or out of the marina. The ocean swells were only about two feet high. Waves broke in the narrow section of the inlet leading out to the open water.
“Are you ready to race, Jud?” And then without waiting for an answer, Dotty elbowed Paulo’s arms away and gunned it. Full throttle and sea water. Her head snapped back, and her helmet connected with the big man’s head.
Paulo tumbled off the back and into the water, just as they’d planned. Only without the head butt.
Jud couldn’t quite believe it. Now was the time to get some answers.
“How did I get water on my sunglasses?” Lily removed them and tried to wipe them on Jud’s lifejacket. They must have been prescription lenses because Lily could see with them on. “Are you okay?” Lily asked the floating basketball player as Jud drove in a slow circle around him, signaling to other boaters that a man was in the water.
Paulo said something in Portuguese that didn’t sound happy. A lump rose on his forehead.
“I’m sure she didn’t mean it,” Lily lied and then made a show of calling her grandmother back.
Dotty didn’t turn around. In fact, she shouted gleefully as she raced off toward cresting waves.
“Oh, no. I was afraid this might happen.” Lily stood, holding on to Jud’s shoulder and waving her free hand. “Grandma! Grandma!”
The old girl probably couldn’t hear Lily. Dotty was plowing through waves like a pro, speeding farther and farther out to sea.
“Are you sure she’s never done this before?” Even Jud wouldn’t attempt some of those waves.
“When it comes to my grandmother, I’m not sure of anything.” Lily called after her grandmother once more. When Paulo said something, she snapped, “Of course, the water is cold. It’s spring in the Atlantic. Suck it up. My grandmother is in trouble.” She made a sound of annoyance and then spoke in Spanish, before adding to Jud, “I forgot to translate.”
Paulo waved them off, as if giving them his blessing to chase after Dotty.
Jud couldn’t leave Paulo bobbing in the lane going in and out of the marina. It wasn’t safe. Their plan was falling apart.
“She’s turning around.” Lily’s words were colored with relief. She continued to stand while Jud circled Paulo. “Finally.”
Paulo’s lips looked blue.
“Thanks for the warning last night.” Jud continued to circle. “Although we could have used a warning about the cameras, specifically the one in the hallway.”
Paulo didn’t say anything, but he didn’t look confused about the meaning of Jud’s words either.
Meanwhile, Dotty was getting air off the waves coming back into the inlet. “Yee-haw!”
“She’s giving me a heart attack.” Lily swung her arm back and forth again. “Grandma, slow down!”
If anything, the old woman sped up.
And headed straight toward Paulo.
“She’s not going to stop,” Lily cried, trying to wave her off.
Jud brought his jet ski in her path, idling in the way. Surely, she wouldn’t plow into her granddaughter.
Dotty veered at the last minute, barely missing their craft and careening ten feet from Paulo before she released the throttle. “These babies can move!”
“You nearly killed me!” Paulo shouted, earning everyone’s attention.
