Page 77 of Enemies to Lobsters
It’s good that we came into the tower. It will stand strong, no matter what happens to the house. Diana and I are safe. But sleep isn’t happening tonight.
I climb the stairs and lie down, wrapping Diana in my big spoon while I listen. The sound of the ocean flowing through the tower is unsettling. Terrible. But after a few minutes, I match my breathing to Diana’s and focus on happier sounds, like her soft snoring and the way her voice sounded when she off-handedly mentioned that she loves me last night.
She tried to play it off, and I know she’s still undecided about us, but that was a major victory. Diana loves me, too. I haven’t quite told her I love her—it was implied when I told her that I want to make this marriage real. But I need to say it. I shouldn’t have let her say it first.
I’m not okay with the man I love being this town’s sacrificial lamb.I’ll never forget those words. They opened my eyes. I’ve loved this town more than anything. It’s my home. My family. The last name Wentworth is synonymous with Cape Georgeana. But now there’s something—someone—I love more. If she loves me, maybe she’ll change her mind about marriage. Maybe she’ll stay.
Thunder cracks and Diana burrows into me with a shiver.
I need her to stay.
∞∞∞
It’s hard to say how much time has passed at the top of this lighthouse, but the storm is over, the light is gray through the windows, and I haven’t slept. It’s time to get up and check the damage, but Diana is asleep on my arm. I’m putting off the inevitable. I close my eyes again, begging the skies for fifteen minutes of sleep. But my worry over what happened in town last night won’t allow it. The weight of my phone in my back pocket keeps me awake. I need to check in with Desmond and the guys.
With a long exhale, I slide out my phone and power it on, fully aware that this is likely my last moment of peace for a while. From the sound of it, I can tell the water has receded which means a muddy mess is waiting for me downstairs. If the storm surge got that high last night, I can only imagine what it did to Cape Georgeana.
After my phone restarts I have a string of text messages from everyone who was expecting my help last night—Desmond, August, and the guys, my mother, and even a few from Louise. I skim them, and it’s what I expect—worry over whether I made it to the island and updates on the effects of the storm on shore. I need to get over there and help. When I open Louise’s messages, I bolt upright.
LOUISE:
Boone is gone
LOUISE:
Call me
Then, nothing else. My heart is jackhammering behind my ribs. I jump to my feet, but there’s nowhere to go. I dial Louise.
“Come on, Lou.” I drag my hands down my face while I wait for her to pick up.
“Ike,” she finally answers.
“What’s going on?” I hold my phone away from my ear to check the charge. I’m at ten percent now.
“Boone is gone.” She’s out of breath, and obviously moving. “We put him to bed like usual last night, but Jim didn’t… We forgot to lock the doors, and I guess Boone got out. I don’t know if the storm s-scared him, or what. I don’t know where he is, and everything is a mess. We need your help.” She pulls in a shuddering breath.
“Have you called the police?”
“Yeah. They set up a volunteer command post at Marlow’s. I’m here. I’ve been up all night. Everyone is out looking, but… they made me take a break.” I hate the terror in her voice.
“Okay. I’m at the lighthouse, but I’m coming.” I try to sound reassuring, but I’m worried. No one should’ve been out in that weather last night, but especially not Boone. He could be anywhere, and he has no survival skills. Now is the time for blind optimism and false hope. “We’ll find him, Louise. He’ll be okay. I’m sure of it.”
When I end the call, Diana's worried voice is rough from sleep. “Boone is missing?”
“Yeah. I need to get over there.” I’m already moving toward the stairs.
“I’m coming.” Diana scrambles to her feet, following me.
We rush down the stairs. Diana gasps, watery-eyed and holding her hand over her mouth when we step carefully through the silt and mud at the bottom of the tower. “The water,” she mutters, “It came so high.”
“I know.” I’m not ready to see the full extent of the damage yet, so I move toward the exterior door, bypassing the house that was almost finished being renovated. That stuff is repairable. We need to get to Boone.
The island is a muddy mess as we jog through the lingering wind toward the shore. The storm water has receded, but thetide is coming up. We’re about to get wet. Again. I have déjà vu watching Diana pick her way through the rocky water toward the other shore. The current is up to her knees.
“You have to be going nuts at my pace, and Boone…” She trails off, her voice shaking with cold. “You can go ahead. Or feel free to sweep me off my feet,” she says with a half-hearted laugh.
Don’t mind if I do. Another wave of déjà vu hits as I scoop up Diana and double our pace to the parking lot. She isn’t complaining this time. So much has changed.
