25. Chapter Twenty-Five
Rachel
W e step onto the beach, and the warmth from the sun feels brighter than I remember. The thrill of rescue fills the air, and I’m still clasping Vaughn’s hand. As we approach the group of search and rescue workers, I can hardly contain my excitement.
“Rachel!” One of the rescuers rushes over with a wide grin. “Vaughn!”
I laugh—a sound that feels strange but freeing after days of tension and uncertainty.
Questions fly around us, but I can only feel relief as they surround us. Finally, I’m free from the island. Vaughn is grinning, his eyes sparkling at the thrill of our escape, and I look over at him. It’s a simple moment of pure joy, releasing all the fear and worry we’ve held for what seems like an eternity.
“Can you believe it?” I say, turning to Vaughn, who hasn’t let go of my hand. “We’re going home!”
His expression is serious but warm. “Yeah, we made it.”
I revel in the excitement, but even as I do, a nagging thought comes to mind: what happens next? I look over at the rescue team. They’re filled with energy and purpose, and I can’t help but think of how this will affect us. I can feel the weight of our shared experiences hanging in the air. We’ve been through so much together.
Following a moment’s celebration, Vaughn turns to one of the rescuers, a rugged man with a weathered face and kind eyes. “We need to get her medical attention as soon as possible.”
“Right away,” the man replies, nodding.
Vaughn’s demeanor shifts, becoming more intense. “I have to get to Australia, and I need to do it now,” he says, his voice steady. “I’ve got work to do.”
His words twist my stomach in a strange disappointment. “Wait, what?” Confusion clouds my mind, and I blurt out, “You’re leaving already?”
Vaughn looks at me, his face serious. “I can’t miss this opportunity, Rachel. The team is counting on me. I need to get back to work.”
“But what about us?” My heart sinks. I thought we were going back together. Suddenly, the joy of our rescue seems overshadowed by the reality of our lives apart.
“I know,” he says, his voice softening. “But you have to take care of yourself first. You’ve been through a lot. You should go back to New York for medical attention and rest.”
I blink, absorbing his words. The logic is sound, but emotionally, it cuts me to the bone. “Are you just going to send me away? Just like that?”
Frustration flashes in his eyes. He shakes his head. “It’s not like that, Rachel. I want you to be safe. This is what’s right for you right now.”
The tension thickens between us, and I can feel my heart racing. I want to tear down the walls he’s trying to build between us. I want to argue. “But what about us?” This time, my voice trembles, and I ask again, “What happens when you get to Australia? What happens to what we have?”
His jaw tightens as though he’s struggling with his own emotions, and he looks away. He finally admits, “I don’t know. I just need to get this done. It’s important.”
The confusion and fear that have been there since we first came to the island settle heavily in my chest, mixed with disappointment. What I want to do is scream, shake him, and make him see that this isn’t just about work. It’s about us, about the connection we made during those turbulent days.
Before I can say anything, the rescuer steps in and breaks the tension. “We can arrange for a boat to take you both to the mainland,” he says, his voice calm and reassuring. “We’ll have to put her medical needs first, but . . .”
I notice the conflict in Vaughn’s eyes. He nods. He says he’ll arrange for a flight to Australia as soon as he can, and I feel a pang of frustration.
I hold my breath, trying to regain composure. This isn’t how I planned our reunion to go. “Fine,” I reply, my voice cold and distant. “You do what you need to do.”
“Rachel . . .” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Just let me go, Vaughn. You’re right. I have to take care of myself.”
I step away, my heart catching in my chest, and I look away. I don’t want him to see me fall apart, not right now. This sudden separation makes the excitement of being rescued hollow. He’s doing this for my health, I remind myself, but the weight of his decision presses down on my heart.
The rescue team gathers around us, ready for what’s next, and I try to bring my focus to the present. Now, I can’t let my emotions control my actions. I suck in a deep breath to help myself stay strong and face the truth of our situation.
Vaughn steps closer. “Let’s get you taken care of.” His touch warms my hand as it brushes against mine.
“Yeah,” I reply, trying to sound more composed than I feel. “Let’s do that.”
I look back at him. Our eyes meet for a moment, and then I slowly take a step away to join the rescue team. There’s so much more to say and so many questions hanging in the air.
For now, I need to get medical attention and go back to New York.
We make our way back to the mainland, the boat rocking gently with the waves lapping against the hull—a constant reminder that we’ve just escaped the ocean. I perch on the edge, staring out into the distance where the sky meets the water.
I keep seeing Vaughn’s face, serious, as he held me close in that pool. There’s a pang in my chest, a longing and confusion. What’s going on in his head? Does he wish he never shared what we had on the island? Does he already consider it a moment of weakness, a lapse of judgment?
I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. He’s told me time and time again that work is his highest priority, and I can’t afford to get caught up in the what-ifs. I remind myself that Vaughn does not want the mess of emotions anymore. The man I knew before we were stranded is still there, just buried under the weight of his responsibilities and career.
As the boat nears the dock, anxiety stirs in my stomach. I’m going back to my old life, which somehow feels alien after all we’ve been through together. What do I do now that I’ve lived so close to him? After sharing something so intimate?
As soon as we dock, I step off the boat and take in the fresh air of the mainland, the smell of salt and freedom filling my lungs. As I head to the car, I try to shake the lingering thoughts of Vaughn. The bittersweet ache in my heart for the island behind me remains, but I can’t help feeling a little excited that I’m going home.
The drive is dull, and the scenery is blown past me as I concentrate on the road. I replay the moments from the island in my mind—the laughter, the fear, the connection. Of course, I can’t stop thinking that I want to talk to Vaughn and figure out what it all means. I know he’s busy. He has responsibilities before anything, and with every passing mile, I remind myself of that.
The relief washes over me as I pull into my driveway and see my home. I immediately call out for my cat, Archie, as I step inside. “Hey, buddy! I’m home!”
Almost instantly, he races out from under the couch and runs toward me. I scoop him up into my arms, bending down. He purrs softly in the space between us, and I smile. “I missed you so much,” I murmur, burying my face in his fur.
His little body is warm against mine, and it comforts me after the whirlwind of emotions over the past few days. I sit down on the couch with Archie still in my arms and take a deep breath. I let the routine of home soothe me as I pet him, trying to push thoughts of Vaughn from my mind.
But it’s difficult. I remember every moment we spent together, and I cannot stop wondering if something has changed inside me. I don’t know—everything seems different now. I can’t help but wonder if Vaughn feels the same way, too.
I look out the window, watching the evening sky turn pink and orange as the sun sets.
“What do you think, Archie?” I ask my feline companion, voicing my inner turmoil. He just blinks up at me. “Do you think he’ll call?”
I know I shouldn’t expect anything. After all, I had made it clear that I was going to focus on my own life. Yet, I still hold onto the hope that this isn’t the end of our story. A part of me wonders: weren’t we real to each other on the island?
I shake my head again, frustrated with myself. “Rachel, stop it,” I whisper, setting Archie down and standing up. “You need to be practical. He’s got a career, and you’ve got your own life to get back to.”
I find it hard to concentrate as I move around the house, unloading my things and trying to settle back into my routine. Even the smallest sound brings my mind back to Vaughn—his laughter, the way he looked at me when we kissed. And it makes me a little mad. I can’t seem to escape the memories.
A while later, I curl up on the couch with Archie at my side, turning on the television to try to drown out the feeling. Even the show’s mindless chatter can’t drown out the thoughts running through my head.
What if I reach out to him? Would that be so wrong? I hope we can work it out. I hope we can navigate whatever it is we feel for each other. I also know that it’s really hard for him to let anyone in.
I lean back against the cushions and close my eyes as the night wears on, finally succumbing to tiredness. Archie curls up next to me, and I start to drift off, hoping that when I wake, I’ll have some clarity. Deep down, however, I know that clarity may not come easily, especially when it comes to Vaughn. The questions of love, connection, and what it truly means to let someone in, hover in the air. But the real world is waiting, and I need to move forward.