27. Nora
Chapter Twenty-Seven
NORA
“When were they supposed to be back?” I asked Flynn with a mixture of anxiety, dread, and cold fear spinning inside my chest. I had hurried over to the resort when Daphne texted, saying I might want to come over and check in with Flynn about Gabriel’s trip.
“Over two hours ago,” he said, his tone measured.
“Have you called the harbor?” I pressed.
“Of course, I have. I’ve also been in touch with Jared and Luke. There was a mayday call from a boat nearby, and they went to help with the rescue. Everything went fine, except—” Flynn paused, his eyes searching my face.
I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. “Just tell me!”
“Gabriel got injured in the water when he helped bring in one of the passengers who was struggling. He’s going to be fine, and I don’t have any more details except everyone is alive.”
My stomach took a dive and spun unsteadily. I swallowed and tried to take a deep breath, but it didn’t work very well. “When will they get to the harbor?”
“I spoke to Darren at the police station, and he said it should be in about an hour. I’m assuming they’ll take Gabriel and the rest of the passengers straight to the hospital.”
“Let’s go. Now.”
“Nora, they’re not even—” he began, stopping abruptly when I spun away and started to run out of the resort.
“You’re not driving!” he called as he followed me out.
Daphne appeared on the porch beside him a second later, slinging a backpack over her shoulder. “We don’t have a guest dinner tonight. It was just staff because Gabriel was going to bring us fresh salmon. Let’s all go. We can wait together.”
The sun was setting as we hurried off the porch into the parking area.
Having lived in Alaska my entire life, I usually found solace in its natural beauty.
At the moment, the sky was awash in shades of lavender and deep pink mingled with wispy silver and gold from the late autumn sunset.
The snowy mountain peaks were tinted in pink, looking almost otherworldly in the early evening light.
Yet the beauty barely registered for me beyond a simple observation.
I was too anxious, too tied up with worry over Gabriel and feeling near frantic about putting distance between us. Again.
“Let’s take my SUV,” Daphne commented as Flynn started to veer toward one of the resort trucks.
His stride shifted, and he followed her over to her SUV.
“Wait!” Cat called.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her coming out of the main doors as she tugged on a jacket and ran down the stairs. “I can’t believe you guys were going without me.” She skidded to a stop beside me as I curled my hand over one of the back door handles.
Before I could reply, Flynn glanced over. “We’re in a hurry. Hop in.”
Even though I was freaking out more than a little inside, I was relieved to be with my family. My brother’s unflappable calm presence was helpful, and Daphne’s warm, quiet support was a balm to my jangled nerves.
Daphne moved to get in the driver’s seat, but Flynn caught her lightly on the elbow. “I’ll drive.”
She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. When she opened her mouth to reply, he shook his head sharply. “Sweetheart, I drive faster than you,” he said bluntly.
Daphne immediately handed him the keys and rounded the front of the SUV to climb in the passenger side. As she was buckling up, she replied, “I know you do, and speed is of the essence this time.”
As Flynn started driving, I laced my fingers together in an attempt to quell the rising tide of worry, dread, and regret from overwhelming me.
It was to no avail. I mentally castigated myself for pulling back and getting upset over something so minor.
So what if Gabriel didn’t want to talk to me about his mother?
Perhaps he felt he’d said all there was to say.
It’s not as if I enjoyed talking about my father.
At least the first time I broke things off with him, I could make sense of it. This time, my own defensiveness was my only excuse—defensiveness undergirded and made more powerful by fear. I was deeply in love with him and afraid I couldn’t have what I wanted with him.
I stared out the window, watching as early evening shifted to twilight while Flynn drove. When I looked ahead once, I saw Daphne reach across the seat and murmur something to Flynn. He caught her hand in his and lifted it to press a kiss on the inside of her wrist.
The moment was brief, lasting no more than seconds, yet the intimacy shimmered between them.
It was its own force. My grumpy brother was so in love, and I was so happy for them.
I wanted something like that with Gabriel.
All of my worries felt small and insignificant now.
If he was really hurt, or— It was as if tires screeched in my brain.
I couldn’t even let myself think about the worst-case scenario.
“Everyone’s alive, right?” My question came out in a rush in the quiet space of the vehicle.
My eyes stung with tears, and I knuckled them away. Cat whipped her gaze toward me, her eyes widening as she drew in a sharp breath.
“Of course. I already told you that,” Flynn said, his tone calm and level.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
I fumbled for my phone, abruptly realizing I didn’t even have it with me. “Can somebody lend me their phone?” I asked, my voice shaky.
“Let me call,” Daphne said from the front as Cat shimmied on the seat to get her phone out of her back pocket.
“Let me—” I began.
Flynn’s voice cut through, clear, commanding, and decisive. “Let Daphne call for an update. You’re too upset.”
For once, I didn’t argue with my brother.
I’d spent the majority of my childhood proving I was a tough girl.
With two older brothers, being tough and independent was a primary goal.
I hated being emotional and overwrought, but right now, even I knew I probably wouldn’t be sensible if I couldn’t get the answers I wanted.
Flynn calmly recited the local police's non-emergency number to Daphne before she lifted the phone to her ear. After a moment, she said, “Hello, Darren. We figured we’d try you first. This is Daphne Bell. We were wondering if you had an update on the group on Nathan Winters’ boat.
I’m with Flynn, Nora, and Cat, and we’re on the way to the hospital to check on Gabriel. ”
She was quiet as she listened, offering a few murmured hums before she finally asked, “When do you think they’ll arrive at the hospital?”
Another pause, which felt like forever, before she said, “Got it. We should be there in about fifteen minutes. Please call this number if you have any more updates. Thank you again.”
I had no idea how long the conversation actually took.
It couldn’t have been more than two or three minutes.
All the while, though, my heart thudded in a sick beat of dread in my chest, and I had to swallow against the bile rising in my throat.
My hands were cold and clammy. I unlaced my fingers and tucked my hands under my thighs to warm them.
Cat unbuckled her seat belt and turned around, leaning over the back seat and rummaging for something. Annoyed with her motion, because my nerves felt strung tight with the air itself chafing on my skin, I asked, “What are you doing, Cat? You need to turn around and buckle up.”
Even to my ears, my voice sounded scratchy and irritated.
Cat turned around but then surprised me by carefully placing a soft blanket over my legs.
“You’re cold,” she explained when I peered over at her.
My heart pinched at her sweetness. “I am. Sorry I got a little snippy there.”
“It’s okay. Gabriel’s gonna be fine. Right, Daphne?” she prompted.
“Everyone’s going to be okay. Darren doesn’t have any updates from Flynn’s earlier call.
He thinks they should be in the harbor shortly.
The emergency crew said they’ll be bringing several of the passengers on the original boat to the hospital for hypothermia and Gabriel to deal with whatever happened to his leg.
He’s also hypothermic. But that’s to be expected, given that he had to dive in the water,” she said matter-of-factly.
I tried to take a breath, but it was hard.
When I tried again, my throat caught with a sob, and then I burst into tears.
Cat scooted closer to me, buckling herself into the middle of the back seat before she curled her arm around my shoulders.
“Nora, he’s going to be okay. Please don’t cry,” she pleaded.
I lifted my head, swiping at my tears again. Daphne wordlessly handed back a small packet of tissues. Because, of course, she had tissues with her. She was the kind of person who was always prepared.
I wiped my face and blew my nose while Cat rubbed a palm up and down my back. Talk about role reversal. My seventeen-year-old sister was trying to make me feel better. I felt like a crying hot mess.
“I’m okay,” I said between sniffles after several shaky breaths.
When I looked at Cat, the worry in her eyes made my heart clench tightly. “I swear, I’m okay.”
“Does this mean you’re going to take my advice?” she asked.
If the circumstances were anything other than this, I would’ve thought she was trying to annoy me. She loved to be right. I recognized that tendency in her because I shared it. Just now, though, I sensed she really wanted to know if I was going to wise up about Gabriel.
I managed a wobbly smile. “Probably.”
“What’s the advice?” Daphne asked, turning slightly and hooking her elbow on the back of her seat.
“Cat might’ve told me I was being a little stupid about Gabriel.”
Daphne nodded, shifting her eyes to Cat. Cat smiled. “Well, she is.” Her eyes bounced to me. “You obviously love him.”
My heart gave a hard thump as if in agreement. “How is that obvious?” I blew my nose again.
“Because you never cry and fall apart.” Her eyes were worried as she squeezed her arm around my shoulders again.
“Crying and falling apart means I’m in love?” I tried to tease, but it didn’t work.
Cat looked at me solemnly, her head bobbing with a nod. “I think so.”
Daphne chimed in. “Yes, it does.”