Chapter 10 #2
His lips hurt from kissing her and from being so dry. The salt water stung as it lapped against his face. He gagged when it choked him with its bitter brine.
“Easy,” Grant said. “Take it easy.”
Dan wept at the thought of never seeing her again.
That couldn’t happen.
He had to stay alive so he could tell her how he felt about her. It didn’t matter if she didn’t feel the same. She had to know he loved her.
“Grant…”
“Yeah?”
“If this goes bad…” He struggled to breathe over the sharp pain radiating from his ribs and arm. “Will you tell Kara… Tell her I love her, will you?”
“You can tell her yourself when you see her.”
“Not sure I will.”
“You will, and I’ll see Steph, and we’ll tell them both we love them.”
“Keep reminding me, okay?”
“Yeah, I will.”
Time ceased to exist in the fog. Every minute was like an hour, and every hour felt like a week. He was so, so cold, he couldn’t imagine ever being warm again. The cold made him tremble. The pain from the trembling made him pass out repeatedly. When he came to, he was never sure where he was.
“Kara.”
“She’s waiting for you.”
“I can’t die. My parents… Lost my brother.”
“You’re not going to die. I won’t let you.”
“Grant.”
“I’m here. I’ve got you. We’re going to be okay.”
How was he being so strong when he didn’t know where his beloved brothers were or if they were still alive?
Kara called her grandmother to tell her Dan was missing.
“Oh, honey. You were just with him!”
“The boat he was on was hit by a ship in the fog.” Every word she said hurt her aching heart.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry you’re going through that. What’s the Coast Guard saying?”
“We know there’s one confirmed fatality, but we haven’t heard yet who it is. There were four others, including three brothers. They can’t find them.”
Kara felt like her heart had been stabbed repeatedly as the day had dragged on with no news about any of the missing men. She would give anything to speak to Dan, to apologize for the way she’d treated him, to ask for another chance, to hug him and kiss him and give thanks for his life.
“I was such a jerk to him, Bertha.”
“Why do you think that was?”
“He… He made me feel too much.”
“That makes me so happy to hear.”
“That I was a jerk to him?”
“Nah,” she said, chuckling. “I’m happy to hear you’re allowing yourself to feel again.”
“I didn’t, though. I acted like he meant nothing to me when that’s so not true. And now… He could die without knowing…”
“He knows, sweetheart. You give away your every emotion. I’ve been able to read you like a book since you were a tiny girl. There’s no way he doesn’t know.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Wait, someone has news.”
Kara moved to get closer to Maddie and her sister, Tiffany.
“Mac called,” Maddie said.
“Oh thank you, Jesus,” Mac’s mother, Linda, said, weeping.
Big Mac put an arm around his wife.
“Steve, the captain, was killed. Evan is with Mac. They haven’t found Grant or Dan yet.”
Stephanie, who’d been a whirling dervish all day as she fed everyone and tried to stay as busy as she possibly could, seemed to wilt after hearing there was no word about Grant. Her stepfather, Charlie, put his arm around her and led her away from the group.
“Two of the brothers have been found,” Kara told Bertha. “No news yet on Dan or his friend Grant.”
“Keep the faith, honey. You know he wants to come home to you.”
“I wouldn’t blame him if he never wants to see me again.”
“He’ll want to see you. He knows you’re a gem.”
“Thanks for listening, B.”
“Keep me posted. Sending all my love.”
“Love you, too, and I will.”
Kara watched Stephanie cling to Charlie with an all-new ache in her heart after hearing there was no news about Dan or Grant.
She took a seat with Grant’s sister, Janey, and her husband, Joe, who’d done their best to comfort her in the midst of their own agony of waiting for word about Janey’s brothers.
After hearing there was still no news about Dan, Kara broke down again.
She’d cried so much during that agonizing day that her eyes were sore and swollen.
In a way, she felt like she had no right to be so upset.
The people gathered at the marina were out of their minds with worry for sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, fiancés and longtime loves.
What right did she have to be so upset over a man she’d had only one date with?
So what if it was the best date she’d ever been on?
Not to mention the best sex of her life.
He’d been amazing to her from the first time they met, and she’d held him at arm’s length out of fear of getting hurt again. Thinking about Dan possibly being dead hurt way worse than losing Matt ever had.
Kara brushed away tears when she saw Tiffany coming toward their table as Joe and Janey got up to leave. “Hi, Tiffany,” Kara said.
Janey gave Tiffany a hug. “Thanks for all the support today.”
Seeming startled by Janey’s spontaneous show of affection, Tiffany returned the hug. “I know it’s been an awful day for you.”
Janey’s eyes watered as she nodded. “They’re my stupid brothers, and I love every one of them. The minute I see them, I plan to smack the crap out of them for putting us through this.”
Behind her, Joe smiled. “I’ll help you.”
As they went to talk to Janey’s parents, Tiffany sat next to Kara. “How’re you holding up?”
Kara shrugged. “All I can think about is what an awful bitch I was to him this morning.”
“This morning, huh? Does that mean the date went well?”
“You could say that. He loved the dress.” Kara wiped away more tears that seemed to keep coming almost against her will.
“Now all I can think about is what if I never see him again and the last thing I said to him was that I didn’t want to see him anymore when that isn’t even true?
I certainly got my wish.” She dropped her head onto her folded arms, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Tiffany ran her hand over Kara’s back, which was surprisingly comforting since they barely knew each other.
She raised her head and glanced at Tiffany. “He’s so annoyingly persistent, you know?”
“He must really like you.”
“I think he does, and I was so mean to him because he freaks me out with how into me he is. What if he’s… God, I can’t even say it.”
“As hard as it is, try not to think the worst until we know more.”
“I’m trying, but I’m not succeeding.”
Tiffany drew Kara into a hug.
“Thank you,” Kara said when she pulled back. “You’re a good friend.”
Tiffany smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind Kara’s ear. “Will you let me know if there’s anything I can do for you?”
Kara nodded and used her sleeve to wipe her face. “I was so mean to him.”
“He’s a big boy, and he doesn’t give up easily.”
“No, he certainly doesn’t,” Kara said with a small laugh.
“I’ll stay with you until you hear something.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am, but I’ll never forget your friendship today.”
Tiffany hugged her again. “We can never have too many friends.” She took Kara’s phone and programmed her number in. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks again, Tiffany.”
“I’ll be praying for Dan—and for you.”
Kara’s chin quivered as she nodded and squeezed Tiffany’s hand.