CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Ginger
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ginger
62 days to go
T he next few days are a blur of sun, sand, fishing, BBQing, playing cornhole barefoot in the thick green grass, and catching all sorts of insects on the cabin property with Mabel. Vacation Cole is irresistible and I’ve given up trying to tell myself otherwise. He’s totally relaxed and wanders around shirtless with Mabel like he lives on the lake.
It’s late Monday morning, our last day, and I’m perched in a lounge chair on the dock watching Mabel and Cole fish off of it, using my sunglasses to hide the fact I can’t stop staring at Cole.
I’m stretched out in my black one-piece bathing suit, which almost exactly matches Mabel’s. It wasn’t planned but she was thrilled when we came out of our rooms and into the living room wearing nearly the same thing. Right down to the single braid we each have in our hair. Even Cole couldn’t help but laugh.
We’ve had an amazing weekend at the lake and, to be honest, the last thing I want to do is head back to town later. But it’s inevitable. Cole has a big day tomorrow, and I’ve already pressed Mabel’s dress she’ll be wearing to go watch her dad get sworn in with the entire family.
“That’s it, buddy. Give him some line,” Cole says as Mabel starts to reel in a catch.
She squeals in delight as the little rock bass flops up onto the dock. Cole’s jaw is set as he works to help Mabel unhook the fish, his strong legs supporting him as he crouches down beside her. I can’t get the vision of his naked torso out of my mind from our late-night hot tub meetups.
Cole works to help Mabel unhook the flapping fish and, for the millionth time, I take in how gorgeous he is. My eyes rake over the whisps of dark, sweaty hair that poke out from under his hat and stick to the nape of his neck, and the furrow in his brow as he removes the hook from their catch with steady patience. He’s even better-looking after a few days in the sun, and the landscape of his muscled chest has turned a golden brown. But it’s the dip in his lower back, the two dimples just above the band of his bathing suit shorts, and that perfect ass as he squats down on the dock, that have me breathing faster.
It’s a wonder Mr. Always Ready hasn’t died this weekend from overuse.
I’m pulled out of my trance as Cole pats Mabel on the back.
“That’s it. Now we’ll let the fish go,” he tells her.
“Can we go on the boat now?” Mabel asks.
“A little later. I’ve got to run to town to refill the propane tanks for the cabin owner. You can come with me.”
“Can I stay with Ginger instead?” she asks.
“Ginger looks pretty comfortable where she is, Mabes. Let’s leave her be.”
I prop myself up on my elbows. “It’s fine, she can stay with me. We can keep catching fish, can’t we, Mabes?”
Mabel’s eyes light up before she turns to face Cole.
“Okay, I’ll be back in less than an hour,” he replies, kissing Mabel on the head and turning so our eyes meet. I feel the pull to him like he’s got his hook in me .
“See you, Sheriff.” I wink at him.
“Be good, girls,” he chimes as he starts to walk up the stairs. Something about the way he includes me as his girl charges my heart rate as I watch him go.
“Can you stop staring at my dad and help me cast?” Mabel asks, loud enough for Cole to hear. He looks back over his shoulder to flash his signature cocky grin.
My face heats and I wish I could sink between the deck boards on the dock.
“I … yes,” I say, standing to help her while knowing I’m totally busted.
We cast out a few more times after I hear Cole’s truck leave the driveway but don’t catch anything else.
“Can we go in the boat now?” Mabel asks. “I’ve been waiting all day.”
“I think we should wait for your dad to get back,” I tell her.
“Why? You know how to drive the boat right?” she responds.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“I’m just a little bored of the dock,” she says, fiddling with her fishing pole.
I think for a moment. I can drive the boat. Especially since the bay is as calm as glass.
“Let me call your dad,” I say to Mabel, pulling my phone out of my pocket.
Mabel waits expectantly as it rings. But it goes to voicemail.
She looks up at me with pleading eyes and I feel grateful that, after the last two and a half weeks spent together, she still likes me.
I smile at her. “Okay, but only if he texts back to say it’s fine.”
“Yay!” Mabel jumps up and down and launches herself into my leg. “He’ll say yes to you,” she adds, matter-of-fact. I give her a little squeeze as she continues. “I like having you as my dad’s friend.”
Not her babysitter.
I get us both ready to go, and pack a bag with water, snacks and life vests. Just as I’m about to try Cole again, he texts back.
LAW DADDY
This goes against everything I’d normally allow.
That’s why you should do it. Step outside your comfort zone. I’ve managed bigger boats than this. We’ll be fine.
A few seconds pass as I watch the little dots pop up.
“Can we go now?” Mabel asks as she stands on the dock in her life vest.
LAW DADDY
I’m putting a huge level of trust in you to take my daughter on the water. Make sure her life vest is secure. And stay near the inlet. There’s a bit of a wait here to fuel up. I might be a bit still.
We’ll be back before you are. I’m just taking her down the harbor and we’ll stop in the reeds so she can try to catch some fish.
LAW DADDY
Don’t make me regret this, Ginger. Please stick to the plan.
I like his message, roll my eyes and shove my phone in my pocket.
“Let’s go!’ I tell a happy Mabel as we climb in and take off into the crystal-clear lake.
I check the time on my phone and am surprised to see we’ve already been on the water for an hour. Mabel and I have been having so much fun. We’re a little further out than I expected we’d go. We spent a lot of time looking at all the homes that line the shore, and seeing Mabel smile makes me feel … happy too. We’ve been drifting in the reeds on the other side of the harbor for ten minutes or so, but I’m not liking how the sky looks in the distance. The entire lake seems to be coated in a greenish haze as a bank of gray clouds roll in, as if they’re about to unleash a rainy fury upon us. I try to text Cole to tell him we’re heading home, but it bounces back. No service.
“Come on, Mabes, pull that line in. We should get going.”
Mabel does as I say, and we pack up all the fishing stuff. Within just a few minutes, I notice how much closer the clouds are. Note to self. Next time, leave as soon as you see them. I’ve been out on the water when a storm has started before. Granted, never this quickly, and I was always with my dad or my grandad—both boating experts.
I start the motor and we begin our journey homeward. The wind has picked up slightly and the water is definitely a little rougher than when we left. A small ripple of fear trickles up my spine when I hear a boom of thunder in the distance. Mabel looks at me and I her.
“Is it going to rain?” she asks.
“I think we’ll be back before it does, babe.”
We ride along with ease even though the water is choppy, staying as close to the shore as possible without ruining the prop. It’s still too far away to reach by swimming, but at least we can see it. I try to take solace in the fact we’re not out in the middle of the water.
“I don’t like thunderstorms,” Mabel tells me.
I’m silent for a moment. I don’t usually mind them. From the safety of my covered balcony, I sometimes even enjoy them. But not when I’m out on a lake with a child. A child whose father will kill me for being even half an hour late.
I glance down at my phone in my lap as I steer. Still no service.
There’s a flash of lightning, followed by thunder a few seconds later, and then the wind picks up. Both Mabel and I jump at the deep rumbling sound. I reach my hand over to cover hers.
“It’s okay, we’re already halfway back,” I tell her as we pass the midway point I marked on our way out. I know we still have several minutes left going at the speed we are. But by the time we make it to the first row of cabins I recognize, it’s started to rain. The water is getting really rough now and all I want to do is get back to the house so Mabel isn’t scared.
“Almost there, babe. Don’t worry,” I try to reassure her as the wind howls even harder. We finally round the corner for our shoreline but we’re both soaked, and I’m holding Mabel in my lap to make sure she’s as sheltered as possible. I keep the boat moving at a slower, steady speed to navigate the choppy water. I talk to Mabel the whole time, telling her about my grandad and the things we did together when I was young.
Another deep crash of thunder sounds and Mabel jumps.
“I’m scared,” she says as I hold her close.
I look into her eyes.
“I will keep you safe. I promise. Okay, brave girl? A few more minutes and we’ll be home,” I tell her, praying I’m right. “And when we’re back, we’ll dry off, because right now we look like a pair of wet puppies. Then we’ll have something to eat and Daddy will probably make that face at me—you know, his angry one—because we got caught in the rain.”
“That’s the one my nana calls his cranky pants face,” she says as she cuddles into me to stay dry.
“And then tonight we’ll go home and, if you aren’t too tired, we’ll get all cozy and watch Annie . Okay?”
“Will you watch with me?” she asks.
“Of course I will,” I promise. “I’ll even make us popcorn.”
I push her to keep talking as the rain pelts against my skin. I ask her to tell me all the things she wants to do when she goes with her Grammie Trudy to the cottage, and what she thinks we should make her dad tomorrow for breakfast on his special day. Anything to keep her calm and myself from crying.
My heart sits firmly in my throat as the wind increases, and I fight with all my strength to keep the boat moving straight and heading toward the row of cabins, one of which is ours. The beach is empty as we cruise by, and the waves close to shore are intense. How did I get myself into this situation? Oh, I know, because I never follow the rules. I always have to push it, and now I’ve broken Cole’s trust. I should’ve gone back when I said I would. I should’ve stayed closer to the house.
The water hitting the boat is so loud that I almost cry with relief as I finally see our cabin come into view. I will myself to stay steady and calm.
As we get closer to the house, I spot Cole pacing under the gazebo on the dock, cell phone in hand. The sheer look of panic he’s wearing that turns to utter disbelief when he sees us tears at my heart. No matter what he says to me when I get off this boat, he’ll never make me feel worse than I do right now. I brace myself. The look on his face is both one of intense relief and one that says he’s about to murder me.