Chapter 17
Bailey and Rosewaited for us on the front porch, ready to see what havoc lay in the storm’s wake. They chatted non-stop, pointing things out to each other, in animated voices. The road in front of the house had eroded in parts, leaving puddles. Sand was strewn everywhere. Branches and leaves lay in the front yard.
Rose had slept with me all night. The courage Ethan had given her at the window in the middle of the storm hadn’t lasted through bedtime. Shock had spread through me when Rose asked Ethan to take her to the window. She’d never wanted to get that close to a storm before. And the fact that he’d said yes and didn’t just take her there but stood with her until she was finished, surprised me. He’d started off reserved with the kids. But little by little, he was integrating with them. Men usually tried to brush off children’s fears. But Ethan hadn’t.
Rose had been calmer after the window but still jumpy. I knew why. Even if she couldn’t remember the incident five years ago, I’d never forget it.
Bailey was talking to someone. It wasn’t Rose because she was with me in the kitchen. I listened harder. A muffled male voice. “Bailey, who are you talking to?” I asked as I walked into the hallway.
Bailey had unlocked the front door. It swung open, reverberating as it hit the wall. Max stood on the other side. My throat constricted.
What was he doing here? I had a restraining order against him.
He stepped into the house. I rushed forward and grabbed Bailey, shoving him behind me. I backed up. Step by step. I needed my phone.
Max barged forward. Thunder exploded overhead. I corralled Bailey back, shoving him through the kitchen door. There was not enough space between Max and the children.
“Give me my children,” he bellowed.
Thunder overhead. Not even that could drown out his voice. My hands shook. The vibrations spread through my body.
I twisted in the doorway. Bailey stood in the middle of the kitchen, shaking. My mobile phone to his ear. Please tell me he was calling the police.
Where was Rose? I swung around. Where was she?
I needed to stop Max. Or at least slow him down. Give help enough time to arrive. If it was even coming. The kids needed enough time to escape.
I blocked the doorway into the kitchen. Max grabbed me and threw me against the wall. He snatched me on the rebound and smashed me into the door frame.
Lightning cracked, covering the sound of my arm snapping. His grip loosened and I sank to the floor, clutching my arm.
“Bailey. Rose,” Max roared, charging past me.
“Run,” I screamed as I picked myself up off the floor.
Too late. I was too late. Max yanked Rose off her feet. She screamed. I lunged forward. Bailey turned to his sister. I pushed him toward the front door.
“Run.”
Thunder. Lightning. Screaming.
The word Mum on repeat.
I lurched forward. Rose. He needed to let go of Rose. I latched onto Max’s arm. A guttural roar escaped his mouth as he shoved me aside. My head smacked into the fridge.
The house was a cacophony of sound. Even the blood rushing in my ears was deafening.
Max was in the hallway, dragging a screaming Rose behind him.
More sound. More light. This time red and blue. Faint. Sirens. Faint.
Help was coming.
But it was too late. Max could get to his car. He could get away.
Bailey ran into the house and grabbed Rose. Max’s grip changed as he reached for Bailey. I latched onto Max. He let go of Rose as we tumbled to the ground.
“Run,” I screamed.
Bailey grabbed Rose and ran into the rain, into the arms of police officers.
I closed my eyes. I had nothing left; my strength was completely drained.
Ethan cameout into the living room wearing his ranger uniform of boots, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
I shook the memory away. “Ready?”
He looked at me closely. “Are you alright?”
I nodded.
He studied me a moment longer before he said, “What’s the plan?”
“We need to clear debris off the road, check on the campers and other residents, make sure our infrastructure is OK.”
“What about the sea lions?”
It was always the sea lions with him. It didn’t bother me like it once would have. It didn’t come from a place of selfishness, but genuine care.
“They’re last on the list.”
Ethan nodded. I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t argue. He never did. How hard would it be to hold everything inside all the time? I couldn’t do it. I’d done it for ten years with Max and vowed never to lose my voice again.
Ethan joined the kids outside.
“We’ll take the ute and load any debris into the back of it,” I said.
Bailey spun around, a grin taking over his face. “Are we going to build a bonfire?”
“Sure are.”
“Woohoo.” He jumped off the porch and started gathering fallen branches.
“Yay,” Rose cheered as she followed him. The fear from the storm had passed. Nothing bad had happened. She could rest easy now.
We made our way slowly to the shop, picking up the debris on the way. Most of it was from trees in yards. At each house, I went to see the occupants to make sure they were OK.
The campers in tents had left yesterday when Ethan advised they needed to leave for safety reasons. There was only one caravan left. It was parked next to the bathrooms, using them as a wind shelter.
I approached the owner. “How did you fare in the storm?”
“Quite good. No damage to the van.” The lady from the tour stood in the doorway. “I swear I thought the storm was never going to stop.”
Bailey ran up to her. “It was gnarly.” He swayed like a tree amid the wind.
She laughed, then watched Rose and Ethan carrying a branch to the ute. “Your family had no problems?”
“No, we’re experts at storms now.”
My family. For the second time, I didn’t correct her. I watched Ethan and Rose clearing the grounds. He was always holding himself apart. Not wanting to truly connect, until last night.
“Better go and help,” I said. “Call us if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
We finished the clean-up and headed to the boat. Bailey and Rose put their life jackets on without being asked. Ethan undid the moorings and then stood beside me, scanning the sea, as we made our way to the colony.
We rounded the point. Debris had washed up onto the rocks and sand, but apart from that the area was untouched. I slowed the boat and skimmed the shoreline. A juvenile sea lion lay on his own, away from the others, on the sand. I reached for the binoculars at the same time Ethan did. Our hands brushed. Warmth spread up my arm, and his fingers curled round mine. A wave of energy followed the warmth. I released my grip, almost dropping the binoculars. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I watched Ethan study the sea lion. His jaw stiffened, hardening every feature on his face. I peered in the direction the binoculars were pointed but couldn’t see what caused his reaction.