Chapter 36
Iwake up before the alarm goes off, my eyes opening slowly to the quiet light filtering through the windows. For a moment, I lie there staring at the ceiling, warm and content in a way that feels unfamiliar but very welcome.
Images from last night replay in my head.
Aiden’s eyes looking down at me right before our lips met, and the warmth of his body against mine.
I brush my fingers over my lips, smiling as a warm, fuzzy feeling settles somewhere deep inside my chest.
I turn my head to the side and find Neptune already awake, watching me from his bed. He doesn’t move, just lifts his head slightly, comfortable where he is.
“Good morning,” I say.
He answers with a little sleepy moan that makes me smile wider.
I reach over to my nightstand and grab my phone from the charger. The screen lights up. Fifteen minutes until the alarm goes off.
Perfect.
I sink back into the pillows, curling up under the blanket as I scroll through my notifications. The first message at the top of my texts makes my stomach flip.
Aiden.
Sent two hours ago.
Aiden:
I wish I could see you before I leave for work, but I’m going in early for a 12-hour shift. I’ll be counting down the minutes until I get to kiss you again.
My smile grows instantly, butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I type back.
Me:
You should have woken me up.
The three little dots appear almost immediately.
Aiden:
T-minus 10 hours until I get to see you.
I bite my lip, warmth spreading through my chest.
Me:
I’ll be waiting.
A second later, the message gets a little heart reaction, and I close the thread, my smile still lingering as I open the next one.
The group chat with my sisters.
I type quickly.
Me:
I kissed Aiden last night.
I stare at the message for a moment before locking my phone and setting it back on the bedside table, already knowing exactly what kind of chaos that text is about to unleash.
I stretch my arms above my head and glance back at Neptune.
He’s still watching me.
“Alright,” I say, pushing the blankets aside and sitting up. “Let’s go have some breakfast, Neps.”
The morning passes in a blur.
I spend most of it buried in a research study about the outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in marine mammals in California, specifically the first detection in northern elephant seals and what it could mean for our coast. The words on my screen start to blend after a while, citations and data charts filling the page as I work through the final sections.
A soft knock on my door pulls me out of it.
I look up to see George standing in the doorway.
“How’s it going?” he asks.
“Good,” I say, turning slightly in my chair. “I’m almost done. I’m sending it over to Cassie for review before we submit it.”
“Great,” he says with a small nod. “Rafi’s heading home. He’s not feeling well.”
“Oh no.”
“He was scheduled for the whale excursion at two,” George continues. “Are you able to cover for him? I’d ask Cassie, but she has a meeting we can’t reschedule.”
“Of course,” I say, glancing at the clock on my computer screen. “I can take my lunch now and head over.”
“Sounds good.”
He taps lightly on the doorframe before turning and walking back toward his office.
I reread the last two paragraphs I wrote for the third time, adjusting a sentence here and there before finally closing the document.
A quick email to Cassie follows, with the attachment included and a note asking her to review it before we submit it to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for public publication.
Then I grab my phone, water bottle, and jacket and head out the door.
It only takes a few minutes to get home.
Neptune is already waiting by the door when I walk in, his tail wagging wildly like he’s been standing there all morning, anticipating my return.
“Hi Neppy,” I say, crouching to scratch behind his ears before opening the back door for him.
He trots outside immediately.
While he does his business, I throw together a quick sandwich and refill his food and water bowls. I take a moment to check my text messages.
Messages from my sisters, both losing their minds.
I laugh quietly to myself and text back.
Me:
I’ll text after work with the full story.
Outside, Neptune waits with his tennis ball already in his mouth, staring at me expectantly. I toss it across the yard a few times, letting him run off some energy.
Before I know it, it’s time for me to go back to work.
Neptune makes his way back to his bed while I head to my room and change into proper clothes for the water — waterproof pants, my rain jacket, and my boots.
I quickly braid my hair over one shoulder, then lock the back door, grab my keys, and make my way out the door.
The drive to the harbor is a quick one. At first, everything looks like any other afternoon, until I turn onto Coast Guard Drive.
The harbor is packed.
Tourists line the sidewalks, waiting for their whale-watching tours, cameras hanging from their necks, families gathered around ticket booths. But mixed in with them are clusters of fishermen and harbor workers, all standing around watching the water.
And the Coast Guard side of the harbor is… busy.
Service members move quickly along the docks, preparing vessels, engines running, radios crackling across the water.
Something feels off.
I circle the parking lot twice before finally catching a spot just as someone pulls out. By the time I step out of the truck, the noise around the harbor is louder than usual.
As I walk past the groups of tourists, I hear bits of conversation drifting through the air.
“Our tour got delayed.”
“They said the harbor’s closed right now.”
“Something with the Coast Guard.”
A couple of fishermen stand near a bait shop talking quietly.
“Harbor’s temporarily shut down,” one of them says. “Coast Guard only.”
My stomach tightens.
I push the feeling aside and keep walking until I reach the office.
Inside, the place is packed.
People crowd around the counter, voices overlapping as everyone talks at once.
“We don’t have a departure time yet.”
“We’re trying to figure out rescheduling options.”
“We’ll send email confirmations later today.”
I weave through the small crowd and approach the counter, forcing a calm smile.
Elizabeth stands behind it, her cheeks flushed and her hair pulled into a messy bun, looking overwhelmed.
“Hey,” I say gently. “I’m here for the two o’clock. What’s going on?”
She exhales when she sees me, her shoulders dropping slightly.
“Hi, May. I’m so sorry, today has been a mess.”
“What happened?”
“The weather shifted faster than they expected this afternoon,” she says. “Swells picked up earlier than forecasted, and the harbor’s been closed temporarily for Coast Guard operations.”
“Oh.”
“One of the whale watching boats had a mechanical issue just outside Otter Rock,” she continues. “Nothing catastrophic, but they lost propulsion and started drifting. The Coast Guard’s out there transferring passengers to another vessel so they can tow the boat back.”
“That sounds chaotic.”
“Yeah,” she sighs. “And about forty minutes ago, a small recreational fishing boat sent out a distress call, too. Engine failure. They were drifting farther out than they should have been.”
My stomach twists slightly.
“Fire department marine crew went out to assist,” she adds. “But something apparently went wrong during the response, and now the Coast Guard’s coordinating everything.”
She gestures toward the harbor outside.
“So all tours are cancelled for the rest of the day.”
My mind immediately jumps to Aiden.
“Okay,” I say softly. “Thanks for letting me know. Let me check in with George and see what he wants me to do.”
“Sorry again,” she says.
“Not your fault.”
I make my way back through the crowded office and step outside.
The noise of the harbor hits me all at once. My hand is already reaching for my phone. I pull up my text thread with Aiden’s and type quickly.
Me:
Hey, are you okay?
The message sends, and a second later, it shows delivered.
I stare at the screen, waiting for the little read notification to appear.
It doesn’t.
Around me, the harbor keeps moving, voices and engines blending, but suddenly I feel completely still, my fingers tightening around my phone.
I look out toward the Coast Guard docks, hoping to spot Finn.
Instead, farther down the dock, I notice a man standing alone.
A black dog sits calmly at his side.
Nathan.
I start walking toward him quickly, my steps turning faster and faster until I’m nearly running across the parking lot. Nathan turns and notices me almost immediately. Houston gets to his feet beside him, and the two of them begin walking toward me.
The closer we get, the more clearly I can see his face.
Something is wrong.
Concern is written all over his face, his jaw set tighter than usual.
“May,” he says as soon as we are in front of each other.
“What happened?” I ask, my words rushing out. “Is Aiden okay?”
Nathan meets my eyes and pauses for a moment before speaking.
“May,” he says quietly.
I shake my head before he can say anything else, the sting of tears already building behind my eyes.
“Just tell me what happened.”
He nods once.
“The Coast Guard crew on duty was already out assisting a whale watching vessel outside Otter Rock,” he begins, keeping his voice low so the people passing nearby can’t hear. “They had a mechanical failure and were transferring passengers to another boat so they could tow it back safely.”
I nod quickly.
“I heard that part.”
“While that was happening,” he continues, “a smaller recreational fishing boat sent out a distress call. Steering loss, engine failure. They were drifting toward the rocks, and someone onboard was in medical distress.”
My stomach twists painfully.
“So the fire department’s marine response team went out to stabilize the situation until the Coast Guard could get there,” he says. “Six of them went out, including Aiden.”
My fingers tighten around my phone.
“The surf picked up faster than forecasted,” Nathan goes on, glancing toward the open water beyond the harbor. “The swells are rough out there today.”
I don’t move. I don’t blink. I just listen.
“They reached the vessel and started helping the passengers,” he says, his voice calm but heavy. “Securing lines, trying to keep the boat steady until backup arrived.”
Nathan pauses, then, just long enough for dread to settle deep in my chest.
“What happened?” I whisper.
His jaw tightens slightly before he answers.
“They believe a wave hit the boat sideways while Aiden was helping one of the passengers,” he says quietly. “The surge knocked him off balance…”
Nathan’s eyes stay locked on mine.
“And he went overboard.”