Chapter 39
Iwatch Finn climb into the helicopter.
The moment the door closes behind him, the rotor blades begin spinning faster, the sound building into a heavy thrum that fills the entire harbor. Wind kicks up across the pavement, tugging at my jacket and whipping strands of my hair across my face as the aircraft slowly lifts off the ground.
For a brief second, it hovers there, suspended in the gray afternoon sky, and I find myself holding my breath as if somehow that might help.
Then it tilts forward and begins moving toward the open ocean.
My eyes follow it the entire time.
Please find him.
Please let him come home.
The helicopter grows smaller as it moves out over the water, the sound of the rotors slowly fading until it becomes just another distant noise carried by the wind.
Finn’s words replay in my head again.
I’ll bring him back to you.
The sentence repeats itself over and over in my mind.
I’ll bring him back to you.
My chest feels tight, like there isn’t enough air in my lungs.
Around me, the harbor has changed.
People have started gathering along the docks and near the parking lot, drawn by the sound of the helicopter and the sense that something serious is happening.
In a town like this, word travels quickly.
Fishermen stand in small groups near the bait shop, speaking quietly while they watch the water beyond the harbor mouth.
A handful of tourists linger near the railing, their cameras forgotten around their necks as they try to piece together what’s going on.
Everyone knows there’s a rescue underway.
Everyone is watching.
I wrap my arms around myself, staring out at the empty stretch of sky where the helicopter disappeared, trying to ignore the steady stream of tears sliding down my face.
“May.”
I turn and find George walking toward me, worry written all over his face.
Before I can respond, he pulls me into a quick hug, one hand resting gently against the back of my head. We’re not close. I’ve only worked here a short time. But right now, the kindness of it makes my chest ache even more.
I lean into him, my shoulders trembling as the tears keep coming.
“Have faith, May. He will be okay.”
I nod, though the movement feels small and fragile.
Behind him, I notice Nathan approaching, Houston padding beside him. Nathan places a hand on George’s shoulder and murmurs something quietly, pulling him a few steps away.
My phone suddenly begins to ring in my hand.
April.
The moment I answer, the thin thread holding me together snaps.
“I got your text. Is Aiden okay?”
The sob that escapes me catches in my throat before I can stop it.
I try to speak, but nothing comes out except broken breathing and quiet crying.
April waits.
“Hey,” she says gently. “It’s okay. Take your time. I’m here.”
I press my hand against my mouth, trying to steady my breathing long enough to form the words.
“He… he went overboard.”
Saying it out loud makes it feel terrifyingly real.
“They lost visual of him. Finn is out there looking for him.”
A quiet pause stretches across the line.
“Well,” April finally says, “Finn is basically a real-life superhero, so he’s going to find him and bring him back safely.”
A shaky breath escapes me.
“I can’t lose him, April. I’m not ready to lose another person I love.”
She exhales softly.
April understands exactly what I mean.
We both do.
“He’s coming home, May. They’re going to find him. He will be safe.”
I wipe my cheeks with the sleeve of my jacket and force a slow breath into my lungs.
“Yeah… okay.”
“What do you need from me? What can I do to help you right now?”
“Nothing. Just… thank you for listening to me. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I know anything.”
“Please do. June is on her way to New York with the team right now, but I’ll make sure to talk to her as soon as she lands.”
“Thank you.”
“Stay strong, May. You’ve got this.”
My throat tightens.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I end the call and slowly lower the phone.
Nathan and George are walking back toward me now, Houston padding beside them.
“I’m going home,” Nathan says.
“Oh, Uncle Mike.” The realization hits me suddenly. “He probably doesn’t know.”
“I’ll talk to Mike. Don’t worry about him.”
Nathan gestures toward George.
“I’m leaving you with George. He’ll talk to Lieutenant Mercer and make sure you stay up to date with everything.”
His eyes meet mine, steady and serious.
“May, Aiden has been in fifty-degree water for about nineteen minutes now,” Nathan says gently.
“Once they get him out, he’ll be airlifted immediately.
They’ll probably take him to Newport first so the medical team can start treating him right away.
From there, they may transfer him again, depending on his condition.
“You’ll need to be ready in case things start moving quickly. He’ll want you there.”
I nod slowly.
Nathan continues in that same calm, grounded tone.
“If you’d like, I can take your house key so you don’t have to worry about Neptune.”
My hands shake slightly as I reach into my pocket and pull out my keys. I slide the house key off the ring and place it in his hand.
Nathan studies my face for a moment.
“Finn is the best at what he does. He will bring Aiden home safe.”
I nod again.
He pulls me into a brief hug before stepping back, then reaches into his pocket and hands me a small card.
“My cell number. Call or text if you need anything. I’ll be in touch, and I’ll see you later, alright?”
Before I can answer, Houston suddenly walks over and presses his big head gently against my knees.
The gesture makes my chest tighten.
I kneel and wrap my arms around him, resting my face against his soft fur while he stands there patiently, letting me hold onto him for a moment.
When I stand again, I wipe the last of the tears from my face.
George rests a steady hand on my shoulder.
“Come on. Let’s go talk to Lieutenant Mercer.”
Nathan gives one final nod before turning toward his car.
I watch him go for a moment before following George inside the station.
The atmosphere inside is tense. Radios crackle across the room while Coast Guard members move quickly between desks and equipment.
A tall officer steps toward us within moments.
Lieutenant Mercer.
George greets him briefly before gesturing toward me.
“This is May Moreira. Do we have any news on Holloway?”