Chapter Thirty-One
I’m notsure what time it is when we finally head back to camp, but we need to check the radio before we try to get some sleep. I’m exhausted and I can tell Coop’s just about there. I’m following behind him, as we trudge our way through the sand, and I can see the small limp he had before, turning into a more pronounced hobble the further we walk.
We make it to the plane and Coop slips the headset on, and signals for me to move closer so I can listen. I lean my head down next to his and he lifts his earpiece so I can hear the sound coming out of it as he makes his call.
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is Captain of the Cove 2437, a tourist float plane, with Captain Cooper Heyes on board, along with one other passenger, Molly Thatcher. We experienced propeller failure yesterday morning and attempted a water landing just off the coast of Emerald Isle. We were able to run her ashore with few complications. Captain of the Cove ending transmission. We are standing by on 121.5 MHz.
We hear static come through the receiver, and I can see the look on Coop’s face as recognition washes over him.
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is Perry Ford from the Dainty Dutch-ess, receiving your call Captain of the Cove. I contacted the Fire Department. They weren’t receiving your signal due to a few towers being knocked down from the storm, but they have your coordinates and are on the way. Dainty Dutch-ess ending transmission. I am standing by on 121.5MHz.
“Mayday, Dainty Dutch-ess, I could use your help towing the plane back to the docks if you are available, Perry. Captain of the Cove, over.
“Mayday, Captain of the Cove, I will be right behind the Fire Department with my boat. Happy to help ya, Coop. Glad you two are alright. Expect us within the hour. Dainty Dutch-ess, over.
The static fizzles out as Coop and I look at one another and start laughing. “Are you ready to go home, Sunshine?” The word is like a punch to the gut. Home. They say home is where the heart is, and my heart lies with the float plane pilot sitting next to me, laughter and love dancing in the depths of those pretty blues of his.
I ignore the feeling of dread that is creeping up on me, and force a smile to my face. “I sure am. Let’s blow this popsicle stand.” He stands from the captain’s chair and offers me his hand, pulling me up beside him and tugging me toward the exit. “Let’s get all of the equipment moved back to the plane before the Fire Department arrives. They might not be willing to rescue us and the equipment, so this ensures that you don’t lose your things.” We walk, hand in hand, back to our little shelter and start gathering our things, making sure not to leave anything behind that might harm the little creatures on the island.
An hour later,we have everything loaded up onto the plane ready to go and I pull Coop down to sit next to me on the sand. “I think you need to take a load off, Captain. That leg of yours is bleeding again.” He looks down at the bandage and it is soaked through with blood.
“I didn’t realize it was bleeding that badly. I’ll probably need stitches. But I’ll have a pretty cool scar I can show off to the ladies.” He raises his eyebrows at me a few times, and I push his shoulder with both hands, hoping to tip him over. He doesn’t budge, but instead gathers me into a hug as I relax into his arms. “Just joking, Molly. The only lady I want to show anything off to is you.” I bury my head into his chest and wrap my arms around him, holding him tight.
We hear the sound of boats approaching, and a spotlight hits us, making us both shield our eyes from the sudden brightness. The boats drop their anchors, and the men file out, holding their emergency equipment above their heads as they approach our location. They wrap us in blankets and help us onto their boat, trying to keep us out of the water with their blow-up contraption, before Perry and a few of the rescuers help him hook up the plane to his boat. I can tell Coop is irritated, and he keeps standing, like he is going to jump into the water to help with the plane, so I keep his hand in mine, trying to assure him that they know what they are doing while the other men assess our injuries.
One of the guys from the fire department hands us some snacks and a couple of bottles of water and bends down to check out Coop’s leg. Coop grumbles under his breath and tells the guy he is fine as he watches, his body tense, as the men mess with his plane.
“Gosh, dang it, you guys. Be careful, will you?” He stands again, and I pull him down before his words get the better of him. He curses under his breath, so I tilt his face to look at me.
“It’s alright, Coop. Let them take care of the plane. She’ll be alright.” I smooth the worry from his face, and his scowl relaxes into a small smile.
“You’re right, Molls. As long as you are safe, that’s all that matters.” He snuggles me up against his side and rests his cheek on the top of my head. Before long, the boat starts to move, and we nod off, the movements of the boat rocking the both of us to sleep.
Red flashing lightsgreet us as we pull up to the dock, and I rub the sleep from my eyes as Coop stirs beside me. The men from before roll a wheelchair up to where we sit, and Coop refuses them and stands to walk toward the ambulance that is parked near the dock, wincing with every step he takes. I see the pain on his face as he continues to walk, and I pull him to a stop. “Don’t be so stubborn, Coop. Let them help you.”
“Fine, but if I am letting them help, you’re coming with me.” Before I have a chance to try to comprehend what he is talking about, he sits down in the wheelchair and pulls me down to his lap. My face feels hot as the firemen around us whistle at the two of us as we make our way to the ambulance, while I hide my face in Coop’s shirt.
One of the men clips the wheelchair to the floor, and they make me take a seat across from him before we head for the hospital. Once we arrive, they wheel Coop and me to his room before sending me next door to my own examining room. As soon as the nurse leaves, I sneak back into Coop”s room and snuggle up with him on his bed. I’m not leaving this man for a minute longer than I have to. Which doesn’t bode well for me at all, because I am pretty sure that after my boss finds out about this little incident, they are going to call off my expedition and make me come home. Which means that the little saying I spoke of before, about home being where the heart is, is going to complicate things for me sooner rather than later. My time is coming to an end, way sooner than it was ever supposed to, and instead of feeling remorse over the expedition I have been dreaming of for five long years, I am trying to keep my tears at bay as I hold on to Coop as though holding onto him will keep me from leaving when this is all over.