Chapter Eight
Audrey
“Y ou going to sign off on Leena?” Van asks.
I interviewed Leena last Friday. Her husband is a police officer, and they are moving from Hickory, North Carolina, to Sandcastle Cove to be closer to their daughter, who started school at the University of North Carolina Wilmington this year. He will be working the night shift for the Sandcastle Cove Police Department, and Leena is also looking for a job that will allow her to work nights.
I hit Send on my screen to shoot off this week’s liquor order and close my laptop.
“I think so. She’ll need training, but I liked her, and I think she’ll fit in great around here,” I tell him.
He nods. “In that case, I’ll text Brew to let him know I’m calling and offering her the job. Do you think you’ll be able to train her starting next week?” he asks.
“That’ll work great. I’ll start her on lunch and dinner shifts, and once she’s got the hang of it, we’ll switch her over to nights.”
“Sounds good.”
He disappears back into his office. I pull up next week’s schedule, make adjustments, and send it to everyone via the mobile app before shouting my goodbye.
I’m just pulling out of the parking lot when my phone rings. I press the button to accept the call, and Heather’s voice comes over the speakers.
“I notice that you have yourself and Parker working together every night,” she says in place of a greeting.
“Hello to you too. Yes, we will be. It’s not like I have a lot of options.”
“You could have taken a few early shifts and let him and Leonard handle nights.”
“We’re hiring a new girl who’ll be starting next week, and I’ll be busy training her in the afternoons. So, this week, I want to concentrate on ensuring Parker has everything down pat.”
“Uh-huh,” she sings.
“What?”
“He did just fine without you last night,” she points out.
“You know Sundays aren’t as busy as the rest of the week,” I defend.
“It was a packed house. He handled it like a pro. You know what I think? I think you liked spending time with him last week.”
“Was there a reason you called, or did you just want to give me shit?” I ask.
“Oh, right. I got a text that one of the turtle nests near Northeast Fifth Street is boiling. Do you wanna spend the night on the beach?”
“Sure. I’m headed home now. I’ll meet you at your place in thirty,” I say.
“See you then.”
I click off the line and run home to change and pack an overnight bag.
Our little island is a sea turtle sanctuary. The loggerhead turtle is an extraordinary, endangered creature that travels great distances to lay its eggs on our shores every year. Sandcastle Cove Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center oversees nest identification and protection, with volunteers like Heather and me helping to monitor the nests until they boil, which means hatch.
One of our favorite things to do is spend a night on the beach, watching the babies dig their way out of the sand so we can help guide them to their new home within the waves. It’s rare for it to happen on a night when we’re both off work, so we never miss the chance when it comes around.
We set our chairs a safe distance from the nest, ensuring they won’t obscure the hatchlings’ path to the shoreline. Then, we walk over to where Avie—Sebastian’s wife and director of the Sandcastle Cove Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center—is talking to the small group of volunteers.
I lift my head to the sky as the wind begins to pick up. The tropical storm that has been looming for the past week finally made landfall at the southernmost point of South Carolina last night and is moving up the coast. It is predicted to reach Sandcastle Cove sometime between five and seven in the morning. Local weather authorities and the Coast Guard have been closely monitoring the storm’s strength, forecasting heavy rainfall, sustained winds of seventy-five miles per hour, and gusts exceeding ninety miles per hour.
“This nest has been boiling for several days, and the first hatchlings started emerging this afternoon, making their way to the shore. Our job tonight is to guide the remaining babies to the water. As you all know, this is particularly important because the sky is dark tonight. Can I have two of you go door-to-door and ask the residents and renters to turn off all beach-facing lights two blocks in both directions on Fifth Street?” she asks.
“We’ll do it,” a lady says, pointing between herself and the gentleman beside her.
“Perfect. Thank you.”
They walk off toward the nearest beach access with their flashlights in hand.
“As you can see, a storm is coming in tonight, and we have four other active nests on the island. These nests have been secured with smart barriers to protect them from flooding, but I’m going to check on them while you all monitor this one. I should be back before all the hatchlings emerge, but while I’m gone, you know how to guide them to the water,” she says just as light rain begins to fall. Avie looks up and sighs. “Settle in, everyone. It’s going to be a long night.”
The group disperses, and Avie hops into a waiting ATV.
Heather and I return to our chairs.
“Maybe I should go get the beach umbrella from my trunk,” I say as I pull a waterproof windbreaker from my bag and tug it over my sweatshirt.
“The rain is coming in sideways. I don’t think it will help. Besides, the wind is getting stronger, and it will probably carry it away,” Heather says.
The ATV’s engine roars to life and takes off down the shore.
An ominous feeling slivers up my spine.
“I sure hope she makes it back before the weather takes a turn,” I mutter.
“She will. It’s not supposed to get bad for another nine hours,” Heather reassures me.
I glance out at the horizon. “Something tells me it’s not going to be that long.”