Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [120]
The door to the bookstore opened, and Caroline walked in. Dressed in low-rise jeans and a hot pink sweater, she had a smile on her face and energy in her step. Her baby sister was back in form.
"Hi, Kate."
"You look good."
"I feel good. I'm working, so I only have a second. I wanted to give you this." She handed Kate a white paper bag.
"What is it?" She laughed when she pulled out the carton of chocolate-chip cookie-dough ice cream. "You used to give me this when you were in trouble or when you wanted something. Which is it this time?"
"It's a thank you for not criticizing, not judging, just being my sister."
"I'll always be your sister, and I'll always love you, no matter what you do."
"Don't say that, because the down side of being sober is that I feel like crying every other second." Caroline took a deep breath. "Anyway, I stopped by the docks to see Dad, but his boat was gone."
"He took Tyler out sailing."
"Are you serious?"
Kate shrugged. "Tyler said he wanted a sailing experience so he could write more intelligently on the subject."
"And he picked Dad to give him that experience?"
"I'm sure he had another reason."
Caroline's eyes narrowed. "You look worried, but you shouldn't be. Dad won't say anything. Sometimes I don't think Dad even remembers what happened, or maybe he's just rewritten the race in his mind so that it actually happened the way we told people it happened."
"You could be right about that. I'll feel better when they get back, though." She checked her watch, startled to see it was almost four o'clock. "They should have been home by now. They left at nine o'clock this morning."
"It's not that late."
Kate walked Caroline to the door. She was surprised at the blast of cold air that greeted them. "The wind is really picking up."
"The racers should be having a hell of a ride about now."
"Hopefully they'll have the sense to come in if it gets worse."
"Since when did sailboat racers have any sense?"
Kate smiled somewhat weakly as Caroline took off down the block. She pulled the door shut behind her and walked across the street. She could see a few boats heading for the marina. She hoped her father was on one of them.
There was no reason to worry. Her father was a good sailor. As long as he wasn't drinking. As long as he had the good sense to check the weather reports.
As long as he didn't try to do something stupid and daring. As long as he didn't let the memory of another storm creep back into his head.
Okay, so she would worry. She couldn't help it, especially since he had Tyler with him. Tyler wouldn't be much assistance to her father.
The wind lifted her hair off the back of her neck, sending chills through her. This day reminded her so much of that other day, the one that had started out so bright and full of promise.
She'd been standing on the deck when the clouds began to gather. The afternoon sun had vanished. The moon had not yet risen. It was dark. Then it got darker. The swells grew into full-sized waves that rose like dragons from the deep. The wind whipped those waves into white-capped frenzies.
But today wasn't yesterday, she told herself firmly. This storm wasn't as bad or as dangerous. Everyone would be all right. No one was going to die.
Tyler hung on to the rail of the boat, feeling his stomach take another nauseating roll. His first experience at sailing had gone on far too long. The beautiful scenery had long since faded away as thick mists descended upon them, socking them into what felt like their own personal cloud. The colors had faded to grays, blues, and blacks. It was hard to tell where the water ended and the sky began. He had no idea if they were a mile from shore or ten miles.
"We've got to get back," he said,
"We will," Duncan shouted. "Don't worry. I've got everything under control. I love it when it gets like this."
Tyler believed that.