Wednesday(25)

I chuckled at her response. Not even our own mother was concerned with our safety—well, not much anyway. I handed the phone to Jason.

“She wants to know how many cancellations we’ve gotten.”

I sat down on the couch, mentally cataloging the tasks we needed to complete to secure the estate. The shutters needed to be latched over the windows, the trash bins brought inside the shed, and a few other things I’d leave to my dear brother since it didn’t look like the rain would be letting up anytime soon. Let him get soaked.

Jason ended the call and started dialing someone else.

“What’d she say?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing much. But I remembered Shaw was supposed to go out boating today. Just want to make sure he’s heard the news.”

“Surely he wouldn’t go out in the rain.”

Jason shrugged. “It was fine this morning. And besides, you know Shaw. He’s a stubborn ass.” He pressed the phone to his ear.

Just then the wind picked up, howling low and steady, creating an ominous mood.

He hung up a few seconds later. “Huh. No answer.”

“Do you have any idea where he is?”

Jason shook his head. “Don’t look so panicked. I’m sure he’s fine, Chloe.”

“Right.” I nodded, forcing the scowl off my face, but that did nothing to ease the panic churning inside me. The storm might not be bad—if we were safely locked inside—but out on the water? That was a whole other ball game.

“I’m going to head over to the marina,” Jason said, mirroring my thoughts. “Make sure they know about the forecast upgrade and check on the guys. Maybe Shaw’s back by now.”

“Okay. I’ll take care of the chores here.”

We each took off in separate directions—my brother out into the pelting rain, running for his truck, and me to get my rain gear so I could take care of everything outside that needed to be done.

• • •

Night had fallen on our coastal town and we were under warnings for both the hurricane and flooding. Rain was coming down in sheets, and the wind was howling something fierce outside my bedroom window. And most importantly? Shaw was still out there.

Jason had come back from the marina with a grim expression on his face, and I knew before he even said a word. I’d sunk down into a kitchen chair when he shook his head, and listened with my heart in my throat when he said Shaw’s boat was still gone and no one had heard from him all day.

I didn’t hear much after that, but sat there numb as Jason made us some sandwiches and explained how he helped Shaw’s crew secure the marina and then sent them all home.

Now, two hours later, the power was out and I was sitting in the center of my bed, staring at that uneaten peanut butter sandwich as candles lining my dresser flickered in the room. Jason had urged me to stay downstairs with him in case we needed to take shelter in the safe room in the center of our house. I would go there if the storm got worse, but for now I just needed to be alone.

I had plenty of time for my mind to wander to all the what-ifs. The biggest of all . . . what if Shaw didn’t make it home, and I never told him all he meant to me?

Unshed tears welled in my eyes as I lay back on my bed, repeating a silent prayer over and over. Please just keep him safe.

Suddenly there were headlights outside and the roar of an engine. It had been so black and so desolate all evening, I was startled. I ran to the window.

Stalking up the stairs to my apartment was a soaking-wet Shaw.

Oh, thank God. My fingers trembled on my lips as I watched him approach.

His face was a hard mask and his eyes were squinted from the onslaught of rain. I was frozen in place and when he reached the door, it rattled against its frame.

I hadn’t realized I’d locked the door. I never locked my door, but maybe subconsciously I wanted to keep the storm out. When I flipped the lock and opened it, the wind took hold of the door and pulled it. Shaw tugged hard, closing it with a thud.

I flung myself into his arms. “I was so worried.”

“I know. Shhh.” He stroked my hair and hushed my cries with his kisses. “I’m here now.”

He was being so sweet, so tender, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to change.





Chapter Thirteen


Shaw



The ocean was an unforgiving, tumultuous bitch. Spending an evening navigating toward a light in a marina that could no longer be seen through the wind and the rain does things to a man. My mind began to focus, singularly, on the few things I knew to be true.

First, Samantha, while I did miss her, hadn’t been a good wife. I wasn’t even sure we’d still be together if she was here. That didn’t erase the tragedy of her death, but it was a fact. Second, I loved Chloe and I always had. I’d talked myself out of that fact so many times, I started to believe I could move on, told myself I wasn’t good enough until it was true. Now the way I treated her reflected that.