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She didn’t blame Maddie for wanting to do it. If their roles were reversed, she knew no one would be able to convince her otherwise.
“No,” Erin shook her head, shooting up from where she sat. James caught her by the arm as she stumbled forward, not so much as wincing when she stepped on the swollen ankle. “You’re not leaving us. Not again.”
Maddie’s stoic look faltered for a split second, some form of guilt cracking through. Then she turned her head towards her mother.
“I’m not just saying it because I want to go,” she said, her voice softening as she spoke. “She can protect me just as much, probably even more, than if I was with you guys. You know that.”
Erin scoffed. “Not if you’re in the city, with who knows what lurking around!”
Erin looked at her then, as if to plead for help. To plead with her to tell Maddie she couldn’t go.
Saff looked away. Because even if she didn’t like it, at the end of the day, it was Maddie’s choice to make.
Maddie let out a calm breath. “Dad and Josh will help you. You guys don’t need me here.”
“I need you here!” Erin snapped, and Saff could see fresh tears welling in her eyes.
If those words made Maddie falter in any way, she didn’t let it show. Her face evened back out into its calm mask.
“I’m going,” she replied, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
Erin let out a small cry, whipping her head back to look at James, begging him for help. But he only gave her a look that sent her sobbing.
He wrapped his arms around his wife, holding her steady as Maddie finally moved toward them.
“Mom,” she said softly, placing a hand on her arm. “It’s okay. I’ll be okay.”
Erin shook her head, but didn’t say anything more as she wrapped her arms around her in a crushing hug.
Maddie whispered something to her that Saff couldn’t quite make out. Then James stepped back from them, giving her a nod to the side.
She stepped away with him, eyes still glued to Maddie's back.
He cleared his throat, pulling the radio out of his backpack. Then he handed it to her and explained the channel she’d need to be on and exactly what to say to get a response they would trust.
She unzipped her pack, carefully setting each piece inside.
“Here,” he said, holding out the flare gun.
She shook her head. “You guys might need it.”
“I have another,” he muttered, pressing it into her hand. Then he shot a glance in Maddie and Erin’s direction. “If anything goes wrong, or if you can’t get ahold of them, shoot this off. If you can wait, then do it closer to the harbor so we can get to you.”
She nodded, taking the flare gun and stuffing it into the top of her backpack.
Then he ran through the instructions once again, going over the exact location they’d need to meet at once they reached the harbor, along with a rough timeline of when they’d be there if everything went according to plan.
When he was finally finished, they walked the few steps back to the rest of them.
Erin still had one arm wrapped around Maddie’s shoulders protectively, but from the look on her face, she knew there was no argument left in her.
“Ready?” Saff asked softly, brushing her arm against Maddie’s.
Maddie took her hand, nodding.
Erin reluctantly dropped her arm from her, then met Saff’s eyes.
And Saff knew what she was saying—asking of her—through the silent words.
