Page 26 of Sea Breezes at The Beach House Hotel

CHAPTER EIGHT

Holding onto my cell phone, I felt my knees get weak and lowered myself onto the bed. “Who’s hurt? What happened?”

“I’m fine, but Clint has been injured,” said Vaughn.

“What? How in the world did that happen?” I asked.

“A speedboat of drug smugglers being chased by the Coast Guard almost hit us. I’ll tell you the details as you drive up here,” said Vaughn in a shaky voice. “I’m still trying to process it. Be sure to tell Nell that, aside from being injured, Clint will be okay.

“I’ll phone you when we’re on our way,” I said, my mind racing as I ended the call. I knew we’d have to be calm. Maybe Stephanie and Randolph Willis could come over to help Robbie with the kids. She and her husband, Randolph, had been adopted as grandparents one Christmas when they couldn’t get a room at the hotel and spent the holiday with Vaughn, Robbie, and me. They’d do anything for us.

Sure enough, as soon as I asked Stephanie if she could stay with the kids, she agreed and promised to come over right away. That worry taken care of, I went to the lanai and asked Nell to please come inside.

She looked surprised but got out of the pool, wrapped a towel around herself, and walked over to me.

Studying me, she said, “What’s wrong? You look upset.”

“Come into the kitchen with me and have a seat,” I said, not wanting to frighten the children.

“What is it? Is it Clint? Dad?” she asked as she hurried into the kitchen and stood by the table.

“I just got a call from Vaughn. Clint is all right except there’s been an accident and he’s injured. They’re at Tampa General Hospital. We need to drive up there now. As we travel, Vaughn will give us more details. All I know is that it involved a smuggler’s speedboat and the Coast Guard.”

“Oh my God!” Nell clapped her hand over her mouth and looked up at me with tears flooding her eyes.

I put my hand on her shoulder. “I’ve called Stephanie, and she and Randolph are coming over to stay with the kids. Please get dressed, and we’ll drive to Tampa right away. Better pack an overnight bag in case we have to stay.”

I went into my bedroom to change clothes.

As I was leaving the room, Stephanie and Randolph arrived. Nell was outside explaining to Bailey, Ned, and Robbie what was going to happen.

Stephanie and Randolph followed me outside.

Robbie’s face lit up at the sight of them. “Hi. Bailey and Ned, do you remember my honorary grandparents—Grandma Steph and Grandpa Randolph?”

“Yes,” said Bailey. “We baked Christmas cookies together one time.”

“That’s right,” said Stephanie. She turned to Ned. “And if I remember correctly, you ate a lot of icing.”

Ned grinned.

“Okay,” said Nell, coming to stand beside me, trying to remain calm. “We’re leaving now, kids. Have fun with Robbie and our special grandparents. We’ll see you later.”

Carrying overnight bags, Nell and I walked away before any of us could become too emotional.

“I’ll drive,” I said, eliminating any need to discuss it.

I grabbed bottles of water to take with us and led the way to my SUV. The automobile had the latest features, and I’d be able to talk through the car’s audio system and drive at the same time. I was eager to hear more details of Vaughn’s dreadful news.

Once Nell and I were in the car, and we’d left the house, Nell let her tears come. “What if Clint is severely injured and won’t have a normal life? Or worse yet, dies. I couldn’t bear it if I lost him. I really love him, you know.”

“Let’s not panic, sweetheart. If Vaughn says Clint is going to be okay, I believe him. But, like you, I want to see him with my own eyes and know exactly what’s wrong with him.”

I called Vaughn to tell him we were on our way. Through the car's speaker, I asked him for more details.

“We were headed toward Tampa, as I told you we would,” said Vaughn. “The breeze was good, and we were moving along smoothly under sail, making excellent time. We decided to put up the spinnaker. I was at the wheel while Clint was on the foredeck, holding onto the spinnaker. Seemingly out of nowhere, a speedboat heads right toward us, coming like a bat out of hell. He didn’t notice us and our position until the last minute. I turned the wheel to avoid a crash, and Clint fell against the life rail and overboard.”

“What happened to him?”