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“I told him I’d be right here,” I said, but Ellis put his hand on my shoulder.
“She’s asking us nicely to come back in a bit,” he said. “So you don’t have to leave the hospital, that’s all. He’s sleeping anyway, right?”
The doctor gave him a thankful nod and Mum thanked her, then led me out, her arm around my shoulder.
They sat me at a table in the cafeteria, Dad soon putting a coffee in front of each of us. I knew they’d need an explanation, so I tried to start at the beginning.
“He didn’t even do anything crazy,” I said. “He didn’t run out in the storm. Hell, it wasn’t even raining. It was just overcast, and we’d checked the radar beforehand. There was no lightning activity.” I shrugged. “We were locking up the yard because he wanted to come home. Just about to get on the boat. And then he... he...”
Mum gave my hand a squeeze.
“He was putting the padlock on the gate, and I walked ahead with the crate with all his gear.” I shook my head. “And he yelled something. I didn’t understand what he said. But he was doing that thing with his mouth.” I imitated the way he did it. “When he can taste it. Before lightning, he gets an awful taste in his mouth. Then he screamed at me to run, and there was a huge bang, like a bomb went off, and a flash...” My chin wobbled and I blinked back more tears. “Then I was on the ground. I think it knocked me over. I dunno. But he was lying there.” I couldn’t stop the tears. I didn’t even try. “The sight of him just lying there, all twisted, with his eyes open, staring, unseeing. I’ll never forget it.”
When I looked at my mum, she had tears rolling down her cheek.
“You did the right thing,” Dad said gently. “You got him help.”
I wiped my snotty nose with the back of my hand and Ellis handed me a serviette. I looked at my dad and nodded. “Sorry about just leaving the boat to you. I can go and clean it up later, I just—”
He shook his head. “It’s fine, Tull. Don’t you worry about anything.”
“I activated the emergency beacon locator,” I said. “I’ll need to replace it.”
He reached over and patted my hand that Mum still held. “You did the right thing.”
I let out a shaky breath. “Thank you all, for coming to help. I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
“We’re just glad you’re okay,” Mum said. “And we’re glad Jeremiah is too.”
“The doc wanted to check Tully out, but he refused,” Ellis told them. “’Cause he got knocked over. Blowback or something like that, she called it.”
“I’m fine,” I added quickly.
“Tully,” Mum started.
“I’m fine, honestly, I feel fine. Just worried about Jeremiah, that’s all.” I gave Ellis a look because he could have freakin’ waited to tell them that. “I think he stopped breathing. When it happened. I dunno if it stopped his heart or if it was just shock, or what.” I shrugged. “He was just staring, his mouth open. Maybe it was shock. I don’t know. I pushed on his chest, I think. I dunno. It’s all a blur.”
Mum’s tears started again. “But you got him here.”
“And I was supposed to wait for the coast guard. The guys in the helicopter told me to wait for them. But I cancelled the request or I’d probably still be out there.” I shrugged and looked at Dad. “You’ll probably get a bill for that, so just give it to me.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Dad said. “Drink some of your coffee. When did you eat last?”
I shrugged again and sipped my coffee. “I’m fine. I’m not hungry, to be honest.”
Ellis disappeared and came back with a sandwich.
And then I got teary again, because I had such a wonderful family and Jeremiah was lying in that bed all alone. And I remembered something else.
“Oh god.”
“What is it?” Mum asked.
I leaned my head right back and dug my thumb and finger into my eyes. How was I supposed to tell Jeremiah’s father that what happened to his wife—the godawful horrible thing that ruined their lives—just happened to his son?
“Jeremiah’s dad,” I said. “I need to call him.”
CHAPTER NINE
