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“Do you have any news?”
I grit my teeth as I glance at the horizon of the ocean. “The boat isn’t back yet.”
“Please let me know the minute they return. I’m so excited for Sabella. I’m biting my nails on this end.”
She’s not the only one. “I’ll do that.”
“By the way, tell Sabella her shark notes are extremely helpful. I’m going to use everything in my next presentation. In fact, I wanted to know if she’d like to present it at the fundraiser in Amsterdam.”
“I’ll ask her.”
“I won’t keep you any longer. Oh, and thank you again for that amazing trip around Corsica on your beautiful yacht. Your wife is the most charming creature on Earth. You should come and visit us in London. Thomas and I would really like that.”
“Thank you for the invitation. I’ll let you know when we can make it.”
We say our goodbyes, but my attention remains fixed on the water where a blurry black point appears like a mirage in the far distance. I strain my eyes to make out the object, cursing myself for the oversight of not bringing binoculars. It may be an oil trawler or a freight ship. Enough of them cross these waters to dock in Mossel Bay.
A moment later, the sound of a helicopter becomes audible. I lift my face to the sky. The six-seater is a dot against the clouds, but the noise of the blades carries on the breeze. I walk into the shallow water, shading my eyes with my palm to block out the sun. I left my shoes and socks at the entrance of the cave and rolled up my pants as well as my shirt sleeves. In this heat, I should’ve worn damn swimming trunks, but I optimized on the visit to have an early meeting with Ryan and clients in George.
The noise of the helicopter steadily grows until it’s louder than the crash of the breakers. It hovers not far from the beach, sending ripples over the water. The pilot gives me a thumbs-up sign before tilting the helicopter left and heading toward the landing pad in Mossel Bay.
The affirmation only appeases me marginally. I don’t relax until the outline of the big boat is discernible and a different noise—this time, the engine of the inflatable Zodiac—disturbs the quiet. The smaller boat soon comes into view, a double line of white foam cutting behind it as the skipper steers it to the shore.
It reminds me of a different time when Roch was driving the boat and Sabella was clinging to the ropes on the sides, half-drowned and full of bitter hatred. I remember the cave and what we did on that day, but most of all, I think about the events that led to that afternoon. It seems like such a long time ago. And here we are, coming full circle.
I recognize Sabella first. Her long hair whips behind her in the wind. She sits in the front of the boat, her wetsuit peeled down to her waist. A red bikini top stretches over her curves. I can’t see her eyes behind the dark lenses of her sunglasses, but her grin tells me the mission was successful.
When they reach the break, I keep an eye on the big waves while monitoring the skipper’s maneuvers, but he knows what he’s doing. He rides the surf like an expert and steers the boat smoothly onto the sand.
I’m there in a few long strides, offering Sabella a hand. She grips my fingers and hops over the side, landing on her feet. To prevent her from losing her balance, I fasten my hands around her waist. She turns and gives a little wave to the skipper who salutes her before jumping out and pushing the boat back into the sea. I give him a hand, holding onto the rope until the boat is afloat. He climbs back in, starts the engine, and drives the boat head-on into the waves until he’s on the open sea again.
I turn toward my wife. She pulled off the wetsuit and dumped it in the bag I brought from the house. She stands there clad in that red bikini against the backdrop of the dunes and the white sand, soaked with salty water and wearing an expression of exhilaration on her face.
She pushes her sunglasses on top of her head. “It was kind of them to drop me off here and save you the trip to Mossel Bay.”
“I would’ve driven to the North Pole for you.”
She tilts her head. “No.”
It takes everything I’ve got and then some not to pounce on her. “No?”
“You would’ve just flown there in that helicopter.”
“Different logistics. Same thing.”
“Admit it.” She props her hands on her hips. “The helicopter was an overkill.”
“Nothing is an overkill where your safety is concerned.”
“Overprotective much?” she asks with an arch of a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “The island is already surrounded by an army and cut off from the mainland.”
“Which is the only reason I’m allowing you to be on this beach alone.”
“I’m not alone.” Her tone is playful. “You’re here.”
I motion with my head toward the ocean where the Zodiac is no longer visible. “How did it go?”
Her eyes sparkle.
