Night Waves Page 17

  She glanced around him at her belongings. “You’re not looking for evidence?”

  “No, I’m not. Deputy Owen admitted to the slip.”

  Her brows lifted. “Owen?” Her gaze showed temporary interest, and then clouded over with pain. She hugged her arms. “Trust is a fragile thing, isn’t it?”

  “It is. But it can be restored. With time…and forgiveness.” He paused. “I’m sorry, Cali,” he whispered.

  She studied him for a moment as if deciding his level of sincerity then dropped her gaze and turned. She walked to the dimly lit living room, and he followed. “I see you’re preparing for the hurricane.”

  “The weather forecasters are calling for it to hit tonight. The mayor has called a mandatory evacuation.”

  “Don’t ask me to leave.” She turned to face him with renewed spirit.

  “I won’t. But I want you to go to the station. It’s safer there.”

  “Where will you be?”

  “I’ll go there too, but only after the bridge closes. I want to get as many people as possible to safety.”

  Her eyes widened. “What about Mrs. Mayes?”

  “I need to check on her,” Nick answered, touched by her concern for the woman she had only met once. “She won’t drive in this weather.”

  “How will she get off the island?”

  “She probably won’t.”

  “But, she lives on the water. Her cottage might flood. It’s not safe for her to stay there. Will shelters be open?”

  He grimaced. “Yeah. But trying to convince her to go to one is difficult. A few years ago, we had an evacuation for a hurricane, and she refused to leave her home. I ended up staying with her overnight, just to make sure she was all right.”

  “I’ll take her.” Cali grabbed her purse. “Give me directions to her place, and to the nearest shelter. If she refuses, I’ll pack her bags for her and bring her to the station with me.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I know. But I want to. Aren’t you worried about her?”

  “Yeah, I am. But I’m worried about you, too. Cali, I’m sorry for accusing you.”

  She placed a hand on his forearm. “I know. We’ll work it out later, OK?”

  Nick liked the fact she used the word ‘we.’ Encouraged, he placed a slow, soft kiss on her lips. She didn’t lean into him as he had hoped, but she didn’t push him away either.

  “I’ll give you directions to Mrs. Mayes’s cottage, but I want you back before it gets dark.” Nick took her arms in his grasp and looked straight into her eyes. “Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  He wanted to say more. He wanted to melt the cool reserve in her gaze. But, it would have to wait. He quickly wrote the directions on a notepad and handed it to her. “Get going. I’ll see you at the station later.”

  Nick stepped outside with Cali, and locked the door behind them. He cranked the shutter closed over the sliding door as Cali disappeared out of sight. He took a final look around his property before leaving. The wind blew scraps of wood and debris across his land, and he prayed his home would survive the storm.

  The clouds no longer merely threatened rain as they relented to the tremendous pressure and expelled the moisture that had been gathering. He ducked his head against the rain and headed downstairs, preparing for the long day ahead.

  Night Waves

  Night Waves

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cali found Mrs. Mayes’s cottage without getting lost, which amazed her, considering she had driven on ten different roads to get here. Prepared to convince Mrs. Mayes to seek shelter, Cali pulled into the drive.

  She stepped out, and a wind gust blew sand into her eyes. She squinted, trying to see past the gritty, painful specks. She rushed to the porch and pounded on the door, waited a moment, and then knocked again.

  Mrs. Mayes didn’t answer.

  Cali stepped around to the back of the cottage, and her cell phone rang. “Hello?” She rubbed her achy eyes, trying to clear them.

  “Hey. It’s me,” Nick’s voice sent a wave of warmth through her. She was struggling to hold onto her anger after his heartfelt apology earlier, but found it difficult as she heard the welcoming sound of his voice.

  “Hey. Mrs. Mayes isn’t answering her door.”

  “She just called. Her oldest son has already taken her off the island. Sorry I didn’t know before. I could’ve saved you a trip.”

  Relieved Mrs. Mayes was safe, Cali blew out a breath. “It’s all right. I’m just glad she’s somewhere safe, and with someone who loves her.”

  “That’s where I want you to be,” his voice softened close to a whisper.

  “Where? Somewhere safe or with someone who loves me?” Her heartbeat intensified as she waited for an answer.

  “Both. Come on in to the station Cali. I’ll be out on calls for most of the afternoon, but I’ll be there later.”

  The warmth that had spread through her when she had first heard his voice returned in full force. “I’ll see you later then.”

  “Drive safe,” he said, and then hung up.

  Nick’s implied words echoed through Cali’s head, and she could not focus on the drive back across the island. He wanted her to be with someone who loved her. He wanted her to be with him. Did that mean that he loved her? The realization struck, leaving her reeling and lightheaded. She had arrived on the island looking for Serena, and had found love along the way. Or, had she? Only this morning, Nick had accused her of leaking information to the press. Yes, he had apologized for jumping to conclusions, but he obviously didn’t put much trust in her.

  Cali bit her lower lip. Balancing her countless emotions had taken a toll on her. She was terrified she would never see Serena again, and afraid she would allow her feelings for Nick to interfere with her search. But, she loved him, and wanted him to love her back. She blew out a breath, trying to sort out her swirling emotions. Lord, please help. Please bring Serena back. Please let Nick love me.

  As her thoughts scattered, so did her sense of direction. Cali was lost before she realized she had taken a wrong turn. She pulled into a gas station to study the directions Nick had given her. It didn’t help. She would have asked a gas station employee for directions, but the boarded windows and doors indicated the station was closed.

  Picking up her cell phone, she dialed her dad’s number, needing direction in more ways than one.

  “Stevens here.”

  “Dad? It’s good to hear your voice.” Cali let the engine idle as she closed her eyes.

  “Hey, hon’. Are you safe from the hurricane? Your mother’s threatening to come after you.”

  “Tell her I’m fine. I have a safe place to stay.”

  “What’s the update on Serena?”

  She sighed as tears threatened. “Nothing new.”

  “Are you sure you’re OK? Is the sheriff treating you right?”

  “He’s looking after me,” she said with honesty, avoiding the earlier incident.

  “Good to hear.”

  Cali slowly opened her eyes. The wipers swished the rain away from her windshield in a fast, steady rhythm. “I’m lost, Dad.”

  “Lost? Tell me the road you’re on and I’ll check the internet.”

  “Harbor Road. But that’s not the only reason I called.”

  Tapping sounded across the line. “H-a-r-b-o-r Road? Let’s see where you are.”

  She smiled into the phone. “You and your computer. What would you do without it?”

  “I’d be lost, too. So, what’s the other reason you called?”

  I ’ m in love. But, he ’ s shown he doesn ’ t fully trust me. How do I put my heart on the line? The thoughts whirled through her mind, but she said, “I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. Ah. Here it is. Have a pen handy?”

  Cali wrote the directions back to the main road on the notepad Nick had given her, and told her dad goodbye. She had chickened out. She hadn’t been able to tell him
how involved she had become with Nick, or how conflicted she felt about it.

  Another time, she promised herself. The churning mass of dark clouds overhead hid the sun, but the dimming light still indicated the late hour. She checked the time. One hour until nightfall. She promised Nick she would return before dark, and she intended to keep that promise.

  It took Cali twenty minutes to arrive back at the main road. Traffic was light, but the wind gusts had picked up, and she drove with caution. She decided to drop by the cottage and pick up some clothes, just in case they couldn’t return for a few days. After another ten minutes, Cali arrived at Nick’s cottage. Thankfully, the rain had given her a reprieve, and had let up for a few minutes.

  With only a little daylight left, Cali planned to allow herself five minutes to gather her clothes into her duffle bag. The rough waves and strong winds sent sea spray high into the air, and the mist covered her as she climbed the steps to the second story. She tasted salt on her lips as she wiped the dampness from her face, and held back errant strands of hair as the wind whipped them across her eyes.

  Cali paused when she reached the top step. Nick had engaged the hurricane protection, blocking access to the door. Determined not to let the barrier keep her from having a fresh set of clothes, she took an extra precious few minutes to crank the slatted material up.

  Once she gained entrance, she slipped into the bathroom first, and then packed as fast as she could. By the time she walked back to the living room, darkness had fallen. She peered through the door, and her heart jammed in her chest. The water level had climbed to an alarming level.

  Standing close to the sliding glass door, she felt the wind pouring through its cracks. Each crashing wave brought new fears to the surface. She would be trapped if the storm surge crested the sand dunes.

  Fearing she had waited too late to leave, Cali paced, wondering what to do. She could head for the car, but would be swept away if the waves toppled the dunes. Was it more dangerous to leave than to stay? Nick had said the cottage had a solid foundation, and if the dunes held she would be safe. But what if the dunes crumbled?

  Thunder cracked, making her jump. She had been on edge for so many hours, anxiety had become a constant companion and her head throbbed from the tension. The wind forced the cottage to sway, and Cali made her decision. She grabbed her duffle bag and her purse, heading for the sliding glass door.

  Cali peered into the darkness as she neared the door. The furious ocean swells had increased. Her heart lurched in her chest. She fought for breath as a huge wave hurried toward the dunes. The speed of the mound of water both fascinated and terrified her. The dune wouldn’t hold much longer under the assault. It could not withstand the force of the wave. In the next instant, and in one sweeping motion, the wave swallowed the pile of sand and surged under the cottage. The cottage trembled upon impact. The stilts creaked under the attack, and the floor vibrated. The lights went out, and panic set in. Cali imagined herself trapped in a sinking ship, with no way out. Fear clutched her, and her breaths became quick and shallow as she slumped to the floor.

  She peered out at the ocean as it poured over the molten dunes. Wave after wave now assaulted the cottage. Too late to drive to safety, she had only one thing left she could do.

  She searched through her purse, found her cell phone, and dialed Nick’s number.

  “Cali? Is that you?” His words sounded strained against the howling wind.

  He was outside in the storm.

  She raised her voice, hoping to get through to him. “The dunes gave away. The water’s breaking under your cottage. The foundation’s shaking.”

  “Why are you at the cottage? I asked you to go to the station.”

  “I came back for my clothes, in case we couldn’t get back for a few days.”

  A muffled curse came through the speaker.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come back here,” Cali admitted.

  “I’m on the southern shores. I can’t get to you fast enough to get you out of there.”

  “What should I do?”

  “Stay inside. The cottage is solid. It’ll hold for a while. I’ll send someone to get you out and bring you to the station.”

  “OK.”

  “Cali?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Hang in there. I’ll see you soon…” he hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but didn’t.

  ****

  Shielding the phone from the driving wind the best he could, Nick dialed the station and asked Helen to send Deputy Owen to get Cali out of the swamped cottage. The connection was poor, but Helen repeated his instructions before the call was lost.

  Slipping his phone into his pocket, Nick bent his head against the driving rain and concentrated on hauling the yellow barricade across the highway. He had discovered the washed out portion in the nature preserve, and had needed to warn anyone left on the streets not to come this way.

  A gust of wind threatened to cast him aside, but he held fast to the warning sign and continued to tug it across the sand-covered asphalt. The waves crashed over the highway in the distance, completely covering it. The high tide wasn’t due in for another hour, which meant the storm surge had not reached its peak. Nick’s pulse quickened. The flooding would only become worse before getting better.

  Lord, please keep everyone safe, he prayed as he worked, and help Deputy Owen get to Cali before it’s too late.

  When Nick had secured the road barrier, he ran for his truck and climbed inside. The cab rocked from side to side, but still provided welcome relief from the forceful winds. He removed his hat and wiped the wet, gritty sand from his face, hoping anyone who may attempt to travel this way would use common sense and not try to go around the roadblock. Revving the engine, Nick headed to the station to meet Cali.

  Night Waves

  Night Waves

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Cali stood in front of the door, with damp palms and a racing heart. Lightning flashed, illuminating the night, revealing the immense waves crashing over what was left of the dunes. Lord, keep this cottage strong. Please let it hold up in the storm. She closed her eyes, clutching her duffle bag and purse to her chest.

  Several long minutes later, a knock sounded on the door. She looked up. A tall, broad-shouldered figure stood in front of the glass, sending the beam of a bright flashlight through the door. Light blinded her as it shined in her face. She winced, shielding her eyes from the assault.

  The door cracked open. “Cali, I’m here to help you get out of here.”

  She didn’t recognize the man’s voice. She strained to see who it was.

  “I’m Chad Livingston. We met on the beach earlier this week.” He lowered the flashlight, allowing her to see his shadowed features.

  Startled, she stepped back. She had expected Nick to send a deputy, not a lifeguard. Relief flooded through her anyway. She wasn’t alone anymore.

  He stepped inside and slid the door shut, his clothes dripping puddles of ocean water on the tiled floor, and splattering across her shoes. “What do you say we get out of here?”

  “The sooner the better.”

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “Clothes.”

  “Leave them here. There’s no way to get yourself and them back to my truck.”

  “All right,” she reluctantly agreed. “But I’m bringing my purse.”

  “Fair enough. We’ll have to wade through the waves. I want you to link your arm in mine and hold on as tight as you can. Ready?”

  She tucked her purse against her side. “Yes.”

  He slid the door open. They had to lean against the wind and fight to stay on their feet. Frightened at the powerful gusts, Cali clung to Chad, leaning on him for support.

  The water surge covered the bottom of the steps, submerging the carport by several feet. She prayed Chad would have the strength to carry them through to safety.

  He jumped down the last of the steps, pulling her along beside him. Chills ran through
her as the water enveloped them up to their waists.

  “Look out!” he shouted as a wave barreled into them.

  Cali held her purse up just in time to keep it from becoming saturated. They tumbled with the wave, as it carried them farther inland. When the wave receded, they were left in knee-deep water.

  “Here comes another. Run!” Chad shouted above the roaring surf.