90 Miles to Freedom (19 page)

Joey wandered over to the lower shelves, across the room from the L-shaped couch, mesmerized by the assortment of books he saw displayed. They had obviously been put there with Joey top of mind, because they ranged from marine life, plants, tides, and charts, to various other topics that had peaked Joey’s interest in the past. He’d spent countless hours researching all this at the library. Now Collin had brought the library to him.

On the far wall hung a large framed portrait of their family. It was Joey’s favorite. The bookshelf below the portrait was filled by family photo albums he recognized from the house. Framed copies of the same photos that had been hung in the house were scattered around the living area.

“
When did you get all this? You barely left the house to go anywhere.” He frowned. “I can’t believe I never noticed you bringing in all of this stuff!” Joey blurted, still looking around in amazement. “God, Collin. This is a dream come true! How did you do it?”

Collin shrugged, obviously pleased with Joey’s reaction, but staying modest. “You went to the library every day. I ordered most everything online. All the packages and deliveries that came, those ones you were bugging me about? Well, this was what I was doing. All the food is non-perishable, of course. Mom stocked the basic items and I added more to them, stocking up for a long trip of some sort. When it was time, of course. The books were whatever I could remember you talking about after coming back from the library. I did some research of my own on oceanography, figuring out what was studied in the various related topics.” He grinned at Joey’s expression and clamped a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder, guiding the way. “Come on. Let me show you your room.”

Joey was shocked. The idea that Collin had done all of this by himself, without Joey’s knowing anything about it, was absolutely unbelievable. And Joey had thought Collin had been doing nothing all this time but drinking himself into a stupor. When had he had the time to do all of this?

Joey’s room was far more than he could ever have imagined. Collin had made sure it contained all the special, personal things and more. Mom had decorated the entire yacht, but Collin had stocked this room, customizing it for Joey. On the desk lay an iPod, a laptop, and a printer filled with paper. The desk drawer held rulers, gauges, pens, pencils, graph paper, notebooks and more. On the shelves lay oceanographer equipment: a Fathometer, a Salinometer, various measuring tools, thermometers, drift bottles, a few test kits, a microscope, GPS, and a compass. It was amazing. There was no other word for it.

Joey opened his closet and discovered all new clothes. More than he had in his own closet in the house. They still had the tags dangling from them. Joey had his own bathroom, well stocked with toiletries, towels, wash rags, a robe and slippers. Collin had thought of everything.

On the nightstand sat a small box with a card, next to a framed photo of their parents. Joey sat on the side of the bed and picked up the card. Before he opened it he took a deep breath. It had been an interesting year, and he had needed his brother very badly, but he’d been nowhere in sight. Now everything was changing, and he was going to get all he’d ever wanted and more. He opened the card and silently read it to himself.

Joey,

So you will always know where you’re at, what time it is, and what day it is. You’ll never be lost, and you’ll never be alone.

Love, Collin

Joey swallowed hard. Tears filled his eyes so that everything blurred, as if he were looking through a kaleidoscope. He blinked, sending wetness streaming down his cheeks, but didn’t bother wiping it away. Because for the first time in a very long time, they were tears of happiness.

Slowly, carefully, he opened the small box and stared at the treasure inside. After a moment he pulled out a Maxi Marine Divers’ Watch and set it gently on his palm. He blinked tearfully up at Collin, shaking his head.

“
This must have cost a fortune. Where did you get it? When did you get it? I don’t know what to say. Thank you so, so much,” Joey said. He grabbed Collin and hugged him. The brothers’ tears soaked into each other’s shirts, and neither one of them minded.

“
Whoa. Now it’s me that can’t breathe.”

Joey loosened his grip and smiled.

“
Like I said, you can buy most anything on the internet,” Collin answered softly, still holding onto Joey. “And Joey, you’re worth every penny and more.” He cleared his throat. “We have a satellite so you can continue your research and take online college classes. That way you can earn your Oceanographer’s degree while we travel the world. You’ll probably be at the top of your class, with all the specimens and testing you’ll be able to document.” Collin wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Let’s go, shall we? We’ll stop at the next port and stock up on some fresh food. And I know how much you love sugar and junk foods.”

“
Yeah. It’s time to go,” Joey said softly. He wiped his tears on his sleeve and began to smile, releasing his hold on Collin. He wasn’t scared anymore. In a blink, Collin had returned to being the big brother he had been before. They would be close again. As close as any brothers could be.

As they pulled away from the dock, watching their home slowly fade into the distance, Collin asked himself for the thousandth time what was going on. Incredible as it seemed, could it all have been some kind of warning? Maybe from their parents, or maybe sent by God?

He watched the receding shoreline, still thinking. It had all seemed so real. Suddenly a thought struck him, jerking him into instant alertness. If Collin had changed the outcome and saved Joey from death … could he also save Adelio?

“
Joey!” he called abruptly. “Take the wheel! I have to make an urgent call to the Coast Guard.” He turned, reaching for his cell phone, then took a few steps away.

“
This is going to be awesome!” Joey said aloud, enjoying his new role. He was so excited he was barely listening to Collin’s phone conversation.

“
Yes! Yes!” Collin nearly yelled into the phone. “I need to speak to the Coast Guard! A supervisor, actually. Perez. I need Perez.”

Joey glanced over, curious. Perez? What was Collin so excited about? He shrugged. Whatever. Collin would do what he needed to do. All that mattered was that they were leaving, actually doing this. Finally.

“
Perez! Yes! I said Perez! He’s a doctor for the Coast Guard on evening patrols in the Florida Strait.”

“
Who is Perez?” Joey asked. But Collin had turned away and was pacing the deck, throwing his hand up in the air as if he were getting frustrated with the person on the other end of the phone.

Then a big grin spread across his face. “Yes! Yes! That’s him! Yes, Perez! I have a very important message for him. His patrol boat needs to rendezvous with a Cuban captain of the fishing boat ‘Adelio’ at five o’clock today,” Collin said. He was speaking fast, which Joey knew meant he was getting impatient.

“
This is Captain Collin Scott! He will know who I am. Oh! And one more thing!”

Joey was very curious now. The Coast Guard probably thought Collin had a screw loose or something. If Joey didn’t understand what Collin was talking about, how could they?

Whatever it was, Collin was emphatic. “Tell Perez to make sure to inspect the necklace that the captain of the Adelio is wearing! Yes! I said the necklace! It is a cross, or a crucifix. It is imperative that he see it. This is vital.” Collin threw his hand up in the air again, getting more upset by the second.

Joey frowned at him. “Calm down, Collin. Nobody can understand you when you talk like that. If it’s that important, slow down!”

Collin frowned, then took a deep breath. “All right. Do you have that? Read it back to me, please.” There was a pause while he listened, then nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly right. Please make sure that he gets this message today. Right now, as a matter of fact. This is urgent. It’s a life or death situation. Yes! You heard me correctly. I did say life or death!”

Collin’s eye bugged with frustration. “I am sorry,” he growled. “I didn’t know it had to be a life or death situation in order to get an urgent message through to someone. Okay, fine. Just please make sure he gets the message. Thank you. Yes! Yes, that’s right. Captain Collin Scott. Thanks again. Goodbye!”

Collin hung up, dropped the phone into his pocket, then turned to face a very curious Joey.

“
What was that all about?”

“
Checking the mail,” Collin replied, grinning.

“
Huh? What do you mean?”

“
Joey, have I ever told you that checking the mail could change your life?” Collin raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

Joey frowned. “Are you sure you haven’t had anything to drink?”

Collin laughed and set his hand on the top of Joey’s head, tousling his hair. “I’m positive. It’s a funny story, actually. I’ll tell you all about it one day.”

Collin pulled out a CD that had belonged to their parents and placed it in the CD player. The melody and the perfect words floated out through the speakers and for a moment he closed his eyes, thinking of Betty and George.

Collin smiled, watching Joey get familiar with the instruments and some of his new equipment. Today was a new beginning. A new future. Today they left everything behind. Today it was time. Today Collin knew what day it was.

Collin’s eyes grew wide in thought, then said, “I need to make one more urgent call.” Collin reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, then looked at it. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly pushed the numbers on the keypad.

“
Hello. Morgan? It’s Collin.”

The End

About the author - K.C. Hilton

Author of ‘The Magic of Finkleton’

K.C. Hilton was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois. She spent her childhood playing street games with the neighborhood kids. When she wasn't outside, she spent much of her time reading and getting lost in adventurous worlds and whirlwind courtships. At the age of seventeen, she moved to Kentucky and eventually began to raise a family of her own.

K.C. has always been entranced by stories of magical adventure, and though she had to live in the practical world, running a family business as well as two of her own; she discovered that writing was an entirely new, exciting adventure all on its own!

K.C. has a large family and their get-togethers are so much fun! She is a photographer and takes tons of photos! Her family also has a mini dachshund; her name is “Roxy” weighing in at a whopping ten pounds. Roxy is a huge part of their family and she's is spoiled rotten!