Sunday's Child (12 page)

She cried out as she stood.

“Hattie?”

“My arm's a little sore,” she whispered. “But I'm fine.”

He nodded, helping her to the edge of the boat. “It's a big step over, then a ladder. But we'll help you. Sit on the edge here.”

Hattie sat slowly, biting her lip. Cal steadied her, reluctantly letting go as Tom lifted her down.

Laurie ran to her as soon as she could, her face wracked with concern and fear.

“I'm fine.” Hattie gave Laurie a one handed hug. “I'm OK. Cold and I knocked my arm.” She allowed the paramedics to take her over to the waiting ambulance.

Cal glared at Markus as he reached him. “You should know better.”

“I didn't know this storm would blow in from nowhere.”

“Any idiot knew that storm was coming.”

Markus leaned forward and got right in his face. “Who are you calling an idiot?”

“If the cap fits…”

“And it was improper of you to ask my date out.” Markus lowered his voice, his eyes glinting in anger.

“Oh? Was it proper to sail in a storm and nearly drown her then?” Cal's hands clenched into fists and he longed to knock the self-satisfied look from Markus's face, but he didn't. Instead, he glared at him a moment before getting back to work. He had things to do before he could go home. And that included handing over his passengers to the shore team. “Just get off my boat and go and get checked out.”

He turned away and started overseeing the refueling, while the shore team hosed down the tractor and the sides of the boat. Just as they finished and were about to disembark, Tom ran over. “You have to go again.”

Cal nodded. “That doesn't surprise me in the slightest. However, it's really bad out there. We almost didn't make the rescue this time.”

Tom nodded. “I know and believe me, if there were another way I'd take it.”

“What is it?”

“Oil tanker with a very sick crewmember—suspected ruptured appendix. It's not possible to winch them off as it's too windy, and we're the nearest vessel. I'll have a med team standing by for your return.”

“OK. We have Sam anyway. Where is the ship?”

“I've loaded the coordinates into your GPS. Its five miles off shore to the south west. The captain can't risk coming in closer and being tossed into the harbor wall.”

“We're on it. See you later.” He turned back to the others. “OK, we're going out again. Tanker medevac.”

 

****

 

Hattie watched from the ambulance as the tractor pushed the lifeboat back into the raging sea. She pulled the foil blanket tighter around her. “Where are they going?”

The paramedic glanced up at her. “Called out again most likely. It'll be a long night.” He looked at his partner. “OK, let's get them to the ED. Closest one is at Yarborough Infirmary.”

Aunt Laurie looked at Hattie as the paramedic shut the door of the ambulance. “Cal knows what he's doing. He'll be fine.”

“I hope so. He asked me to dinner tomorrow night.”

“When did he do that?”

“When I was on the lifeboat.”

Markus coughed to get her attention from the other side of the ambulance as it pulled away. “I can't say I'm happy about Callum asking you out while we were still on our date.” He paused. “I hope this hasn't put you off sailing.”

“Not at all.” And it wasn't a date, more of a bribe, but she wasn't going to tell him that any time soon. She'd just have to find a reason not to go out with him again. Even as a friend.

“Cool. Then maybe you'll come with me again.”

Hattie raised an eyebrow and shivered with cold. “The boat sank.”

“We have another. Besides, the insurance will cover it.”

Aunt Laurie scowled. “It covers stupidity, does it?”

Markus returned the scowl. “It is hardly my fault the yacht sank, Mrs. Dillon.”

“Anyone who lives here knew there was a storm coming. You should have double checked the weather before leaving the harbor.”

“I did. The storm warning had been lifted.”

“Obviously not.”

Hattie closed her eyes, tuning them out. Images of Cal on the lifeboat in his uniform filled her mind. Cal was a member of the lifeboat crew. Why hadn't he said anything? Was that why he didn't want her telling anyone about the kid he rescued back home?

She didn't understand why he'd kept quiet. This was such a brave, honorable thing to do.

For a moment, out in the sea, lost and alone, she thought she was going to die. She was sure she was going to die. Not that she minded that, but she didn't want to drown. Then she thought she was seeing and hearing things. The huge waves kept crashing over her, her wet clothes pulling her under. There had been a light and a voice calling her name. His voice calling her name. Then the lifeboat appeared, plucking her from the jaws of death.

Just like Jesus had. He was her Lifeboat. When she'd been tossed on life's seas, alone and friendless, going under for what she thought was the last time, Jesus had reached out and saved her.

She smiled at the picture images that thought gave her.

“What's so funny?” Markus asked.

“Just thinking how Jesus is like a lifeboat.”

He rolled his eyes and looked away. “If you say so.”

Aunt Laurie smiled. “It's a lovely picture. You should tell Cal. He'd like it.”

“You must have known he works on the lifeboats.”

“Of course.”

“And you didn't tell me.”

“You didn't ask, dear.” She paused. “You mentioned a Cal in passing that had been a footballer and I knew who you meant. I didn't imagine you'd bump into each other again the way you did.”

“Nor did I. He was a guest at the lodge. But why didn't you say last night that he worked on the lifeboats?”

“Because it wasn't my place to tell you.” Aunt Laurie grinned. “That walk of yours made the headlines here. It was a lovely picture of you both.”

Shock ran through her, freezing her to the seat. “What photo? What headline? When? He asked me not to tell anyone. How did the press find out?”

“It's all over the internet,” Markus answered. “It has been for well over a month now. You and Callum and the kid he rescued from some river in Headley Cross.”

Hattie closed her eyes. That was the last thing either of them wanted or needed. Especially now. She sucked in a deep breath and looked at her aunt. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“I assumed you'd know. That it would have been news in Headley Cross.”

“No…At least not that I'd seen, but then I've had so little time to read the papers or watch television lately.” Hattie let out a long breath. “But it explains Steve's attitude. He didn't approve of me taking that walk with Cal in the first place. He still treats me like a child. Even calls me his baby sister, despite the fact he's only a few minutes older than me. If he saw those photos…” Her voice drifted, things falling into place.

Steve would have known Cal lived here. That's why he cancelled her initial stay with her aunt, to prevent her from seeing him again. He could take brotherly love and looking out for her too far.

Aunt Laurie touched her arm. “Sweetheart?”

Hattie forced a smile, cradling her arm. “Just thinking, it's time I spread my wings. And high-time Steve realized I'm a grown up now and not just some kid sister he needs to protect.”

“Not that you ever needed protecting.” Aunt Laurie laughed. “I remember a child with pigtails who used to beat up kids who insulted her brother at one point.”

Hattie grinned. “Someone had to look out for him.”

Markus cleared his throat. “Maybe he has someone in mind for you and Callum doesn't quite fit the bill.”

“Perhaps. But I'm quite capable of making my own decisions. And like I told him, right now I'm content with being Miss Steele.”

Or was she? Because all she could think about was a certain tall, dark haired gentleman in uniform currently in peril on the sea.

 

 

 

 

11

 

Hattie's arrival at the hospital ended the conversation, along with a rush of doctors, nurses, x-rays and check-ups. Her arm wasn't broken, just sprained. This meant no cast, for which she was grateful, and she sat on the edge of the gurney waiting for the nurse to strap it up.

“In a way it's a shame it's not broken,” Aunt Laurie said wryly.

Hattie looked at her in shock. “I'm sorry? Why?”

“Because then you'd have to have six weeks off work. Steve couldn't argue with a plaster cast.”

“He'd find a way. But I'm not returning to work anyway, remember? I quit.” She paused. “So, going back to this picture in the newspaper. Did you keep it?”

“I did. It's a lovely picture of you.”

“Were you going to tell me?”

“I didn't see the need. The teasing here had died down. Cal was mortified when the picture was published and when you didn't mention him again, I assumed you'd forgotten all about him.”

She smiled. “How could I forget someone like Cal? I'm sure the press ran the story only because of his former profession.”

“Probably. Although they put a different spin on it, and used his lifeboat duties as the main thread.”

“I want to see it.”
And him
she added.

Aunt Laurie looked at her. “I thought you were seeing Markus.”

Hattie's cheeks burned. Had she said that out loud? She hadn't intended to. More than totally flustered, she sat there. “Um, uh…”

“You can't date them both at the same time. That isn't fair to either of them.”

“I'm not dating either,” she said finally. “Markus asked me sailing, and Cal asked me to dinner. Neither constitutes a date and both are on different days. I'd class it as spending time with a friend. Besides, I had my reasons for going sailing with Markus and romance doesn't really come into it.”

“Hmmm. Are you sure it's not because Steve isn't here to keep tabs on you?”

“Steve's my brother, not my father. I'm tired of living under his shadow all the time. I love him and love being his twin, but I need to be me. Need to be who God wants me to be. Does that make sense?”

“Yes it does. Just make sure you don't get hurt in the process.”

 

****

 

Sitting in the privacy of her aunt's lounge that evening, Hattie read the newspaper article slowly, taking in every word. The reporter had jazzed things up a little, made a huge song and dance over who Cal had been and highlighted the fact he worked on the lifeboats.

She glanced up as Aunt Laurie came in with a tray of food they'd picked up from the takeaway on the way back from the hospital. “Thank you.”

“Welcome. That article makes quite dramatic reading.” Aunt Laurie sat next to her and gave thanks for the meal.

Hattie smiled at her. “It wasn't quite as melodramatic as this makes out.”

“So tell me what really happened.”

In between mouthfuls of curry and rice, Hattie gave her aunt the potted, but accurate version of what happened. “Needless to say, the lifebelts got put back the following day.”

“I bet they did.” Aunt Laurie picked up the phone as it rang. “Hello. Oh, hello Cal. We've been in about twenty minutes. Yes, she is. She's right here.” She handed Hattie the phone. “It's for you. It's Cal.”

She grinned, having worked that one out. “Hello, Cal. How are you?”

“Doing OK. Thought I'd call before the pager goes off again and see how you're doing.”

“I'm fine. My arm isn't broken, just sprained my wrist. Be back to normal in no time.”

“Good.”

“I should have listened to you. Not gone out. Then you wouldn't have had to risk your life—”

His calm voice cut her off. “It's fine, Hattie. We went out anyway.”

She paused, pushing down the guilt filling her. “Why didn't you tell me you worked on the lifeboats?”

“It never came up.”

“But even after that rescue in Headley Cross, when I asked if you were a lifeguard…”

His light laugh echoed down the phone. “We do provide lifeguards on the beaches during the summer months, but I've never done it. I'm too busy going out to sea several times a week. Besides, I knew if I gave them my name, it'd be all over the papers. Ex-England footballer saves kid.”

“I honestly thought it was because—”

He cut her off. “Because I was ashamed from going from a famous footballer, to being part of the lifeboat crew and an unsung hero? No, that would never happen. It's my past I'm running from, not my present. I love going out on the lifeboats.”

“Even on days like today?”

“Yes.”

“Don't you get scared out there?” She finished her meal and set the fork down on the plate.

“Too much adrenaline to get too scared until it's over most of the time, but yeah sometimes it can be a little intimidating. But if I can do some good, save one life, then it's worth the risk and the danger.”

“You saved me tonight. Thank you.”

“Welcome.” He paused. “And the pager's gone again. I must go. I'll see you tomorrow. Night.”

“Night.” The phone in her hand went dead.
Stay safe. Lord, the sea is so huge and their boat so small. Protect them.

 

****

 

Hattie was almost to the lifeboat station, with the bag of shopping, when what she feared would happen, happened. The flour she'd carefully balanced in her sling finally slid out and landed on the pavement. At least it didn't explode everywhere. Sighing, she put the shopping bag down, and was about to bend when a familiar voice from behind stopped her.