Page 72 of Catch My Fall

Back on the boat, we pull out of the harbour and head out onto the open water.

The late afternoon sun is warm against my skin, my dark sunglasses doing little to protect my eyes from the reflection off the water.

I look back at Sierra who’s watching me, her eyes soft and curious as I steer us back home.

“Come here,” I say, holding out my hand to her.

Taking my hand and allowing me to reel her in. Her arms band around my waist as she tucks herself into my side. With my free arm, I drape it around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“Happy, princess?”

She cranes her neck to meet my eyes with a beaming smile spread across her lips. “So happy.”

I release her, positioning her in front of me so her back is against my chest. “Take the wheel, baby.”

Her head whips around, her eyes wide with fear. “What! No!”

“It’s alright, I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen.”

“I can’t steer this boat, we’ll crash!” she exclaims.

I chuckle. “I won’t let us crash. Do you trust me?”

Her face softens. “You know I do.”

“Then trust yourself. I do.”

She smiles before turning back around, gripping the wheel so hard her knuckles are turning white.

“Relax,” I say, running my hands down her arms, making her shiver before placing them on top of hers. “You don’t have to grip it so hard, baby.”

Her hands loosen. We’re not going that fast and it’s a straight line, there’s no way we can crash. After running her through the basics, I take my hands away from the wheel, letting her get a feel for the boat on her own.

I watch as her stiff body relaxes with every second as she comes to realise it’s not so scary after all.

“Turn in slightly to the right as we approach this curve. Follow the line of the embankment.”

She turns it a fraction as we shift into a different direction. “I’m doing it! I’m steering the boat!” she cheers, her wide eyes sparkling as they meet mine over her shoulder.

I squeeze her shoulders. “I’m so proud of you, princess.”

She manages to steer us all the way back home, and I only have to take over when we pull up to the dock at the back of the house.

Once we’re back on land, I tug her into my arms, my hands locking around her waist. I can’t seem to go a second without a part of me touching her. “You did good, princess.”

My phone pings and I groan, forced to release her as I tug it from my pocket.

I slide open the screen lock to find the motion-detection cameras from the front of the house activated.

“Is everything okay?” Si asks.

“There’s someone at the front door. The motion camera picked him up.”

“Who is he?”

I zoom in on the live video feed, watching the man peer through the living room window. “Looks like a cop. Come on, princess.”

“Can I help you, Officer?” I ask, rounding the side of the house, noticing the cop car parked in the driveway.

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