Page 11 of Hometown Harbor 3

They packed up and made it down to the river. Deenie was thrilled and surprised to see that Kylen showed up. Dalton went for a spin with his buddies before taking Deenie out. He would wear off some of his excess adrenaline and take risks before it was Deenie’s chance to join.

“I thought you had volleyball this morning?” Deenie asked her cousin.

“I did, but we started at seven and finished by noon. I came right here because I knew you’d be here. I haven’t spent much time with you since returning from Miami and I wanted to catch up with my cuz,” Kylen said.

“I’m glad you did. How was Miami?” she asked.

“It was the bomb. I saw neighborhoods beyond the city that I could see my mom and I living in. The city of Miami is great to have right there, but there are plenty of places to escape the fast pace.”

“Sounds like you’re trying to sell me on the place. Maybe you should be having this conversation with your mother.”

“I did a little bit at breakfast, and she made it very clear that she won’t be pressured into making a decision. I know how she is, and I shouldn’t be surprised, but Carmine is different. It’s like he fell from the sky and was meant to be a part of our family. He fits like the missing piece of a puzzle.”

“Is your mom as jazzed about him as you are?” Deenie asked as she watched Dalton with one eye.

“She is. I haven’t ever seen her like this with a man. She’s so comfortable with him, and how they look at each other is next level. Carmine told me I could spend my senior year at Derryfield Prep if I wanted. It’s extremely tough to get in, especially as a transfer, but he has some pull,” Kylen explained. “He won an Olympic gold medal when he was twenty-five, and that looks good for the school he coaches there. Carmine told me that teachers pull strings for their kids all the time. Since he’s never asked before, they’ll give him what he wants.”

“Moving from Tampa to Miami is a big ask. Your mom hasn’t known him for that long, and she’s not young and impulsive. I’d lay off the pressure. She knows how you feel, so now it’s between your mom and Carmine.”

8

Kylen closed his eyes and enjoyed the peaceful afternoon after the strenuous morning. Deenie scrolled through TikTok when she was tired of watching Dalton and his friends try to outdo each other with tricks. She recognized wheelies from when she was young, and kids were trying to do them on their BMX bikes. Hitting the water seemed safer than hitting the hard ground.

The whooping, hollering, and the buzzing of jet skis stopped. Deenie and Kylen turned their heads and were horrified by what they saw. One Jet Ski had flipped, and the rider had not emerged from the water. One by one, the other skiers came to his aid.

“That was Dalton because his Jet Ski had an orange stripe.” The other jet skiers hopped off their craft, and Jaylen called 911.

“Don’t go in the water, Deenie. There is a lifeguard, and all the others are diving in.”

Deenie reached into Dalton’s bag, and she knew his code so she could call his mother. She stood on the shore and saw the lifeguard bring him up and drag him to shore.

“You’re alive. I miss you, D,” his mother answered. She must have thought it was her son when his name popped up on the screen.

“Allison, this is Deenie Dixon, and I’m with Dalton by the dock. There was an accident at the river. They pulled him out of the water, and the paramedics have been called.”

The line went dead. Allison was probably on her way as she must have known the dock they were at.

Deenie dashed over to be by Dalton’s side. The lifeguard was administering CPR, and Dalton started to cough, which was an excellent sign. At least he wasn’t dead, and his most serious injury was his leg, which was mangled by the propeller. The paramedics arrived, and after checking his abdomen to make sure there was no pain coming from the area, they shifted to his left leg. A tourniquet was used to stop the bleeding. They looked at each other and shook their heads in dismay.

“Deenie,” Dalton called out. He squeezed her hand. “At least the wheelie I was doing was dope. I was trying to impress you and not fail. Next time. Will you call my mom and tell her I’ll be late for dinner.”

Dalton was in some kind of altered state or shock.

“I was impressed. You impress me even when you aren’t performing a death-defying stunt. I see your mom just pulled up. You can tell her yourself.”

Allison Wycraft flew out of her car and pushed everyone aside to reach her son. She was a wreck, as Deenie would imagine her mother would be if she was in a similar situation.

“Are you Dalton’s next of kin?” the paramedic asked.

“Yes,” Allison answered.

“Do you have any objection to us taking him to Palm Bay? We may have to move him from there, but their emergency department isn’t full, and we can stabilize your son. You can ride with us.”

“Mom, what are you doing here? Is this that serious?” Dalton asked. “Can’t I just go home with you, and you can make it all better?” Dalton asked her. The color was draining from his face because he was losing so much blood from the wound on his leg.

Kylen drove and called April to ask if he could use the car to go to the hospital. She asked him to swing by and pick her and Tabitha up first. Deenie jumped in the car, and they drove to the house. Her mother was a mess because it was not only her daughter’s boyfriend but also Marcus’ nephew, whom he practically considered a son.

Tabitha ran to Allison and asked if she needed anything, and of course, prayers were something she could provide.

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