Page 23 of Until We Break

I stood at the end of the bed, watching her. Watching the lines on the machines next to him move up and down.

“Right, Caleb?” Her eyes moved to me.

I looked at her. “You want me to talk to him?” I spoke quietly.

“Yes. Talk. Say something.”

“Like what?”

“Like everything is going to be okay.”

I cleared my throat. I had never done anything like this before. It seemed silly. “Hey, buddy. Yeah. She’s right. Margot’s right. I’m sure your parents will be here soon. And umm, I’m Caleb. I’m a captain in the Coast Guard. I got called to bring you in when your sailboat capsized. So, yeah, that’s how you got here.” I shrugged in Margot’s direction. I knew she wanted me to say more, but I had no idea what there was to say to this kid I had never met and who wasn’t even awake to hear it.

“Why don’t I make that call to the base?” I suggested. “See if there’s a lead on the Sunfish? I’ll be back.” I strolled away from the curtained area, heading back to the front desk. I was sure the receptionist would let me use the phone.

“How’s the little boy?” She smiled up at me.

“Not really sure yet,” I answered. “Do you have a phone I could use? I need to call the base on Marshoak Island.”

“Oh, of course. Come around here.” She unlocked the small latch on the pass-thru on the side of her desk. “I have lots of phones. Let me get you an outside line, honey.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” I ignored how she tacked honey on the end.

I waited while she tapped an extension and handed me the receiver. I heard the dial tone and pressed the numbers for the base.

“McCormick, yeah, it’s Captain O’Connor. Any updates on that Sunfish I called in about an hour ago? Has anyone claimed it?”

“No. Not yet.”

“No one called in a missing kid?”

“No. Not yet.”

I shook my head. I was certain the parents would be on their way. But no one had even started looking for the boy.

“Hey, I’m up at Pointe Harbor Memorial.” I felt the receptionist’s eyes following me. I motioned for a pen, and she handed one to me. “Call me at this number and leave a message. Someone will find me and get it to me. All right?” I repeated the phone number for the hospital.

“Sure thing.”

I handed the phone back to the receptionist and grinned. “If they call back and leave a message, can you send someone to find me?”

“Oh, I’ll come find you myself. Don’t worry.” She smiled.

“Thank you. It’s important we get a lead on the parents.”

I had to wait for her to let me out of the desk so I could retrace my steps to the kid’s stall. As I approached, the curtains rustled. Two men rolled him past me. Margot’s expression was hard to read.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“They are taking him for the scans. Did you find his parents?” Her eyes widened and I knew she wanted an answer. A good answer. The right answer. The one that would end this hellish nightmare for her and the kid.

“They’re working on it. But nothing yet. They’re going to call as soon as they find them.”

“I don’t understand. How is this possible? How does someone not know he’s missing yet?”

I wished I had an explanation. “Want to get some coffee?”

“And add to the tab I already owe you?”

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