Page 54 of Off the Hook

“Coulter, get up,” Dad said, yanking the covers back. “This isn’t high school. You don’t get to stay in bed all day.”

I groaned, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. “Dad, I’m not a kid anymore.”

“No, you’re not,” he agreed, handing me a pair of shorts and a t-shirt from the folded clothes in the laundry basket beside the bed. “But you’re acting like one. I know you’re stressed about the investigation, but you don’t get to be in a funk forever. Get your ass out of bed. We’re going fishing.”

Reluctantly I got dressed and followed him out to his truck, feeling like a teenager again when he would haul me out of bed for school.

We barely spoke all the way to the marina, and while we loaded bait, chum, and rods onto the Ellie II. The sun was just beginning to climb into the sky. The water was calm. It was a perfect day for fishing. Dad started prepping the gear while I steered us to our favorite spot.

“You know, fishing is the best therapy,” Dad said, casting his line. “I don’t know what’s going on with the investigation that’s got you so worried, but you can talk about it if you want.”

I sighed, leaning back and watching the line disappear into the blue. “It’s not just the investigation. I met a girl.”

He chuckled. “That makes a lot more sense. By the way you’re acting, I guess it didn’t go well.”

“Actually, it went great. We had a wonderful time together. We went fishing, talked about everything. I thought she might even be the one.”

“None of that sounds like a problem to me,” Dad said, reeling his line in slowly.

“It’s complicated. We can’t be together right now,” I laughed under my breath even though I didn’t find it the least bit funny. “We only had 24 hours together. The crazy part is, I miss her like mad. It’s like she took a part of me that I can’t live without.”

Dad nodded, reeling in slowly. “I know that feeling. But I’m living proof that you can live with a broken heart.” His sad voice put my pain in perspective. Compared to what he’d been living with, my troubles seemed insignificant.

“Shit, Dad. I’m sorry, I know. I miss Mom too.”

“I know you do, but this isn’t about your mom. She’s gone, son. Really gone, as in never coming back. But you, you still have a chance with this girl. Don’t blow it.”

I shook my head, reeling in my line. “It’s not up to me.”

Dad stared at me intently. “Is she dead?”

“No,” I answered cautiously.

“Then it’s not over. You still have a chance to make it right.”

“Like I said, it's complicated.”

“Love always is,” he said, casting his line again. “But it’s worth it.”

“But this…it’sreallycomplicated,” I told him, unsure of how much I should divulge. I decided to be honest, since skirting the truth had only gotten me deeper into trouble. “She’s the Detective on my case. Faith Pierce. We kind of…”

He interrupted me with laughter, shaking his head. “Lord, son. You really do know how to pick ‘em.”

I sighed, casting my line. “Tell me about it. The first woman I’ve really liked since Kylie.”

“Sort of interesting if you think about it–Kylie’s death bringing you together.”

“And now keeping us apart.” I pushed out a dry laugh.

“You like this girl?”

“I do. And I know she’s just doing her job, but it feels like our timing is all wrong.”

“If there’s anything I’ve learned since your mother died, it’s that we have to accept the things we can’t control. Wrong place, wrong time can still lead to something beautiful, whenthe time is right,” Dad said, a small smile on his face. “It’s not over yet.”

We fished in silence for a while, until I felt a tug on my line. “Got something!” I yelled, reeling in, feeling the fish fight.

Dad laughed, clapping me on the back. “That’s the spirit! Let’s see what you’ve got.”

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