Page 94 of Ripple Effect
She loves me enough to let me go. I don’t know whether that kind of love is so selfless I should feel honored or pissed. I think it’s a bit of both. Then I hear Iris crying behind me, and I whirl around to find her in Sam’s arms. “That’s so beautiful.” She’s crying so hard the words are next to impossible to make out.
Sam shoots me a helpless look as he strokes his wife’s back. “Babe, she’s letting him go,” he points out gently.
“Because she loves him. God, are men that stupid? Libby loves Cal so deeply, she won’t accept less than all of him. Since she figures she doesn’t have it, not that it’s true, she’s setting him free so she can hold on to the memories.” Lifting my phone again, her face contorts. “And she’s giving her blessing to your happiness, no matter what that is.” Iris’s face buries deep into Sam’s neck.
I would give my life to be with her right now, to explain everything so she doesn’t harden her mind against me in the ten more days she has on her vacation. “I don’t care what anyone says, I will be waiting for my wife when she gets home. She’s not going one more day without understanding it all.”
Sam’s head, which had been bent over Iris’s, snaps in my direction. “Everything?” he asks with a note of hope in his voice.
“Everything.” With or without anyone’s intervention, I’m going after my wife.
“She figures you’re already looking for the next possibility,” Iris warns me. “Even with explanations, winning her back isn’t going to be easy.”
“Don’t you understand? Without Libby, life has no possibility. I don’t love her because she’s willing to walk away; I love her because she may be willing to stay.” Sinking into my chair, I put my head in my hands while my friends stare at me agape.
* * *
Hours later,I’m rereading the texts between me and Libby over the last few days while sitting in the corner of the common room when everyone goes static. “We interrupt this broadcast to bring a special news bulletin…” Standing, I make my way closer to the TV. “Shut it, everyone!” I call out. “Let’s see if we’re going anywhere.”
The volume of the television goes up as the yapping from the people goes down to a low-level buzz. The news announcer says in a shaky voice, “TheSea Force, a luxury yacht that originated from Malaga, Spain, four days ago, stopped in Funchal, Portugal, for a day of excursions. Less than twelve hours after it departed the small island, an emergency distress signal was picked up by the USSLassen, a Arleigh Burke class destroyer on maneuvers out of their homeport of Mayport, Florida. Only fifteen miles away, they quickly headed in the direction of the ship. Approximately five miles out, they received a communication. TheSea Forcehas been hijacked. Approximately two hundred people are yet to be accounted for.”
My jaw clenches. “There’s a reason they targeted that ship.”
And as if she can hear me, the announcer continues. “The luxury liner has a jewelry and antique exhibit on board valued at close to a hundred million dollars. Although all passengers were subject to additional screening, it’s suspected, though not yet confirmed, one or more members of the crew are in league with the pirates.”
She takes a shaky breath. “Before making this announcement, all emergency points of contact for all persons on board theSea Forcehave been notified.”
Suddenly my phone begins vibrating in my hand. It’s Josh. A sick feeling begins crawling up from the bottom of my stomach. I push the button to answer. “Yeah?”
“Are you watching the emergency news broadcast?” His voice is raw as if he’s been screaming, crying. Or both.
“About theSea Force?”
“Yes.”
“What about it?” But, instinctively, I already know what he’s about to say. Breaking away from the team, I start sprinting down the hall that leads to Yarborough’s office. I get there just as he hangs up the phone. Yarborough’s head swivels toward me. His face is horrified for a second before it’s wiped of all emotion.
And in my ear, Josh confirms everything when he chokes out, “Libby’s on that ship, Cal. Can…is it possible to get her home?”
Slamming open the door so hard it ricochets back at me, I answer the only way my heart will allow. “Yes. We’ll do everything we can to get her back. I swear it, Josh. We’ll bring Libby home.”
“Thank you. I…Cal…”
I cut him off before he can apologize for not interceding with Libby. Jesus, if it wasn’t for me, none of this would be happening. “I’ll call you back as soon as I know what’s happening.”
Facing the man who gave me the skills I need to save my wife, I state flatly, “Don’t try to keep me out. You’ll regret it.”
“I just got a request to send in a team to help with tech. Do you honestly think you can lock it down enough to make the decisions to save not just her, but to help rescue the 112 passengers and 95 crew we have yet to account for? Because if you can’t—” He braces his aging arms on the massive desk that once intimated me sixteen years ago. Now, all it does is offer me reassurance. “If you can’t, your wife might die. You have to decide now.”
“Would you trust anyone else if it was one of us?” Our lives are the closest things I can equate to Yarborough on the significance of being a part of this team.
“No. I’d demand to be there—to be a part of this. Which is why I’m giving you the choice.” He collapses down into his chair. “Pick your team, Cal. Anyone. Get them ready to fly out to theLassenwithin the next two hours.”
I nod. Moving out of his office, I choke down my fear. I’m unlocking my phone to call Josh back.
He answers on the first ring. “Cal?” His voice is shaking.
Not giving in to allow mine to do the same, I tell him, “I’m taking Sam, Iris, and a team out to theLassen. We’re going to go bring her home.”
