Page 75 of Sunset

I turn back to concentrate on getting home. I check my GPS to make sure I’m still on the right path. When I look up, I see the wave, coming right at me, and it’s too late to do anything. The boat slams to the side and spins, jerking me around and lurching me forward.

I go flying, like a rag doll. I try to hold on to the wheel, but that propels me forward. My head hits the wheel. A blinding pain fills my head just before everything goes black.?

Chapter 33

Brynn

I hate storms. I feel like I should tattoo that across my forehead. It’s no secret, and the worst part is this area is known for storms that pop up in a matter of hours. Like this one.

I stare out over the beach and continue pacing the back porch of The Sunset Inn.

“I’m sure he’s fine. Probably got to the dock and had another beer,” Lin says.

The problem is her voice betrays her. She’s just as worried as I am. Kade told us about his call. He could tell Jasper had a few beers. There’s no way he can navigate in this storm after drinking. Most people couldn’t do it sober. Add in that it’s been a few years, since he’s been on the water, and it’s not looking good.

I finally break and pull out my phone to try his cell.

“It’s going straight to voice mail,” I tell them.

“He could have turned it off, after Kade called. Remember, his dad loved to fish, because there was no cell service. Though, after the storm earlier this year, they put up a stronger cell tower, so now, there’s service where there wasn’t before.” She says.

I shake my head and call his mom.

“Hello, dear. Did Jasper make it over there, before the storm hit?” His mom asks, as calm as pie.

“What?” I ask.

“He said he was going to work the dinner shift there tonight. He should have gotten in, before this storm hit. Damn thing popped out of nowhere.” She says.

“He’s not here. I was calling to see if he made it home, before the storm,” I tell her.

She’s silent for a few minutes, and I can almost hear the gears in her head turning.

“Okay, dear. I’m going to have to call you back.” She says in a very calm voice that you can tell is forced and hangs up.

I pull the phone away and just look at it. She was calm, but I can read between the lines. When I look up at Lin and Kade, I know they’re thinking what I’m thinking. He isn’t here, and he isn’t home. He was drinking on a boat, and now, there’s a storm.

“Brynn, look at me.” Kade walks over to me and places his hands on my shoulder. He bends his knees to look into my eyes.

“It’s nothing. I’m willing to bet he’s at the dock passed out.” He says.

“That’s what Lin and I told each other about our parents,” I say, looking over at Lin.

When I head back to my room, both Lin and Kade follow. I grab my windbreaker and keys.

“You’re not going out in this!” Lin says.

“If it was Kade on the boat, what would you do right now?” I ask her.

Her eyes go stormy. “I’d go down to the docks to check myself, and then I’d check in the dockmaster to see, when he was last heard from.” She says.

“Then you know what I’m doing,” I tell her.

* * *

I’m not one bit surprised to find Jasper’s mom in the dockmaster’s office. She’s going on and on to poor Allen about how they need to get someone out to look for her son.

She doesn’t stop talking, when I walk in, and just opens her arms, pulling me to her side.

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