Page 2 of Sheltered By Love

Levi might say he’ll do the work, but he’s still in high school, and he doesn’t want to be a Lobsterman any more than I do.

Our older brother, Garrett left for the police academy, but he’ll be home soon, and will probably find a solution the way he always does.

“I’m not leaving until Garrett’s back. And Jax will help—"

“I can’t replace you. Not even with your cousin,” he says quietly.

I have a fleeting feeling of guilt that maybe this isn’t the right thing to do.

But I’m doing it for him. I’m leaving for him. For everyone in the Bay.

I’ll come back stronger. More worldly. And I won’t look back on my life and regret never leaving.

Like he’s reading my mind, Dad says what I can’t.

“You think there’s no future for you here,” he adds.

“Dad, it’s not just about that…”

I can’t find the words to say. I can’t lie to him. Not again.

His eyes find mine, and at the fire flashing in them, I almost back down.

But it’s not anger I hear in his voice, it’s fear.

My father has never been afraid of anything in his life. But he’s afraid for me.

“You think you can kill a man and come home unsullied?” he says.

I lift my chin. Stubborn. Arrogant maybe. “They’ll teach me how to separate the two,” I say.

His eyes never move from mine. “You think your wife will understand?”

Steel fills my veins. “You think Mom understands why you’d rather be out in this boat than at home with her?”

That catches him off guard. He falters and shifts his gaze, but just for a moment. “Is that what you think? I’d rather be out here?”

He doesn’t let me answer. Just shakes his head in dismay. “You don’t understand sacrifice. You don’t understand love.”

This isn’t the way this conversation was supposed to go. I’d expected anger, not whatever this is.

I shift my weight as the boat rocks. “Dad…”

My watch beeps, letting me know we can start bringing the traps aboard.

Thirty minutes before sunrise means we’re now legally allowed to.

I move toward the hauling handle, but he slaps a gnarled hand on my shoulder.

I try to shake him off, but his grip is almost as strong as my freak of a cousin’s is.

“This is where you belong, and we’re your family. Never forget it,” he says.

He doesn’t lessen his hold on me, and I squirm under the intensity of his stare.

I’m so sure of everything. Sure I know what’s best for me. Sure I can come home anytime I like, and nothing will have changed.

I look him in the eye and nod slowly. “I won’t forget. I promise.”

His hand slips from my shoulder, and I don’t know why, but I have the oddest sensation settle in my stomach.

And when Dad walks away, it’s like watching a part of me walk away with him.

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