“Thank you.”
Once I’m alone again, I lay my head back, close my eyes, and cry as the full weight of my loss truly starts to settle in and I can no longer ignore the screaming of the wind.
* * * *
I must have dozed off, because when I come to,there’s a man standing in the doorway. I finally recognize him as the guy who practically fought his way onto the ship.
“Carter, I presume?”
He wearily smiles. His eyes look red and puffy, but that lucky bastard’s tears are of joy, I’m sure.
“Yeah.” He walks over and shakes my hand, then leans in for a long hug. “Thank you, Governor Forrester.”
It’sfinallysinking in that I have the job promotionI wanted.
Not the way I wanted to earn it, though.
It’s far too high a price.
“I didn’t do anything. Susa kept us alive. She knew how to build a water catcher. And when she evacuated the plane, she grabbed extra bottles of water and those emergency blankets. She was on watch the night we found the island. She heard the waves and found it. She also saw the ship’s lights. We’re all alive becauseof your wife, so thankyou.”
He steps over to the doorway and glances down the hall. I realize what he’s doing is probably making sure Susa’s still asleep.
Not wanting her waking up to find him gone.
He returns to my bedside, glances down, and when he looks up again I see the tears in his eyes. “She said you made her drink water. That she’d probably be dead already if you hadn’t done that.”
I shrug. “I couldn’t let your girl go without a fight,” I softly say, watching his reaction, but even in this situation his poker face is perfect, a truly skilled political operative. “I lost my girl without even getting a chance to try to save her. I hoped if nothing else to at least bring yours safely back to you.”
He slowly nods. “Thank you. We owe you everything. I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
I nod in return. “Full disclosure, she told me about you and about Owen. Told me everything. Obviously, we had a lot of time to talk. I told her about me and Ellen. The good thing is, I think even without knowing that about each other, it helped me get her to drink. I promise, your secrets are safe with me. I know mine are safe with her.”
He nods again.
I force a smile. “I threatened her thatif she didn’t drink, I’d tell you guysnotto spank her.”
A hoarse laugh rumbles free as he rubs at the back of his neck. “How’d she take that?”
“She called me a rat bastard. I gotta tell you, she was convinced she was dead, but she’s feisty.”
“That she is.”
“She made me promise if she didn’t make it that I would talk to you both and tell you how much she loves you.”
He blinks back tears.“She’s our world.”
“I assume Governor Taylor is on his way?”
“He will be soon. She already got to talk to Owen, and her parents.”
“Glad I get to meet him. I feel like I know you both already.”
He walks back to the doorway and glances out again.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell him. “If you want to come back and see me later, I’ll be happy to talk. She needs you right now. You should be withher.”
“Thanks. I don’t want her to wake up and me not be there.” He starts to step out, and I think of one more thing.
“Hey.”
Carter looks back. “Yeah?”
“You’re lucky men. You get a second chance to make a life with her. Don’t ever take a day with her for granted, or leave anything unsaid to her, or each other.”
He slowly nods. “Thank you. I promise you that we won’t.”
Once I’m alone I lieback, close my eyes, clasp my hands together tightly, and try not to hear the screaming or focus on the phantom feel of Ellen’s hand contracting around mine as she died.
