Kurt was vaguely aware of the small boat emptying as he fell into a routine, his training taking over as he repeated the CPR cycle. Halfway through his third round of chest compressions Rose vomited, mostly water.
He rolledher to her side and cleared her airway, but she still wasn’t breathing. She still had no pulse.
Caitlyn let the twenty-something brunette lead her onto the sailboat only so she wouldn’t be in Kurt’s way as he worked on Rose. A sob escaped Caitlyn’s lips and she dropped onto a bench overlooking the dive platform.
“I’m Tessa Murphy and this is my dad, Oliver,” the woman said as she laid a towelover Caitlyn’s shoulders. The skin revealed by her bikini top and shorts already betrayed a lifetime of sun exposure. “My dad and I have been moored here for several days. We had just come on deck this morning when we saw you up on the cliffs. He tried to raise the harbor police, but couldn’t get through.”
“Good,” Caitlyn said. “We can’t trust them.”
Tessa’s brow furrowed. “What happ—
Rosevomited and Caitlyn’s heart jerked. That was a good sign, right?
But Kurt rolled her onto her side, cleared her airway, checked for breath and pulse, and went back to compressions.
Please,please.If she lives, I’ll be the best damn sister ever. I’ll tell her every day that I love her. I’ll never push her away again.
Caitlyn’s mind had betrayed her. All those defenses she had built up overthe years to protect herself from the hurt and pain of losing someone. First watching Kurt go over the edge, and then Rose. The brick had crumbled and emotions now pierced her walls as easily as arrows through paper.
This was what she’d spent her entire adult life trying to avoid. It hadn’t been worth it. Not by a long shot. She’d allowed herself little of the joy, but still suffered all thepain.
And now she might lose Rose. If anyone deserved to be fighting for her life on the floor of that boat, it was Caitlyn.Shewas the one who pushed everyone who mattered away. The one who floated through life without bringing any value or joy to others. The one who hurt those who cared about her most by walking away.
How are you any better than your dad?
The truth gutted her. Just likeher father, she had effectively abandoned everyone.
The most important people in her world were both on that dinghy, fighting for her sister’s life. They were everything good in this world. Self-sacrificing, honest, compassionate. And for some reason, they both loved her.
Rose threw up more seawater, and this time she started coughing. Coughing meant air.
Oh, thank God.Caitlyn slid to herknees on the deck and forced herself not to rush the dinghy.
Her sister quieted and tried to push herself up. Kurt put a hand behind Rose’s shoulders and helped her sit, murmuring to her. Her wet clothes clung, betraying the slight curve of her belly.
Rose listened and then shook her head.
“Okay,” Kurt said, sliding his other arm beneath Rose’s knees. “Ready?”
She nodded and he lifted herhigh enough to hand her off to Oliver, who carried her up the step to the deck and sat her on a bench that ran parallel to the boat’s starboard side.
Tessa rushed over with a dry towel and then backed out of the way.
Tears streaming down her face, Caitlyn mouthed “Thank you,” to Kurt and scrambled to her sister’s side. “Are you okay?”
Stupid question, but Rose produced a weak smile and rubbeda hand over her chest. She’d probably have bruises, but all that mattered was that she was alive.
“I was so worried. I’m sorry, Rose.” Caitlyn gave her a gentle hug, careful not to put any weight on her or restrict her breathing in any way.
Rose tapped her throat.
“You can’t talk?”
This time she tapped her nose, and Caitlyn laughed, still feeling shaky, but happier than she’d been in years.
“As soon as we get to land, I’ll call Shaylee. She’s been a wreck.”
Tears welled in her sister’s eyes and streamed down her sallow face. Caitlyn squeezed Rose’s hand and sat down next to her, blinking against the burn in her eyes.
