Chapter 38
Ore
They found Mel cowering in the corner behind the third row of seats. The room really was a ‘cinema’ room, complete with red velvet upholstery, cupholders and long horizontal speakers built into the walls.
It had been a less treacherous journey than the one to the wheelhouse, but on a few occasions Ore had found herself falling into Daniel’s arms. It was almost comical how he always seemed to be right there whenever she stumbled.
‘Mel, there you are. Everyone’s been looking for you.’ Ore knelt down. Mel had been crying and she instinctively leant in for a hug. Ore was slightly taken aback but settled into it.
‘I couldn’t sleep, so I came down to watch a movie but then the boat was rocking so much and I tried to get up the stairs but I fell and hurt my ankle.’ Mel’s voice was muffled in Ore’s shoulder.
‘Let’s have a look.’ Ore pulled back and looked down. Sure enough Mel’s foot was swollen; the side of her ankle had already begun to bruise.
‘Can you walk on it?’ Daniel asked, his voice calming, to Ore at least.
Mel shook her head.
‘That’s fine. We’ll just stay with you here,’ Ore said reassuringly and Mel gave her a small, sad smile.
‘Your dad is really worried about you.’ Daniel knelt down too.
‘Really?’ The hope in Mel’s voice was a little heartbreaking, thought Ore.
‘Of course, he’s been looking for you everywhere,’ Ore added. It wasn’t quite true but she supposed that for a billionaire, sending your staff to look for your lost daughter was akin to a normal person doing it themselves.
Daniel got out his radio. ‘We’ve found her.’
Vicky’s reply came immediately. ‘Oh thank God, where are you?’ Before Daniel could answer they heard Vicky relay the message – ‘they’ve found her, Mr Regas’ – and then in the distance Chuck’s voice: ‘They’ve found my baby?’
Mel’s smile got a little brighter.
‘We’re in the cinema, she’s hurt her ankle so we’re going to stay with her until everything’s calmed down a bit,’ Daniel explained.
‘Copy that. Good work, Captain.’
‘It was Ore who found her.’
There was a beat, and then, with an edge of reluctance Vicky replied, ‘Thanks, Ore.’
‘Don’t mention it,’ Ore called back as she settled down beside Mel.
Vicky didn’t elaborate; the radio crackled into silence.
Mel incrementally lowered her head onto Ore’s shoulder. Daniel sat on the other side of her.
For the next few hours, the three of them sat there, huddled in the corner, intermittently relaying their experiences of the night and then falling into long, comfortable silences.
It was hard to keep track of time in the dark, windowless space, but Ore supposed it was nearing morning when she heard footsteps approaching. Mel was snoring softly. At some point in their exhausted state, Daniel and Ore’s hands had found each other, and when the door opened, she pulled her palm from under his suddenly.
Vicky was the first to march in, closely followed by Chuck.
‘Oh, sweetie,’ he cooed, rushing over to Mel and scooping her into his arms. It was a disconcerting sight, to see him express such fatherly tenderness, and Ore, Daniel and Vicky all lowered their gaze away from the intimate moment.
‘Dad,’ Mel started, before bursting into tears. ‘I was so scared.’ Chuck gathered her into a tighter hug.
‘Oh, pumpkin, I’m so sorry. They told me you hurt yourself? Let’s get you to Gerry; he hasn’t practised for years but I’m sure he knows his way around a sprained ankle.’
Mel nodded meekly and the pair made their way out of the cinema, Mel limping and propped up by Chuck’s arms around her waist.
