‘Really?’
‘Really.’
‘OK fine. But can we please get a wriggle on?’
He went down the ladder first, then stood at the bottom steadying it while I descended. The rain was still steady, and the wind blew it almost horizontally, into our faces, making it hard to see. He’d been right. Visibility was at a minimum. Not to mention the fact the rain had begun to melt the snow, turning it into slush. I dropped off the bottom step of the ladder and immediately lost my footing, sliding into his steadying arms.
‘Sorry,’ I said loudly. ‘I seem to be developing a habit for doing that.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ he shouted above the wind.
I shook my head emphatically. In my coat and hat I could barely see out, and only my cheeks, chin and the tip of my nose were probably visible.
‘No, thanks,’ I shouted back.
‘It’s too dangerous for you to go by yourself,’ he shouted. ‘Maybe we should just call it, head back to your cottage.’
‘We can if you want, but either way, I’m still going to need togonow. By myself.’ I held out a hand. ‘Wipes, please.’
He passed them to me, his face conflicted. ‘I don’t like the idea of you wandering off in this weather.’
‘I won’t go far,’ I reassured him. I’d seen a couple of trees and bushes as we’d parked and knew which general direction they were in. His face was torn. ‘Jonah, I’ll be fine. I’m perfectly capable.’
‘OK, I’ll go that way.’ He pointed. ‘Meet you back here in a few minutes?’
I nodded, watching as he disappeared into the gloom. Tucking the wipes into my pocket, I aimed the flashlight in the direction of where I remembered the trees being and carefully started making my way through the slushy snow. It wasn’t far until I found them, and with the shelter the small canopy offered I ducked behind a trunk, pulled out the small packet of wipes and quickly relieved myself. The icy wind made my bare skin sting, so I didn’t want to hang about for too long. I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but the rain seemed to be increasing in strength again. I took a few tentative steps back towards the direction of the truck. The flashlight started flickering.
‘Shit,’ I swore, banging it against my palm a few times, the way I’d seen Jonah do. It didn’t like that, and died completely.
‘Jonah,’ I called into the gray, but there was no answer. I kept walking in the direction I was sure the truck was. Slowly, one foot in front of the other.
‘I can do this,’ I muttered to myself, echoing the words I’d said earlier to Jonah. ‘I’m a strong, capable woman. A nurse, for God’s sake. I hold people’s lives in my hands every single?—’
30
JONAH
She’d been gone for too long. I fretted, peering in the direction in which she’d disappeared. The rain had started coming down harder again, and it was now impossible to see more than a foot in front of you without a flashlight. I shone my headlamp into the darkness and called her name, but there was no answer.
I lifted my sleeve and checked my watch. She’d been gone for ten minutes.
‘Mae,’ I shouted again. The wind snatched the words and carried them out to sea. I headed towards where I’d last seen her, continuing until I found the tree line. Underneath the canopy of pine needles, it was more sheltered. I called her name, but again there was no answer. Feeling panic start to rise, I searched the undergrowth.
‘OK,’ I told myself. ‘Stop. Breathe. Think.’
I closed my eyes and listened, focusing hard. Then I heard it. A faint sound, so faint I almost dismissed it as nothing. Then I heard it again. It was like a kitten meowing.Mae.My heart started pounding in my chest as I headed out into the rain again, following the sound.
She was near the edge of the bluff. A crumpled heap, lying on the ground. I nearly tripped over her, but at the last minute my headlamp illuminated her white face.
‘Jonah,’ she said, wincing.
I dropped to my knees, landing in a puddle of slush. Underneath it though, I could feel hard ice. ‘What happened? Are you OK?’
‘I’m fine,’ she said. ‘I just slipped over.’
I ran my eyes over her. ‘Where does it hurt?’
‘My ankle.’
