‘We’ll finish this lot and head north,’ Jim said, peering out at the sky. ‘Storm ain’t looking like anything we can’t handle.’
‘Copy that.’
The radio crackled to life.
‘Amber Dawn, Amber Dawn, Amber Dawnthis is theGolden Pearl,channel 6, do you copy? Over.’
Jim picked up the radio. ‘Golden Pearlthis isAmber Dawn. Over.’
‘How’s your catch, Jim? Over.’
‘Not bad at all, thank you for asking. But don’t worry, we left you some. Over.’
‘Generous as always. Over.’
Jim chuckled. ‘You boys heading back in? Over?’
‘Negative. We still have pots in the water. Keeping an eye on that weather though, which is why I’m calling. You guys sticking around or heading home? Over.’
‘He’s nervous,’ Jim said to me. ‘Can hear it in his voice.’
I looked out the wheelhouse window at the horizon. ‘Can’t say as I blame him.’
‘We’re staying put for now,’ Jim replied to Dylan over the radio. ‘Over.’
‘Glad to hear it. Keep in touch. Over.’
Jim exhaled heavily, cocked his head as if listening to the wind. ‘Lock down your boat and stay safe, Dylan,’ he warned. ‘Things might get a little gnarly later. Over.’
‘Roger that. Over.’
We spent the next few hours working hard side by side. The deck was slippery, the wind biting. When it got dark, Jim hit the switch for the deck lights and flooded the deck with yellow light. Snow started falling, but in light flurries, scooped away by the rising winds before it could land on the deck. The wind picked up, whipping the sea into a frenzy. By the time we’d scooped the last trap I was done in. Numb, starving and tired. Back inside I stood in front of the small bar heater and tried to defrost. It was like trying to melt an iceberg with a flashlight.
‘You look like death warmed up,’ Jim commented.
‘You don’t look so flash yourself.’
He laughed. ‘Why don’t you take the first sleep. I know how hard it is for you young’uns to keep up.’
I chuckled ruefully, heading downstairs to the bunks in the small crew cabin. ‘I’m too tired to argue.’
After peeling off my wet layers, I climbed into the sleeping bag and closed my eyes. Even the shuddering and heaving of the boat couldn’t keep me awake, and very quickly I was out like a light.
37
MAE
All afternoon as I’d driven between patients, I’d kept one ear on the radio and one eye on the sky as it darkened and ominous storm clouds gathered. The first deep rumble of thunder started just as I wrapped it up with my last patient and headed for my car, stopping me dead in my tracks. Out to sea I could see the storm had already hit, with flashes of lightning briefly illuminating the darkness. I stared at it, knowing Jonah was out there somewhere. Vulnerable. The first splashes of cold rain startled me out of my revere and I climbed into the car, knowing I couldn’t face home. Not yet. I headed for The Cozy Catch because I didn’t know where else to go. The rain had already started to turn the snow to slush as I pulled into a parking spot. Pulling my hood over my head I picked my way carefully across the road.
The bell above the door jangled as I entered the restaurant, my eyes immediately scanning the room, heart in my mouth. I was hoping Jonah might have come home early to dodge the storm. Taylor was standing behind the bar and caught my eye.
‘He’s not here,’ she said. ‘Sorry. He’s on a fishing trip with Jim Kelley.’
‘I know. I was hoping…’
She nodded. I didn’t need to finish.
‘Coffee?’ she asked.
