Fitzgibbon must have gotten the pilot to head for Boon Island. Ronan moved toward Everly and reached for her hand.
“Elizabeth, my name is Everly, can you hear me?” Everly’s words were ripped away by the wind. “I want to help you.” Her hands shifted to her ears, as if she were trying to block out a loud sound. “Who is Lucas?”
“Elizabeth’s husband,” Tennyson said, taking up the position on the other side of Everly. “I’ve been listening to her cry for the last half an hour. I wasn’t sure where the voice was coming from, but Fitz filled me in. Are you okay?”
Everly nodded. “I’ve never heard anyone cry like that before. There’s so much pain, not just heartbreak, but physical pain too. What happened to her?”
“The boat pilot told me the story as he turned toward the lighthouse,” Fitz said.
Ronan caught his eye and knew Fitz was asking if he should tell the story as he heard it or soften it for Everly. “Let’s hear it, Fitz. Warts and all.”
“Elizabeth and Lucas had only been married for a short time before he’d been posted to the Boon Island Lighthouse as a keeper. Their first summer had passed with there only being a thunderstorm or two to liven things up. Same was true with the fall, but that first winter was rough. There were several bad storms with feet of snow and rough waters. During this particular stretch of nasty weather the supply ship had missed the last run to the island because of the weather. Low on provisions, another storm hit. This one was more ferocious that the last two combined and the temperatures were below zero.”
Everly shivered, as if she could feel the cold blast through her.
“Making matters worse, Lucas had been ill for the last several days,” Fitz continued. “He needed to check the tower to make sure the light was working properly, but the entire island was covered in ice. Lucas tied a rope from the lightkeepers cottage to himself and made the perilous walk toward the tower. With Elizabeth watching, a rogue wave slammed the island and sent Lucas into the water. He drowned in the surf. Elizabeth managed to pull him back on shore and into the lighthouse tower, which she tended in place of her husband. After six days, the storm started to abate, but at that point Katherine was too worn out to climb to the top of the tower to tend it.”
“Jesus, Fitz,” Ronan muttered.
“Do you want to hear how the story ends?” Fitz asked.
“Elizabeth was rescued by local fishermen. When they found her, she’d gone crazy.” Everly turned to look at Ronan. Unshed tears glittered in her bright blue eyes. “You know I hate that word, but that’s what happened. Poor Elizabeth was hysterical. She was brought to the hospital, but died soon after.”
“And she returned to the lighthouse?” Ronan asked, hating this story and the fact that Everly could see it play out in her mind.
“Yes, Elizabeth can’t find Lucas. Or she thinks she can’t.” Everly shook her head.
“Can you find him?” Ronan asked.
“I’m trying.” Everly reached for Tennyson’s hand.
Ronan watched as father and daughter linked hands and bowed their heads as if they were praying. The boat made a slow circle around the island. He hoped Ten and Everly were going to make contact soon. He knew there was another harbor cruisescheduled after they made it back to port and the captain wouldn’t be able to delay heading back in much longer.
“Tennyson? Miss Everly?” a voice said from out of the blue.
Ronan turned to see a man dressed in a dark navy peacoat with dark pants and a Navy-style hat bearing the United Stated Coast Guard insignia.
“Hi, Lucas!” Everly smiled brightly at the spirit. “I’m so glad you’re here. Elizabeth misses you so much.”
Taking off his cap, Lucas knelt down in front of Everly. “I know. I’ve been trying to reach her, but she will not or cannot hear me.”
“I think Elizabeth is caught in a time loop.”
Lucas looked confused. “What do you mean, a time loop?”
“Elizabeth is reliving the day you died over and over again. Seeing your spirit might not make her believe it’s really you.”
“Especially if your body is still in the lighthouse tower with her,” Ten added. “Before she died, your wife experienced severe mental illness. She was hysterical over watching you die and having to drag your body ashore. Because of the storm, she wasn’t able to be rescued for six days, which broke her mind.”
“We can only stay for a few more minutes,” the tour guide said through the speaker.
“Can we help Elizabeth recognize Lucas?” Everly asked.
“Let’s give it a try.” Ten reached for Everly’s hand. “Go to her, Lucas. If you see the white light, bring her into it. Elizabeth will need time to heal. She’s going to need your support, love, and patience.”
“What if I do not see the light?” Lucas asked.
“Stay with Elizabeth. Tell her about your life together. Your favorite memories or stories that made her laugh. Since we’ve spoken, you’ll be able to find me and Everly. If there’s anything we can do to help, let us know.”
