Page 132 of Ford

The voice shuddered through her, deep, finding her bones. A memory—she knew Ford had said it—but the voice sounded different, infused heat through her.

What if… She lifted her head, found the moon. And threw hope out into the wind. “Help.Please help me.”

Beneath her, another wave gathered, this time dragging her down into a trough so big she knew it would pummel her. She wouldn’t be able to hold on—

Taking a breath, she ducked back under the boat and found the air pocket. She wrapped one hand around the rope that held Ford’s backpack. The other she tucked under the bench seat. Took a breath as the skiff rode up the wave.

I’m sorry, Ford.Because if she went under, she wasn’t sure how she’d find her way to the surface. Or untangle herself if the boat decided to sink.

The wave rose beneath her, pulled her up the side of it, the power of it crashing down over her.

But the wave wasn’t finished. It kept yanking her up, tugging at the edge, and as she reached the apex, the skiff surrendered.

It tumbled back into the trough as the full force of the wave barreled down.

She landed hard in the belly of the upturned craft, trapped by her grip on the bench, her breath pummeled under the ferocity of the wave. But the sea poured over her, driving her away from the wave out into the tempest of the sea.

She sputtered, sat up, breathing hard, shaking the water from her eyes.

She sat in the skiff, in water up to her waist, but the boat listed, right side up.

What—?

She leaned back on the seat, breathing hard, in disbelief.

Whatever happens, I will show up for you, Red. Always.

The words poured over her, through her, filling the brokenness, the shattered places, and caught her up. Warm. Full.

Enough.

It’s hard to see God when we’re not looking for Him.

She stared at the moon’s puddle of light as it pooled in the dark, swirling tempest of the sea.

She closed her eyes.Thank You.

The sea played with the skiff, but she rode the waves without capsizing, not bothering to bail the boat—the water gave it weight and depth and steadied her on the sea. Drawing her legs up to herself, she fought off a shiver.

I could go for some of those animal crackers now, Mom.

The words, the memory made her smile.

She stared out over the water. Please, Ford, be alive. Bealive.

In her wildest dreams, he kept his word and showed up.

The sea died slowly, the waves gentling, and she curled into the bottom of the boat, her head on the bench, her bones soggy.Don’t sleep. She knew it, but her body was sinking...

A moan over the water brought her head up—something—

It moaned again, and this time she sat up. A light cut through the darkness, scanning the sea, panning across her boat.

“Hey!”

She scrabbled to her feet, her legs nearly buckling, but managed to find footing. Waved her arms in the darkness. “Over here!”

The light found her again, and she held up one hand against the glare, still waving. Another moan and now she recognized it as a ship’s horn.