The First Step, page 17
Justin stood and offered Greg his hand. “Thanks,” he said.
“For what?” Greg gripped his hand.
“For worrying about us.” More than that too. But it was a start.
“I’M NOT going to ask you how you’re doin’. I hear Greg gave you that lecture,” Kerry said as they walked to the docks an hour later.
“Good.” He grinned at her and shoved his hands in his pockets. “But I’ll tell you what I told him. I’m not stupid. I don’t have a death wish. If it’s too dangerous, we abort.”
“That man of yours gave you a talkin’-to?”
“Man of mine?” He knew she’d guessed that he and Reed had become close, but until now she’d never asked him outright.
“If he isn’t your man, he should be.”
He’d play along. “Oh? And why’s that?”
“I saw you last week. Bless your heart, you were so puny I was worried you might not come back. But now….”
“Now?” He repressed a grin.
“Now you seem, I don’t know, even. Like your feet are firmly on the ground again. Maybe even better than before.” They reached the dock and she stopped and turned to him. “Like maybe you’re happy?”
“I’m always happy when I’m working.”
“Happiness is about more than work.” She smiled and added, “But I’ll let you off easy this time. Next time….”
Trent was waiting for them at the docks. “Weather’s a bit dicier than on our last run.”
Kerry shot Trent a chastising look that made Justin chuckle. “It’s good. Really. But I appreciate that y’all’re worried about me.”
Kerry stared at Justin. “Who are you and what have you done with Justin? He usually growls at us for worryin’.”
Justin shrugged. Talking things through with Reed had made all the difference.
The ride out to the transfer station was as rough as Justin had ever experienced. They drove through spotty showers with near-zero visibility, and Kerry had to sound the horn to make sure no boats inbound through the inlet would run into them. Justin had seen days like this many times before, but today when the sun broke through the clouds it felt different, as if the clear sky mirrored the clarity of his own heart. He loved this so much.
By the time they reached the container ship, the seas were over ten feet. Kerry rounded the stern of the boat and brought her close on the leeward side, where the waves were more manageable. “Any time you need,” she told Justin, “you just holler and we’ll go back.”
“I know.” He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “And I will.”
Kerry nodded and slowed to match the larger vessel’s speed until the lights of the pilot ship shone on its hull. “Ready, gentlemen?” she asked.
“Ready.” Justin grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulders as Trent opened the hatch.
Justin checked the straps on his PFD and stepped outside. The wind had picked up considerably since they’d left Southport. He scanned the space between the pilot boat and the ship, watching for the movement of the waves, feeling the pitching and rolling of the smaller boat beneath his feet.
Already one of the crew had tossed the ladder down from the upper deck. This time, instead of boarding through a hatch in the ship’s side, Justin would climb a ladder halfway up until he reached a gangway that angled downward like a ramp. This type of entry was less common, but he’d handled enough of them that he knew to focus first on the transfer itself and then on safely moving from the ladder to the ramp.
He focused on the ladder rungs, scanning them for defects, then sizing up the rope sides. The rope appeared well-tended, but rough enough that his hands wouldn’t easily slip as he climbed. Reassured that the ladder was solid, he made his way to the bow as Kerry made the final adjustments to position them.
Justin glanced back at Kerry, who looked nervous. He knew she still blamed herself for the accident the week before. “You’ve got this,” he mouthed. She pressed her lips together and nodded.
The waves knocked the smaller boat away, but each time Kerry brought her back alongside until the ladder aligned with her bow. Trent stood nearby, ready to respond in case something happened.
A particularly powerful wave hit the pilot boat, knocking it away from the ship’s side. Justin took a deep breath, then another, as the waves once again became regular. A minute passed, then another. Justin took his time, gauging the height of the waves and focusing on the wind gusts. With each wave, the ladder came close, then rose high above him, far beyond his reach. He’d need to time his jump for the top of the wave and make sure he’d cleared the pilot boat by the time the wave fell.
The waves moved in a rhythmic dance, the period between each regular. There were always risks in this job. Much of the transfer was about timing. But hesitation was as bad as jumping too soon.
Justin took a long breath and counted the seconds between the waves until he had the rhythm in his mind. Where before he’d been nervous with anticipation, a sudden calm came over him. The waves and wind beckoned, no longer a threat but part of his soul. This work was his heart. This life was his alone.
Now. He stepped out and gripped the rope ladder with his right hand. The rope slid a little against his palm, so he tightened his grip before reaching out with the other. Sure of his purchase, he stepped onto the ladder’s rung, making sure to catch it between the heel and forefoot. Left foot, then right. Already Kerry was pulling a safe distance away, matching the larger boat’s speed once again as Justin began to climb.
The gangway appeared in his peripheral vision, but he focused only on the ladder, taking his time to climb. His foot slipped on the next rung, but he used his arms to steady himself until he was ready to climb to the next. Slowly and deliberately he made his way up the side until he was on the same level as the gangway.
One of the ship’s crew waited for him at the end of the ramp, safely tethered to the metal railing. Justin didn’t take the man’s offered hand—it was safer to move from ladder to walkway on his own. The ladder shook as the wind gusted. He waited patiently until the gust subsided before sighting the spot where he intended to land.
Another deep breath to steady his nerves and he crossed onto the ramp, just before another gust of wind blew across the ship’s side. He clasped the railings and set his feet onto the rough metal surface.
“Welcome aboard,” the ship’s mate said.
“It’s good to be here.” He waved at Kerry and Trent, then followed the crewman to the ship’s deck.
For just a moment he paused there to look out over the ocean. Bald Head Island was now fully obscured by the rain. He smiled as he followed the crewman to the hatch and up to the ship’s bridge. It would be a rough ride through the inlet and up the river to Wilmington, but they’d make it in safely in spite of the poor visibility. He’d make sure of it.
Chapter Thirty
REED SPENT most of the day at the newspaper, watching the approaching storm on the TV. Zach looked nervous as a direct hit on Wilmington seemed more and more likely.
Reed glanced down at his phone for the tenth time that afternoon. Kerry had promised to text him when she got back from dropping Justin off at the pilot transfer station, but so far the phone had been silent.
“Worried?” Zach asked.
“He’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.” Speaking the words made Reed feel a little bit better.
“Doesn’t make the waiting any easier, though.” Zach put his hand on Reed’s shoulder and gently squeezed.
“Thanks.” Reed looked up at Zach. “How about you?”
“We’ve been through hurricanes before, but this one’s different. As slow as it’s moving….” Zach and Reed had spent the morning talking to some of the shopkeepers on Front Street. Some had already started covering their windows with plywood in preparation.
“Where’s your house?” He gestured to the map of the Cape Fear.
“Over here.” Zach pointed to an area on the border of Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. “It’s an older home, but I had it raised on stilts a few years back.”
Reed wondered if Justin’s house would be safe, as far back from the water as it was. He glanced at his phone again.
“How about we take a break? Coffee? My treat?” Zach smiled knowingly.
“Sure.”
All of the coffee shops were closed but one. Several locals sipped on lattes, eyes glued to the television playing a report from the local news outlet. Reed ordered a decaf—he’d had three cups already that morning and figured he’d start climbing the walls worrying about Justin if he had another caffeinated drink.
They settled at a table near the large windows that looked out on Front Street. A plastic bag soared up and down like a balloon with each gust. A few leaves swirled around on the sidewalk, reminding Reed of squirrels chasing each other about in spring.
“He’ll be fine.”
He didn’t realize he’d spoken the words aloud until Zach nodded and said, “He will.”
“I’d expected things to be different with a storm coming.” With the exception of the few boarded-up storefronts, everything seemed normal. Calm. Nobody seemed in a hurry. A few tourists walked down the street, laughing when one of their hats flew into the air.
“People here are used to it.” Zach shook his head. “Not sure it’s a good thing, though. We’ve had so many near misses this year, folks are too relaxed, if you ask me.” The governor had issued mandatory evacuation notices for much of the coast, including Carolina Beach, but Wilmington had not been included on the list. “Given the choice, they’ll stay put.”
Reed was thankful his hotel room was on the eighth floor. He’d get a bird’s-eye view of the river, but if there was flooding, he’d be fine. He made a mental note to tell Justin he and Leila were welcome to weather the storm with him.
“I was hoping you’d be willing to take a drive around with me,” Reed said as he ran a finger over the lip of his cup. “Maybe show me around some of the neighborhoods?”
“Sure.” Zach shot him a sly grin.
“What’s that look for?”
“Only that I had ulterior motives bringing you here.” He blew on his coffee.
“And what might those be?”
“Thought I might offer you a job.” The table vibrated as Zach tapped his foot against the metal base.
“A job? You mean the reporter job you’ve been talking about for the last month but you haven’t interviewed a single person for? That job?” He repressed a chuckle and met Zach’s gaze.
“That might be the one. I need someone to help me out. Can’t run the show entirely by myself, you know.”
“Sure doesn’t look like you’re in a big rush,” Reed parried, happy for the distraction.
“Why should I post the job when I’ve got the perfect candidate right here?” Zach leaned over the table. “I can’t offer you what you’re getting paid in New York, but your life is your own for the most part. Pay’s more than enough to live on around here.”
Just a few weeks before, he wouldn’t have taken the offer seriously. This entire gig had been about getting the political beat back. So why hadn’t he immediately shut Zach down? Maybe part of him didn’t think the idea of staying was so far-fetched. “I really appreciate it, Zach, but—”
“But you’ll think about it.”
“Sure.” Reed wouldn’t argue with him. Later, he’d let him down gently, but he wouldn’t insult the man by telling him how hard he’d worked to get the political beat job in the city. How he’d spent years doing crap jobs at the paper, proving himself, to get where he was. But New York suddenly seemed really far away, and the life he’d loved, working his ass off—the life he’d told himself he loved—seemed like someone else’s.
Zach frowned. “That’ll do. Full of shit as you are.”
“Back atcha.” This is about getting that job and my life back. The words rang hollow. Where the hell was his focus? He’d gotten soft since he’d left the city. No, that wasn’t it either. He’d done great work on the GenX story, and the pilot story was shaping up to be one of his best. Cal had as good as promised he’d be back on the political beat when he finished up here. He’d leave North Carolina having proven himself, just like he planned.
Across the table, Zach smiled knowingly. Instead of mouthing off, though, Reed relaxed a little and smiled back. He liked shooting the shit with Zach. Too bad Zach didn’t still work in New York. He’d have liked spending more time with him. Justin too.
The thought of Justin had him checking his phone again. Nothing. He set the phone back down, and the minute it touched the table, it vibrated.
He’s safe and sound. Should finish in Wilmington around 6:30.
Reed read the message three times. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes. “Be right back,” he told Zach.
Safely ensconced in a bathroom stall a minute later, he closed his eyes and breathed through a wave of intense emotion. He was entirely unprepared for the tears that streamed over his cheeks.
Holy shit. What the fuck was wrong with him? Sure, he cared about Justin. More than he wanted to admit. But still, crying? He forced himself to slow his breaths. It took him a few more minutes to get his shit together, but finally the tears subsided.
He grabbed a wad of toilet paper and dried his face. What the hell was that all about? He shrugged off the self-doubt, flushed the wet tissue down the toilet, and walked over to the mirror. His eyes were a little puffy, but not too red.
Zach will know. So what if he did? He’d spent his entire career not caring what people thought about him.
When he joined Zach again, he acted as though nothing happened. For that, Reed was grateful. “Ready to take the tour?” he asked.
“Ready.”
Chapter Thirty-One
JUSTIN STEPPED off the gangway onto the docks around seven. It had taken four tugs nearly an hour and a half to wrangle the ship into port. They’d fought the wind all the way upriver, but until he stepped outside, it hadn’t sunk in just how hard it was blowing. He caught his cap as it flew off his head and shoved it into his backpack.
He spotted his truck—Trent was supposed to have driven it up from Southport—but instead saw Reed leaning on it, waving at him. Reed’s hair was completely soaked, and his windbreaker was plastered against his arms. He’d obviously been waiting for some time.
“You drove my truck?” he asked.
“I convinced Trent to let me. I left the rental in Southport.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” Justin asked.
“I figured it didn’t really matter where I left it with the storm coming, so I parked it in a lot a few streets back from the water in Southport on higher ground.”
“Why didn’t you wait inside the truck?” Justin wiped a few drops off Reed’s nose. “You look like a drowned rat.”
Reed shrugged. “I couldn’t see the ship coming in from the truck. I wanted to watch you sail her in.”
“You waited in the rain just to watch the boat come in?”
“Not just to watch the boat come in. I wanted to see you sail her in.” Reed grinned like a kid. “That was impressive. You definitely earned it today.”
“I’m glad we called for the extra tugs,” Justin replied, both uncomfortable with the praise and happy for it.
Reed handed Justin the keys and they climbed in the truck.
“Where to?” Reed asked.
“Home. They’re closing the port after she leaves, so I’m done for now.” One of the other pilots would handle taking the boat back out. “Mind if we swing by Kerry’s so I can pick up Leila? She lives near Fort Fisher, so it’s just a few minutes past my place.”
“No problem.”
Justin started the engine.
Reed stared out the windshield at the rain, seemingly deep in thought.
“Reed? Everything okay?”
Reed nodded and seemed to collect himself. “I’m really glad you’re safe.” He spoke the words in a whisper with a slight tremor in his voice.
Justin put his hand over Reed’s. “Thanks for being here to meet me.” Thanks for worrying about me.
“So what now?” Reed asked as they turned onto Highway 421. “We finish getting your house ready for the storm?”
“What’s up is after we pick Leila up, I’m taking you back to your hotel where it’s safer,” Justin said.
“Not happening.” Reed glanced at Justin as they crossed the bridge over Snow’s Cut. “I’ve already cleared it with Cal. I’m going to stay with you.”
“How do you know I’m not evacuating?”
“Are you?” Reed grinned.
“Nope.” Already, Reed knew him too well. “The house is far enough back from the water that it should be fine. Besides, I need to be available in case there’s an emergency.”
“Cal and I decided I’d be better situated to cover the hurricane out here,” Reed continued without missing a beat. “My hotel’s crawling with reporters, so there’ll be plenty of coverage of Wilmington. Besides, you need help getting ready, don’t you?”
Justin sighed. “Yep.”
“Good. Because I spent the afternoon watching other people work, and I need to feel like I’m doing something for a change.”
Kerry had offered to take him and Leila along to stay outside of Raleigh with some of her family, but Justin didn’t like the idea of leaving Wilmington, especially since Marty was on his own.
As if he’d read Justin’s mind, Reed asked, “Will Marty be okay?”
“The facility’s far enough inland that it should be fine, but when I spoke to his nurse the other night, she said they had plans to evacuate the residents if it looked like a direct hit.”
“Why don’t we stop by after we drop Leila at your place?” Reed offered, once again anticipating Justin’s concern. “It’d give me a chance to talk to a few more people for the story, and we can help if they need it.”
“You sure? That’d mean driving back to Wilmington again.”
“I’m sure.” Reed smiled reassuringly.
