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Authors: Jean Reynolds Page
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sweetie,” Reese managed. “He’s doing fine. God’s looking after Benjamin for us.”
Reese had never been one for church services, but from Angel’s lips, she was almost convinced that it could be true. She couldn’t imagine where her daughter would have heard about God and spirits. It went against Reese’s nature to confirm something she had no idea might be right. But it seemed important to Angel. Important that it at least be possible.
“I wish he didn’t die,” Angel said, her face beginning to show the sadness that had to come. The tremor of her lower lip caused Reese’s maternal urges to flail about.
“It’s okay to cry, Angel. Even if he’s with God, it makes me sad that he’s not here. I cried when I heard about it.”
“You’re crying again,” Angel said, her own eyes bright with tears.
“You’re right.” Reese put her arms around her daughter, careful to avoid pressing on the child’s bandaged shoulder. The living, breathing child offered proof that miracles existed along with all the pain.
None of it was playing out the way she had hoped as she and Angel had driven into town the night before. And she realized that she’d have to explain to Angel again about how she couldn’t talk about Benjamin in front of Gina. Not yet, anyway.
But those concerns could wait. For the time being, she would hold her little girl and let herself feel the sadness that was only beginning to take shape in her conscious thought. At the very least, she had the right to feel sad. Seems that she’d been letting go of Benjamin over and over again for as long as she could remember now. But that wouldn’t happen anymore. He was finally gone for good. This time, he’d been the one to do the leaving.
6
Gina
W
ith Georgie as crew, I motored out of the slip and headed past rows of docks, toward the Edisto River. One of my few outings since Benjamin died. Moving to the boat, I thought I’d be out all the time. I imagined the healing wind, bringing me back to life again. But that hadn’t happened. I generally kept my distance from the river, stayed in the marina where life felt neutral.
“Takin’ her out?” Derek called from the haul-out dock. His dark wavy hair fell long around his face. He wore knee-length shorts that hung low on his hips and no shirt. The sight of his bare skin recalled that ill-conceived afternoon on the boat. I felt my cheeks go warm. But something had changed. His strong presence the night before had made me see him in a different light.
“Just a short one,” I yelled back. “Need to clear my brain after last night.”
“I hear that.” He shook his head, acknowledging the rough events of the early morning hours. The well-defined lines of his nose and chin lent his face a maturity that balanced out his youth. “That was pretty wild stuff goin’ on. How’s the kid doing?”
“She’s okay,” I called out, then gave an exaggerated nod in case I was getting out of voice range. He smiled again, then stood up.
“Hey!” he yelled, as if something had just hit him. “Can I hitch a ride to Ray’s Marine?”
I gave him a thumbs-up, maneuvered toward the end of the nearest dock. As I drew up near, I looped a line around one of the cleats and waited for him to run over and board. Ray’s was on the way out of the inlet. I’d just drop him off, but he was on his own getting back.
Derek had only worked at the marina for about six months, starting midwinter, before spring season got busy. But he’d grown up on the coast, near Savannah, he told me; felt more comfortable on water than on land.
He must have met Benjamin at some point, but Ben and I hadn’t taken the boat out much in the colder months. By the time spring came in full-blown, Benjamin was gone.
“Thanks,” Derek said, grinning as he stepped on board. Georgie growled as he came on deck, but settled when he rubbed her ears. “I need to bring a Bayliner over for haul-out.”
“Isn’t Ray’s the
Reese had never been one for church services, but from Angel’s lips, she was almost convinced that it could be true. She couldn’t imagine where her daughter would have heard about God and spirits. It went against Reese’s nature to confirm something she had no idea might be right. But it seemed important to Angel. Important that it at least be possible.
“I wish he didn’t die,” Angel said, her face beginning to show the sadness that had to come. The tremor of her lower lip caused Reese’s maternal urges to flail about.
“It’s okay to cry, Angel. Even if he’s with God, it makes me sad that he’s not here. I cried when I heard about it.”
“You’re crying again,” Angel said, her own eyes bright with tears.
“You’re right.” Reese put her arms around her daughter, careful to avoid pressing on the child’s bandaged shoulder. The living, breathing child offered proof that miracles existed along with all the pain.
None of it was playing out the way she had hoped as she and Angel had driven into town the night before. And she realized that she’d have to explain to Angel again about how she couldn’t talk about Benjamin in front of Gina. Not yet, anyway.
But those concerns could wait. For the time being, she would hold her little girl and let herself feel the sadness that was only beginning to take shape in her conscious thought. At the very least, she had the right to feel sad. Seems that she’d been letting go of Benjamin over and over again for as long as she could remember now. But that wouldn’t happen anymore. He was finally gone for good. This time, he’d been the one to do the leaving.
6
Gina
W
ith Georgie as crew, I motored out of the slip and headed past rows of docks, toward the Edisto River. One of my few outings since Benjamin died. Moving to the boat, I thought I’d be out all the time. I imagined the healing wind, bringing me back to life again. But that hadn’t happened. I generally kept my distance from the river, stayed in the marina where life felt neutral.
“Takin’ her out?” Derek called from the haul-out dock. His dark wavy hair fell long around his face. He wore knee-length shorts that hung low on his hips and no shirt. The sight of his bare skin recalled that ill-conceived afternoon on the boat. I felt my cheeks go warm. But something had changed. His strong presence the night before had made me see him in a different light.
“Just a short one,” I yelled back. “Need to clear my brain after last night.”
“I hear that.” He shook his head, acknowledging the rough events of the early morning hours. The well-defined lines of his nose and chin lent his face a maturity that balanced out his youth. “That was pretty wild stuff goin’ on. How’s the kid doing?”
“She’s okay,” I called out, then gave an exaggerated nod in case I was getting out of voice range. He smiled again, then stood up.
“Hey!” he yelled, as if something had just hit him. “Can I hitch a ride to Ray’s Marine?”
I gave him a thumbs-up, maneuvered toward the end of the nearest dock. As I drew up near, I looped a line around one of the cleats and waited for him to run over and board. Ray’s was on the way out of the inlet. I’d just drop him off, but he was on his own getting back.
Derek had only worked at the marina for about six months, starting midwinter, before spring season got busy. But he’d grown up on the coast, near Savannah, he told me; felt more comfortable on water than on land.
He must have met Benjamin at some point, but Ben and I hadn’t taken the boat out much in the colder months. By the time spring came in full-blown, Benjamin was gone.
“Thanks,” Derek said, grinning as he stepped on board. Georgie growled as he came on deck, but settled when he rubbed her ears. “I need to bring a Bayliner over for haul-out.”
“Isn’t Ray’s the
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