1. Dale

1

DALE

"Eric, I'm not coming to Evergreen Lakes. You and Maggie just had another baby, plus I like it here in Forbidden Falls. I got a great Airbnb right on the water. And I need to think things over," I say to my brother as I stand against the railing of the beach house I rented for the week.

The place is an old Craftsman style beach bungalow that has so much character and is well taken care of. I got it for a steal since it's in the off season of winter and even more so because of the unprecedented storm that's supposed to hit the shores this week.

The storm is rolling in. I can see it building off on the horizon as the clouds are dark gray and only getting darker. The waves off in the sea's distance are building into massive heights that would be a serious ride for a surfer, but the consequence of death is too much of a risk. When the waves reach us, they're going to slam hard against the cliffs in the distance and will pound against the shoreline.

Never having been here before, I wonder if the house is too close to the sand, but it's lifted higher off the ground and onto a little cliff that is only a couple minutes down from the steps to the beach. But nothing beats the unobstructed views of the ocean.

I'll play this all by ear. However, storms like this, I've grown to respect them and not fear them.

All my years as a Coast Guard has me experiencing a lot of weather along the coasts and this is going to hit the Oregon coast hard. I'm thrilled though. I still haven't grown tired of the water.

"Look, I get it, but we haven't seen you in a while and we just want to check in with you. I mean, you're thinking of retiring. That's big for you. You always wanted to be an admiral, so to retire as a captain now, well, I'm worried."

"Little brother, I'm good. I need to think things through. Shit, after this week of no work, I'll probably be crawling inside my skin and dying to get out of here and get back to work."

My brother means well, and he's right, the Coast Guard has been my everything, my life. However, at forty-four, is it enough? Watching my brother fall in love again after a disastrous marriage and now having children. I can't help but feel like something is missing in my life. I'm just wondering if the Coast Guard can give me what I need. It's difficult because I'm not even sure I know what that is. What I do know is, I more than qualify to retire, and I'll enjoy a healthy retirement. Who knows, maybe I'll find another hobby or a second career that can fill this hole I'm having?

I honestly don't believe I'll find a woman amazing enough because I'm too set in my ways and I'm well aware of how commanding I can be. My single status has been too long, and I've been in charge for even longer. I wouldn't be an easy man to live with, and committing to somebody, frankly, at this stage in my life feels like it's too late. But I can control the possibility of trying something else besides the Coast Guard. Shit, I can finally get a dog. Something I've been wanting for decades but didn't think was smart to do with me being gone all the time and then working long days when I wasn't out training or on assignments.

"Some peace and quiet is just what the doctor ordered for this."

My niece must've heard me as I hear her crying in the background, and my brother sarcastically mumbles something about better timing.

I chuckle. "I'm gonna get off now. It looks like the storm is gearing its way to hit soon. I need to unpack the truck and make sure this place is sealed tight. I want to see what's available in case I have to make any fixes."

"I hate this, you know."

"I know, little brother, but storms like this, I've dealt with hundreds of them. Give Maggie and the kids a kiss for me and I'll call you."

"Yeah, yeah. If I don't hear from you in a couple days, I'm coming up there to find your ass and bring you here."

"Later." I hang up and inhale the salt air and the smell of rain as it's about to slam over me. The clouds trap the sky, not allowing the sun to break through. The water rolls and crashes, and I'm invigorated to watch the water foam and build massive waves.

I turn around to head inside to do what I said I was going to do but stop as something catches my eye. I move toward the end of the patio and frown as somebody stumbles along the beach. The person falls but slowly gets back up as they circle around. They wobble and fall again.

Worried, I descend the steps and walk toward the sand of the beach. What the hell is a person doing on the beach when a massive storm is en route? It's all over the news and radio telling people to shelter in place, as it's one of the biggest storms to be on record here in the past thirty years. I run closer and I'm shocked to see it's a curvy young woman in black shorts, a white T-shirt that looks to have red markings and no shoes. She's soaked through, stumbles and falls again.

Double timing it to the woman. Anxiety consumes me when I realize it's not red markings on her shirt but blood along with blood falling along the side of her head. Her face is bruised, and she has a fat lip.

"Ma'am, are you okay? Ma'am?"

She glimpses at me, but there's no recognition. When I move in closer, I slow down with my hands up. I don't want to startle her. At this distance I get a far better look at her and I notice a split lip, a black eye forming, and then the fresh cuts around her face, throat, hands, arms and legs.

Worry infuses inside of me as I step closer. The blank expression on her face makes me wonder what in the hell this young woman has been through. She can't be older than twenty-three, twenty-four.

"Ma'am, I'm with the Coast Guard and I'm here to offer you assistance. Are you okay?"

The woman scans the area, shaking her head like she's trying to make sense of anything, but she stumbles. I catch her before she falls again, and I cradle her against my chest. She lifts her gaze and before I can ask her again, her eyes roll back into her head, and she slumps in my arms.