17

Six Months Later, July 10.

The phone rang. “Want me to get it?” Lou asked. She, Jim, and her mum had flown to the UK to pick up Staci for the summer holidays, as Bill and Di were off to a missionary convention. Staci was living with her parents in England while they were on sabbatical.

Jim and Ailsa were staying at Jack’s place on Guam. Like Jack had originally said, there was plenty of room, and both Jim and Ailsa were spending a lot of time helping with her physio.

Jim grinned. “Go for it. We know who it’s going to be anyway.”

“Well, one of two people by my count.” She crossed the living room of Bill and Di’s house in Southampton, England, and grabbed the phone before it had rung three times. “Kirk residence, hello? Hi, Jack. Yeah, I’ll get her for you.” She tossed the cordless phone to her mum. “It’s for you-ou.”

Mum smiled. “Thanks.”

Lou went back across to the others. She was almost used to the prosthesis now, but very self-conscious about it, choosing to wear trousers rather than skirts. “That’s the third time Jack’s rung today. I think he misses her.”

Jim grinned at her. “You’ll be in love yourself one day. Then you’ll understand.”

“Aw. Missing Ailsa, are we?” Lou teased.

Jim blushed.

Staci laughed. “That’ll be a yes then,” she said. She laid down her cards. “Out.”

“Well done, kiddo,” Jim said, counting his cards. “Fifteen. Doesn’t seem possible that it’s been thirteen months since we left to find Mum and Dad, does it?”

“Was it really?” Lou asked, pulling a face at her cards. “One hundred and five.”

“Yeah. It’s July 10. This time last year, we were recovering from Erika. Nichola’s got eighty-five.”

Mum put the phone down. “Right. Are you lot ready to go?”

“Yes,” they answered in unison.

“How’s Ailsa?” Jim asked.

“She’s fine. Jack says she would say hi, but she’s in bed. It’s late over there.”

“They are nine hours ahead. It’s 2 PM here, so it must be 11 PM over there,” Lou said. “Jack ringing to say good night?”

“He’s on duty. He and Ailsa are staying at the base while he’s on nights. It’s the last one tonight.”

Jim looked thoughtful. “Night flying must be well cool,” he said wistfully.

“Cool?” Lou said. “Cool? You’ve been hanging round Jack for too long.”

Jim threw a cushion at her. “You can talk. You spend more time with him than anyone, except your mum.”

“At least I don’t come out with Jack-isms though.”

“What about ‘for crying out loud’ then?”

“Yeah, well. Although I probably got that from you...” She broke off laughing as Jim launched an all-out cushion assault. She begged for mercy and Jim reluctantly accepted.

“What I would give to join the Air Force and do it.”

“Throw cushions at people and get paid for it?” Lou asked, grinning at him.

“No, go night flying, silly. I’m still hoping to hear from them soon.”

“In your dreams, mate,” Staci said. “There is no way the US Air Force would have you. You’re British, for a start.”

He looked at Staci. “If not, then I’ll try the RAF, kiddo.”

“And stop calling me kiddo. I’m fourteen now.”

They all pulled on their jackets and Lou grabbed her crutches. She didn’t yet trust her prosthesis enough to go out of the house without backup, as Jack termed it. They’d offered her a cane, but she’d pointed out she was a teenager, not an old granny lady. She followed the others to the front door.

Staci said, “So what’s the plan of action for this afty?”

“I thought we’d go to the river,” Mum said. “Then the cinema and pizza. Give your parents time to pack without your help.”

“Sounds neat,” Staci said.

Lou absently glanced over her shoulder as they reached the car. It was as if someone was missing, she just wasn’t sure who.

They drove across town to Townhill Park and passed the block of flats Lou used to call home.

Lou looked out the window. “It hasn’t changed. Look, there are the shops.” They drove along the way they had walked so many times, Mum unknowingly going the same way Matt had taken them that last time.

In Riverside Park, Lou got out of the car and looked round for Deefer.

“He’s not here, love,” Mum said.

“I haven’t done that in a long time,” Lou said. “It’s being back here. There are just so many memories.”

They walked through the park towards the river. The river this time though was dull and grey, reflecting the thick cloud cover. Jim bounced stones off the surface. “It’s a shame Ailsa couldn’t come,” he said. “I wanted to show her all this. Show her where it all began.”

“You can come back,” Lou said, looking round her. “She had to stay and study for those exams.”

“She could have studied here,” Jim objected.

“I don’t think so,” Staci said. “No one can study with you around, bro.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, kiddo.”

They reached the play area and Staci looked wistfully at the swings. “Please, Jim,” she said. “I’m not much over twelve.”

“You’re fourteen, but go on then. I’ll push you, as the park is empty.” He opened the gate and followed her into the playground.

Lou watched as Jim pushed Staci on the swing, higher and higher, until she yelled, “I’m flying.”

Lou absently looked down at her heels.

Mum looked sadly at her. “You miss him, don’t you?”

Lou nodded. “Yes. More than I thought I would.”

“Have you thought any more about getting another dog?”

“No. I could never replace Deefer.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to. Like I could never replace your dad.”

Lou looked at her mother. She had blossomed over the last few months. Not just because she had her family back, but as her relationship with Jack had grown. It had definitely been a good day when he had come into their lives. Even if it hadn’t seemed like it that afternoon in Cornwall. She looked over at the others. “Come on,” she called. “It’s cold standing here.”

Jim stopped the swing and Staci reluctantly got off. They came back through the gate to the others and set off under the bridge. The sign saying Cobden Boat Hire was more faded than it had been.

Matt saw them coming and went across to meet them. “Hello, stranger,” he said, shaking Jim’s hand. “How are you?”

“Good. You?”

“Yeah, good. I got your letter and I’ve been meaning to reply. But I’ve been rushed off my feet here, what with setting up the website and all. Sounds like quite an adventure you had.”

Jim grinned. “Yeah, it was. A bit too exciting at times though.”

“Exciting?” Staci exclaimed. “Scary, more like.”

Matt smiled. “I can’t stop to chat, I’m afraid. We have a big repair job on. I’ll e-mail you and keep in touch that way.”

Mum looked at her watch. “C’mon, we’d better get going if we are going to catch this film.”

They walked back to the car in the deepening gloom, Lou saying goodbye to all the places that she had played in as a child and never expected to see again. Just before they got to the car, the heavens opened and the rain came down in torrents. They ran the rest of the way, getting soaked.

“Ugh,” Lou said, climbing into the car and pushing her wet hair out of her eyes.

Mum said, “We don’t have time to change. Do you mind staying wet?”

“No,” said Staci. “I’ve waited years to hear that.”

“Waited years to hear what?” Mum asked, starting the car.

“That I have to stay in my wet clothes.” Staci laughed. The others joined in.

“I shan’t make a habit of it though,” Mum told them. “So make the most of it.”

They drove towards the cinema, passing the school that Lou had attended. “Do you realize that they don’t break up for another three weeks,” she gloated.

The film was good, and when they came out, Mum smiled at them. “Who’s hungry then?” she asked.

“Me.”

“Anyone else except Staci?” Mum asked as everyone laughed.

****

The following day, their last before going home to Guam, was a Sunday. Jim was pleased that Lou was going to accompany them to church. He’d half expected her to have wavered in her faith without them around, but she hadn’t. They went to the church they used to go to and sat in the same pew. They sang Jim’s favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

After lunch they started packing. Lou took off the leg and hobbled round on her crutches. Nichola looked at her. “You have to persevere with it.”

“I know, Mum. It’s just uncomfortable today. I thought I might go for a swim in the pool over the road. Anyone coming?”

When no one answered, Jim said, “I’ll come and time you if you like.”

“Please.” Lou grabbed her stuff.

“Any excuse not to pack,” Nichola said, smiling.

“I’ll do it later,” Lou said.

“I’ll do it now,” Nichola replied. “Go on. Go swimming.”

“Thanks, Mum.” Lou kissed her and she and Jim headed for the pool.

Jim watched as Lou swam cleanly, smoothly, and quickly through the water, her right leg more than making up for the absence of the left. She hit the end of the pool and looked up at him. “Well?”

“Two whole seconds off your fastest time.” He smiled. “Your coach will be impressed.”

“He reckons I might be good enough for the Paralympics,” Lou said proudly. “I may get my Olympic medal yet.”

A figure came over to Jim as Lou set off down the pool again. “She’s good,” he said. “And fast.”

Jim looked at the stranger. “She always has been a good swimmer. Even before she lost her leg.”

“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Shark attack last year. Why?”

“She looks familiar. Of course, I only met this girl myself briefly and only the once, but I never forget a face. In my line of work you can’t afford to.” He leaned on his cane. “I was injured in an explosion at the docks last year. I was trapped underwater for what seemed like forever. I thought I was going to die, but a young girl saved me. She pulled me and two of my colleagues from the wreckage of the police boat.”

Jim looked at him and felt a pang of guilt as he realized who this man was.

The man held out a hand. “Detective Inspector Steve Sutton.”

Jim shook his hand. “Jim Kirk. The mermaid is my best friend—Lou Benson. She’s the one who rescued you. I was so mad at her for doing so. No offense, but we were leaving the country to find my parents and she’d stowed away. I thought she was going to get us caught.”

****

Lou reached the other end of the pool. She pulled herself up the steps and leant against the pool rail. She pulled on her toweling robe and slid her arms into her crutches. She looked at the man standing next to Jim. He looked familiar. She closed her eyes as a sudden flashback took her by surprise. Once again, she was under the water. A shark came rushing towards her. Flames surrounded her. A face under the water surrounded by wreckage.

“Lou?”

That was Jim’s voice.

“Lou? Are you OK? There’s someone wants to talk to you.”

She opened her eyes and forced them to focus on Jim. “I’m fine,” she said, to brush off the concern in his face. “Honestly.”

“Are you sure?” He didn’t sound convinced, but that was him all over.

She nodded. “So who wants to see me?”

“One of the blokes you rescued from that boat explosion. Come on.”

She nodded and gripped the crutches firmly before following Jim across the poolside to where the man waited.

****

Jim walked with her. For a minute she’d been someplace else. Jack had warned him to watch Lou for flashbacks and he was convinced she’d just had one, even if she hadn’t said as much. Honestly, he was surprised she swam as much as she did. There was no way he was going to get back in the water any time soon, and he wasn’t the one who’d been injured by the shark.

She held out her hand. “Lou Benson,” she said.

“Detective Inspector Steve Sutton,” he replied, shaking her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you properly at last. I was wondering if you and your friend would like to join me for coffee. I haven’t thanked you properly for saving my life.”

Jim said, “I ought to go home and pack. Thanks for the offer though.”

“I’d love to,” Lou said. “Let me just go and get changed.”

“I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.”

Jim went back up to the house. “I’m back,” he said, running up the stairs.

“Did that police officer find you?” Nichola asked.

“Yeah. He and Lou are having coffee.”

“What did he want?”

“He was one of the officers Lou saved from that explosion in the docks last year.” He glanced around the room. “How’s the packing going?”

Nichola surveyed the mass of clothes strewn over the beds. “Slowly.”

“Is Jack meeting us at the airport?”

“I hope so. Assuming we ever get packed, that is.”

“I’ll give you a hand.”

****

In the cafeteria Lou drank her coffee slowly, looking at the figure opposite her. His cane leaned against the table beside him. “How much do you remember?” she asked.

“Not much. Which is probably a blessing. I remember a loud bang, then nothing for a bit. Being trapped under the water, panic as I couldn’t breathe or move, and you appearing like a dream. Nothing else until the hospital. Three months in there, learning to walk again.”

“That I can sympathize with.”

DI Sutton smiled at her. “How long were you in hospital for? Did they airlift you there?”

“Not exactly. By the time we were rescued, five months had passed since the attack. I spent six weeks in the infirmary on the airbase.”

“Do you remember much about it?”

Lou shuddered slightly. “Everything. I wish I could forget, but I can’t. The flashbacks come when I least expect or want them.”

DI Sutton said, “If it were me, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to get back in the water.”

“Swimming is part of my physio. I wasn’t given a choice.” She put her cup down. “Are you back at work now?”

“Yes. Stuck behind a desk most of the time unfortunately, but hopefully not for much longer. I don’t need the cane all the time now.”

“According to Dr. Andrews, I don’t need the crutches,” Lou said. “I just don’t trust the prosthesis totally yet. And I’m not old enough for a cane. No offense.”

“None taken. It wasn’t my first choice, but my kids get a kick out of doing Dad impressions with it.”

She finished her coffee. “Thanks for that. I really ought to go and pack. We fly back tomorrow.”

“Where are you living now?”

“Guam. My mum’s boyfriend is out there in the Air Force.” She stood up. “It was nice to meet you properly at last.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”