Chapter 2 - One Last Wave
That evening the resort ran beach games before sunset. Music rolled across the sand. Families drifted toward the water.
The biggest draw was the banana boat. Every fifteen minutes a speedboat towed a long yellow inflatable across the bay while the riders bounced over the wake, screaming and laughing.
A staff member in a blue polo called everyone in for the safety talk.
"If you feel sick out there," he said, "don't try to be a hero."
He pointed down the shoreline toward a rocky point. "See that white building?"
Most people barely turned their heads.
"That's Harbor Point Clinic. If there's a medical emergency on the water, you go straight there. It's a lot closer than coming back here."
The talk ended. Nobody seemed to care. Everyone just wanted to get wet.
A little later Nora and Ethan came over, both grinning.
"Ethan has a question," Nora said.
He looked at us. "Would it be okay if Nora and I took the last banana boat ride before sunset?"
I looked at Mark. He shrugged. "They'll both have life jackets on."
"How long is it?" I asked Ethan.
"About twenty minutes."
Diane smiled. "We've let him go dozens of times."
"I'll have her back before dinner, I promise," Ethan added.
Mark looked at me. "Your call."
Every protective nerve in my body wanted to say no. Not because of Ethan. Because saying yes meant admitting Nora wasn't a little girl anymore.
She caught me hesitating. "Mom."
One word. It carried so much. Please trust me.
"Okay," I said.
Her whole face lit up. "Thank you." She hugged me fast, before either of us could reconsider.
Mark laughed. "Pretty sure that hug was for the permission."
"I'll take what I can get."
A staff member handed them bright orange life jackets. Ethan checked Nora's straps before he touched his own. They climbed onto the inflatable with six other riders.
I pulled out my phone. "Look over here."
They both turned. Nora grinned. Ethan threw up a thumbs-up. I took the picture just as the boat pulled away from the dock. The banana skipped across the gold water, and Nora laughed and waved one more time.
Mark slid an arm around my shoulders. "You did good."
"I almost didn't."
"But you did."
We sank back into our chairs.
Fifteen minutes went by. The next banana boat came in. Families climbed off, still laughing. None of them were Nora or Ethan.
I frowned. "Maybe they went a longer way."
"I'm sure that's it," Mark said.
I tried to believe him.
Thirty minutes. The sky slid from gold to deep orange. Still nothing.
I sat up. "That's a long time, right?"
Mark looked toward the water. "A little."
May you like
Another boat came back. New passengers. New faces. The beach was emptying as families headed in for dinner.
I stood. "I'm going to go ask."
