Page 29 of Second Chance Summer
‘Keep going!’ Sam shouted.
Even though her muscles screamed for mercy, Lily didn’t give up. She remembered the moment when she’d goneunder; all the opportunities to be with loved ones that she’d missed – and the second chance she’d been given now.
No, she wouldn’t give up this close to safety.
Once the kayak was out of the breaking waves, Sam heaved a huge sigh of relief and turned back to her.
‘You can ease up now,’ he said.
‘No, I have to keep going.’ Lily kept paddling even though her arms were on fire.
‘Lily, you can stop.’ Sam let the craft drift for a few seconds to take the paddle from her hands. ‘We’re safe.’
Safe.
Twice in the past few minutes, Lily had thought that was impossible: had almost given up on the idea, had – in those few seconds when she was underwater – almost accepted that her end had come.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked, twisting to look at her while still piloting the kayak around the island.
She hugged herself to try and stop trembling. ‘I th–think so.’
‘I’ll check you over when we get back. I lost the radio when the kayak capsized so I can’t call the coastguard.’
‘D–don’t – please don’t call the coastguard. There’s no need. I’ll be OK.’
He started paddling again. ‘There’s such a thing as secondary drowning, you know,’ he said. ‘You must have swallowed water.’
‘Yes, but I’ll take the risk.’
‘We’ll see when we get back. Now, rest, and for God’s sake, try to stay awake.’
He said no more, clearly saving his energy to paddle back to the quay as soon as possible. Lily sank back in the now-empty rear of the kayak. It stank of fish but all the gear and tackle must have gone to the bottom of the sea.
They passed the pest house, its blank windows like accusing eyes.
Although physically exhausted, Lily didn’t think she’d ever sleep again. Adrenaline surged through her, making her hyper aware of the landscape: the gulls shrieking, the waves breaking on the shore. She was shivering with cold and shock. All kinds of strange stuff must be happening to her body – none of it good – yet she felt euphoric, as if she could fly out of the kayak, above Stark, looking down on everything.
She’d come a whisker away from dying – not once but twice. She still didn’t know how she’d made it out of the sea alive. If Sam hadn’t been in the right place at the right time … if the kayak hadn’t righted itself when it had bounced off the rocks … if Sam hadn’t managed to swim out of the gulley … if he hadn’t been able to push her into the boat or steer them away.
The moment when she’d gone under flashed back again: the moment when she’d half-accepted death.
‘OK, we’re almost here. Hold tight, the steering’s shagged and we might bump into the jetty.’
She snapped to attention, clinging on while the little craft – their saviour – slipped through the rocky gap and bumped the stone wall gently.
She looked up at the walls of the haven, cradled in its shelter, hearing only the gulls crying.
Sam seized an old iron ring in the wall and tied the kayak to it. He climbed onto the steps and offered his hand to her. ‘Careful, they’re slippery.’
Only then did she notice his knuckles were grazed and bleeding before he grasped her hand and helped her stagger up to dry land.
Eyes closed, Sam lifted his face heavenwards and let out a sigh. ‘Jesus, that was a close one.’
Though her legs felt wobbly Lily forced herself to stay upright, saw the pink stains on his T-shirt and what a mess his face was in. He was bleeding from above his temple and from cuts across his cheeks.
‘Sam. You’ve cut yourself …’
‘Have I?’ He touched his head and looked at the blood in surprise. ‘Must have been when the kayak fell on me. It pushed me into the gulley. It’s only a scratch.’ He stared at Lily. ‘What happened? I was out fishing and rounded the rocks by the cove to see you jump into the water.’
