Prologue
Present Day
It was hot, in the middle of June, and Ellie Michaels was loading the last suitcase into the trunk.“Dylan, come on, let’s go!”she called out to her son from the driveway.
“Alright, I’m ready to party!”Dylan laughed as he slammed the trunk closed.
They’re headed on a road trip to Myrtle Beach, SC to celebrate Dylan’s seventeenth birthday (it was actually in January, but this was the only week Ellie could get off work long enough for a trip and who wants to go to the beach in the middle of winter anyways).The two of them haven’t been on a fun trip like this since he was five years old.Life always seemedtoo busy – work, school, baseball – but Ellie decided it needed to happen.They could both do with a little relaxation.
“T-minus nine hours until beach time!”Ellie hollered, starting the engine of her black Chevy Cavalier.They started the long drive from their country home in Virginia with a big bag of bugles and two cans of root beer, their favorite snacks.They took turns playing music from the iPod, rotating between 90’s hits and today’s music before stopping halfway to fill up with gas.
About six hours into their drive, it had been quiet for a while and Ellie looked over to see Dylan sleeping.He reminded her so much of his dad.She smiled at the memory and thought back to the first time she met Lee.
She had just turned thirteen and was spending Christmas break with relatives in California.A few nights before Christmas, she and her cousin went bowling and there he was.Lee was friends with her cousin and was celebrating his fifteenth birthday.Ellie couldn’t stop looking at him.His emerald eyes sparkled as he looked up and asked if she wanted to take a walk.
Ellie snapped out of her daydream to hear a loud beep screeching through the radio’s speakers signaling an emergency broadcast.“An emergency alert has been issued for the following areas: Eastern Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.Hurricane Vlada is expected to hit land within the hour.Extreme winds and significant flooding will occur along the coast and moving inland.Evacuation along the beaches and bordering cities is being ordered by the local government.”
“Well, shit!”Ellie smacked the wheel with her hand, jolting Dylan awake from his nap.
“What – what happened?”he asked, confused.
“Looks like our amazing beach trip is being cancelled.There’s a hurricane coming, and we have to turn around.”She explained while turning off I-95 at the closest exit to start heading back North.
“What – seriously?”Dylan groaned and leaned his seat back in an upright position.
“I know, sorry bud.We’ll head back home and figure out something fun as a staycation.”Ellie patted his leg, sighing.“Wanna grab something quick to eat on the road?I’m starving.”She asked.
“Sure, just not McDonalds.I don’t think my stomach would hold up the whole drive home.”He chuckled as he rubbed his belly.
“Hah, got it!What’s that sign say?”She asked, pointing at the highway sign showing what food is off this exit.
“Um, Subway, Arby’s and McDonalds.Let’s grab a sub.”He said.
They ordered food and quickly got back on the road to stay ahead of the storm.They were far enough away from the beach still, but it was already looking awfully dark in the rearview mirror.After they ate, Dylan shifted in his seat and drummed his fingers on his knee nervously.“What’s the matter, bud?”Ellie asked, “Are you mad?I know it sucks not going to the beach, but we can still have fun!”
“No, I’m not mad, Mom.I … well, I know you don’t like me asking …” he trailed off, gazing out the window instead of looking at his mom.She always found a way to get out of talking about his dad and he knew she didn’t like him being brought up.He wasn’t exactly sure why, but he thought that since they were stuck in the car, it would be the perfect time to corner her into hearing some things she hadn’t told him before.
“Can you tell me something about Dad?”he finally asked, breaking the silence.
“Sure…” she hesitated, then proceeded to share a memory of Lee with him.
“It’s just that I know you were my age when you had me and then he died.You don’t know it, but every year for my birthday, I wish for one thing – that I could bring him back, even if it’s just for one day.”He peeked over at her and from the corner of his eye, he could see her eyes welling up.
As they continued their journey, Ellie recounted her complicated past with Lee, and Dylan listened intently, gaining new insight into his father and their family history.
Dylan let out a puff of air he had been holding in, “Did he just not want me?I mean, did he not want to be a dad?”
“Dylan – no, not at all … the truth is … “Ellie paused, grappling with how much to reveal and not sure if she really wanted to tell her son about one of the biggest mistakes she’s ever made.After a few beats of awkward silence, she decided to be honest with her son.
“I never got a chance to tell him about you.Our fight was pretty big.”she confessed; her voice tinged with regret.“He was with someone else, and another girl said she was having his baby.I couldn’t get passed that; I didn’t even let him try to explain.When I was close to my due date, I had planned to call him, explaining everything, and telling him about you.But I was stressed out about graduation, then I went into labor early and you were here.”
Ellie wiped her cheek, the memory still painful after all these years.“While I was at the hospital, I got the news that he was gone.It was horrible and I didn’t believe it at first.I was in the worst place.I was trying to figure out how to be a mom at such a young age and then realizing you would never get to meet your father.”
“It took me a long time to forgive myself for not working things out with him and that’s why I’ve never really talked about him with you.I didn’t want you to blame me for him not knowing you.”
“I would never blame you, mom.”Dylan said softly.“I wish I knew him, but that doesn’t mean it’s your fault.”He went on.“Sometimes it sucks not having a dad out in the stands at the games like the other guys, you know.”
“I know, bud.I know.”she said, her heart aching for her son.
