cooler. The box rocked back and forth before coming to a stop . As she st ood up, she said, “It s Rod’s. Last time, w e w ere out, he accidently scrapped the bottom w ith a knife. He almost thre w the c ooler a w ay w hen w e returned. I told him no one w ould ever see it. He h ated anything that w as fla w ed. You kno w that Jeff.” She peeked at him, glanced a w ay and focused on the cooler.
“Strange, if he had bought a ne w one, I might not h ave been able to ident ify it.” She spoke in a distant , almost unrecognizable voice. Her father w ent to her side . He p ut one arm around her then cradled her head against his chest w ith the other.
L arry cleared his throat. “Taylor, I’m sorry.” He shifted his attention. “ Martin, w e need to discuss our search.”
“I understand.” He look ed over at Jeff, w ho stepped closer. “ W ould you keep her outside for a fe w minutes w hile w e go over the schedule?”
“No, Dad, I ne ed to hear w hat the plans are. Go in. Get started. I’ll be in directly.”
“Jeff. Please stay w ith her.” Martin relinquished his position and w ent inside w ith Larry.
Holding her loosely, Jeff nevertheless placed his chin on her head.
“Give me a minute. ”
“Take all the time you w ant.” He continued to hold her in a light embrace.
Her entire body shook, but she didn’t cry. He tightened his hold, will ing his strength to fill her and comfort her.
Taylor stepped a w ay , after w hat seemed , to him, too short a time. Glimpsing up, she gave him a w an smile. “Thank you.” She took a deep breath. “ W e must go in.”
W hen he and Taylor entered the living room, no w doubling as a ‘situation room’ , they heard Larry speaking and gesturing at a map being held by t w o of Rod’s friends. “The Coast Guard helicopte r will take the northern sector , w hile the W ater and Rescue ‘ copter will take the southern quadrant . Opps, for the civilians, that ’s w hat th e Coast Guard calls this area. The Harmony Fire Department will use their jet-boat to check the marshes in the area ar ound Brays Creek. The DNR boats will check the W hale Branch east and w est of that creek. Since Taylor ID’d the cooler , the search area is narro w er. W e w on’t need as many volunteers. Ho w ever, the po w er of th e tides is s trong. W e must check the river coming off Br ays Creek and the smaller creeks both north and south of this point. Is everyone clear?” Larry w aited for questions.
Sara asked, “ W hat can w e do? W e don’t kno w the w ater w ays, but w e w ant to help.”
“U nless someone needs you as a spotter in their boat, very little,” Larry replied.
“Ho w do w e get on board as a spotter?” someone asked .
“Martin, I ’ll let you coordinate that, if you will . You probably kno w w ho’s going out and from w hat locations.”
“I have a list from yesterday and according to Mary our friends have b een calling in all morning w aiting to be told w here to go and w hen. After you finish, I ’ll start placing people in boats.”
“I’m fin ished. I’ll keep in touch.” Larry gathered his map and headed out.
“F or those of you w ho w ish to help,” Martin said. “I ’ll place t w o spotters in each boat, that w ay both sides of the river can be checked simultan eously. ” Most of the bridal party gathered round.
Sara , another bridesmaid, said, “I go t seasick yesterday , but I can man the phone or do anything on land.”
“As you kno w from yesterday, I’m no good on the w ater , in it fine, but not on it,” Tim said , making a jest at his o w n expense . “ Any job on land will do.”
“No w onder you didn’t go fishing w ith Rod,” one of the groomsmen teased.
“Yeah,” another added, “Tim’s only value on a fis hing trip is adding chum.” A fe w members of the bridal party laughed.
Mary spoke up, “I take anyone w ho’s will ing to help w ith the cooking and the kitchen duties.”
T he break in the tension
“Strange, if he had bought a ne w one, I might not h ave been able to ident ify it.” She spoke in a distant , almost unrecognizable voice. Her father w ent to her side . He p ut one arm around her then cradled her head against his chest w ith the other.
L arry cleared his throat. “Taylor, I’m sorry.” He shifted his attention. “ Martin, w e need to discuss our search.”
“I understand.” He look ed over at Jeff, w ho stepped closer. “ W ould you keep her outside for a fe w minutes w hile w e go over the schedule?”
“No, Dad, I ne ed to hear w hat the plans are. Go in. Get started. I’ll be in directly.”
“Jeff. Please stay w ith her.” Martin relinquished his position and w ent inside w ith Larry.
Holding her loosely, Jeff nevertheless placed his chin on her head.
“Give me a minute. ”
“Take all the time you w ant.” He continued to hold her in a light embrace.
Her entire body shook, but she didn’t cry. He tightened his hold, will ing his strength to fill her and comfort her.
Taylor stepped a w ay , after w hat seemed , to him, too short a time. Glimpsing up, she gave him a w an smile. “Thank you.” She took a deep breath. “ W e must go in.”
W hen he and Taylor entered the living room, no w doubling as a ‘situation room’ , they heard Larry speaking and gesturing at a map being held by t w o of Rod’s friends. “The Coast Guard helicopte r will take the northern sector , w hile the W ater and Rescue ‘ copter will take the southern quadrant . Opps, for the civilians, that ’s w hat th e Coast Guard calls this area. The Harmony Fire Department will use their jet-boat to check the marshes in the area ar ound Brays Creek. The DNR boats will check the W hale Branch east and w est of that creek. Since Taylor ID’d the cooler , the search area is narro w er. W e w on’t need as many volunteers. Ho w ever, the po w er of th e tides is s trong. W e must check the river coming off Br ays Creek and the smaller creeks both north and south of this point. Is everyone clear?” Larry w aited for questions.
Sara asked, “ W hat can w e do? W e don’t kno w the w ater w ays, but w e w ant to help.”
“U nless someone needs you as a spotter in their boat, very little,” Larry replied.
“Ho w do w e get on board as a spotter?” someone asked .
“Martin, I ’ll let you coordinate that, if you will . You probably kno w w ho’s going out and from w hat locations.”
“I have a list from yesterday and according to Mary our friends have b een calling in all morning w aiting to be told w here to go and w hen. After you finish, I ’ll start placing people in boats.”
“I’m fin ished. I’ll keep in touch.” Larry gathered his map and headed out.
“F or those of you w ho w ish to help,” Martin said. “I ’ll place t w o spotters in each boat, that w ay both sides of the river can be checked simultan eously. ” Most of the bridal party gathered round.
Sara , another bridesmaid, said, “I go t seasick yesterday , but I can man the phone or do anything on land.”
“As you kno w from yesterday, I’m no good on the w ater , in it fine, but not on it,” Tim said , making a jest at his o w n expense . “ Any job on land will do.”
“No w onder you didn’t go fishing w ith Rod,” one of the groomsmen teased.
“Yeah,” another added, “Tim’s only value on a fis hing trip is adding chum.” A fe w members of the bridal party laughed.
Mary spoke up, “I take anyone w ho’s will ing to help w ith the cooking and the kitchen duties.”
T he break in the tension
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