CHAPTER THREE

Enraged, the tropical storm burst into a monsoon of rain, sending sheets of moisture dancing horizontally across rapidly flooding roadways. Typical winds erupted in violence, stripping palm fronds from recently secured homes, sending them diving and twisting to their demise on the sodden ground below.

Brenda Stellars turned right on Palm Street, and at a snails pace began the final stretch home dodging blowing debris and disorder. What would have normally been a fifteen minute drive home from Kaycee’s beach house had turned into an hour of unrelenting terror.

Although she had been born and raised in Florida, the storms; which are rather persistent in the area, were not a passion with Brenda and she knew they never would be. At the tender age of eleven, she had unexpectedly obtained the permanent scars that would forever haunt her world.

The day couldn’t have been more perfect. Sunshine blazed in the sky, emitting warmth that was inviting, not overbearing. While parents sunbathed lazily on the beach, kids frolicked in the nearby surf; splashing and playing in the salted water, running and diving into uncomplicated waves. Brenda was no exception. She had been playing in a nearby sandbar with another girl her age, tossing a beach ball back and forth. Missing the ball yet again, Brenda hopped along in the water towards the brightly colored ball. She dove to retrieve it and felt the sudden tap against her leg. Knowing it was nothing more than a fish bumping into her leg while swimming by she ignored it. Laughing, she began hopping back in the waist deep water towards her new friend when she heard her parents calling to her. She looked towards them and immediately noticed that the sky was changing to a darker color, blocking out the sun. She felt the first droplets of rain and knew that it was time to head back. For the last time, she tossed the ball high in the air and watched it land in the water with a splash in front of her friend. Within seconds she felt the sudden pain in her leg and watched while the water around her turned blood-red. Screaming, she began kicking frantically trying to make her way back to the beach. In the obscure distance she could just barely see her parents running towards the water. It was then that her world went black.

She wasn’t sure how long she had been unconscious, but when she awakened there were people surrounding her, covering her with blankets trying to stop the massive flow of blood, as well as keep her dry from the continuous rain. She knew she had been bitten by a shark, but to her amazement there was no pain. In the distance she thought she could hear the blades of a helicopter coming closer and once again, her world went black.

The storm came without warning. What had started as a simple rain shower had swiftly turned into a massive storm. The rain was torrential and waves were crashing into the shore, vigorously increasing in size.

Brenda had been safely strapped on a gurney and taken into the helicopter where an oxygen mask was placed over her mouth and nose and an IV was quickly placed into her arm. As soon as the emergency aircraft began to lift off the ground, Brenda once again awakened and then slowly peered out of the window. It was then that she saw both of her parents being swallowed by a colossal wave.

Once she was safely parked under the sturdy carport, Brenda began prying her fingers from the steering wheel. She rubbed the stiffness from her knuckles and then wiped her still damp hair from her face. Knowing she was worse for wear and suddenly not caring, she got out of her car and went through the side door of her house under the carport.

“I’m home.” The moment she stepped into her house her insides warmed to the aromatic smell of garlic coming from the kitchen. Although she never understood why it took someone nearly all day to make pasta sauce when you could easily empty a jar and warm its contents on the stove, she never questioned Jackson. He was an exceptional cook, and all of his cuisine was well worth the wait.

She walked into the kitchen and saw him standing over the simmering pot on the stove adding fresh herbs and spices to the concoction. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and then kissed his back.

Turning from the stove, he looked at her and laughed. “You look like hell.”

“Gee, thanks,” she said, then kissed his cheek. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Hey, how did it go with Kaycee?” he asked, turning back to the stove adding the chopped oregano.

“Same as it always does.” Jackson knew exactly what she meant and went back to stirring his sauce.

“She really needs to get out of that house Bren,” he tossed over his shoulder.

“I’m working on it.” She yelled back.

After a few minutes, he could hear the water running in the bathroom and a menacing grin suddenly highlighted his face.

“And I’m the one who’s going to make that happen.” He said, knowing he couldn’t be heard.

As much as he hated it, Jackson knew he was doing the right thing. And if Brenda ever found out what he had done…well he would deal with her when the time came.

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