The Summer's End (46 page)

Not until the end of the week did one event bring all of them together. To no one's surprise the agent of their gathering was Delphine.

NOAA had
decided to release Delphine today at this boat landing on Sullivan's Island. Carson looked up at the sky. It was a good day for a release, the sky being overcast with a brisk breeze, but no sign of rain.

Looking out across the expanse of water she loved, Carson could detect early signs of summer's end. The thick patches of sea grass were tipped in gold, and she felt deep in her bones the subtle shift in the air that signaled change.

Closer in, the wind was blowing the flags on the pole: the stars and stripes of the American flag and the blue crescent moon and palmetto of the South Carolina flag. She'd always thought it was the prettiest of the state flags. Despite her having spent a large chunk of her life in California, seeing it meant home. Farther down the boat ramp she spied the metal signs alerting visitors and fishermen: warning do not feed wild dolphins! Signs that Blake and his team at NOAA had put up. There were also a few fishing-line disposal bins.

One thing was for sure, she thought, looking out over the Cove where dozens of dolphins roamed. She'd never feed a wild dolphin or any wild animal again.

The water rippled in the wind and lifted wisps of her hair. Lifting her chin, she felt hope. Soon Delphine would again be swimming free in the Cove. Today was a celebration. It was also Carson's greatest test. She'd promised to stay away from Delphine. To never again call her to the dock with thumping the wood or a whistle. Or to feed her or swim with her or in any way engage her.

Carson pinched her lips in worry. Could she look in Delphine's warm eyes and not respond? Carson didn't know if she was that strong.

Which was one more reason why she'd taken the job in Los Angeles from Mr. Kowalski.

She hadn't yet told Blake. The right moment hadn't come up. In the past few weeks they'd reached more or less a platonic relationship while they'd worked together on the release. Yet every time they were together, they both knew that they were holding back a tidal wave of emotions. She just had to get past the release, she'd decided. Then she'd tell him.

She felt a light touch on her elbow. Turning, she saw Nate standing beside her, his eyes wide with wonder beneath his shock of blond hair. Her heart went out to her nephew. She knew that he was every bit as much affected by Delphine's accident as she was. And every bit as happy at her return.

“Nate”—she bent to his level—“are you excited?”

“When is she going to be here?”

“Soon. I just heard from Blake. Delphine arrived at the airport safely and they're on their way.”

Nate rose up on his tiptoes and shook his hands, a sign of his excitement. “Aunt Carson,” Nate said in a high voice, “my mama and I, and Devlin, too, we went kayaking”—he took a breath—“and saw so many dolphins. There were mamas and babies. It looked to me like they were training their babies how to fish.”

“No doubt they were.” Carson was delighted with his story and that he was so animated telling it. “Did they come near you?”

Nate nodded, eyes wide. “The little babies did. I think they were curious about us. But the mamas wouldn't let them near our kayaks. They just steered them clear away.”

“Yep. That sounds right.”

“I didn't touch them,”
Nate added with great import. “But they looked in my eyes and I looked right back at them. They
saw
me, Aunt Carson. I know it.”

“I know they did, too. And I'm proud of you.” She meant it. Her heart bloomed with love for the boy. Whether or not she ever had her own child, this boy would always be close to her heart. “Let's go tell the others that Delphine is on her way.”

She and Nate walked to join the others, standing in a cluster near the dock entrance. Dora was telling her own version of the kayak trip to Granny James and Mamaw.”

“Those little baby dolphins were the sweetest things, weren't they, Dev?”

“Yep. We picked up some shrimp from the dock later on and steamed 'em up and ate them straight from the shells.” Devlin turned to Granny James. “Now that's what I call a perfect lowcountry summer day. I'll have to cook up a batch for you before you leave. With my special hot sauce.” A mischievous twinkle was in his eyes.

“Dear man, you are a rhinestone in the rough,” Granny James quipped, and he guffawed.

Carson stepped forward. “I just got word from Blake.” She held up her phone.

Immediately all talking ceased and eyes were on her.

Nate heard the name Blake and came trotting over. “What? Are they here?” His hands shook wildly.

“Just about.”

Looking up to the road, Carson saw the bright yellow Penske truck reaching the boat ramp. She felt her heart rate zoom and was overwhelmed with the desire to see Delphine. “Here they are!”

Everyone moved to the side as the truck turned, then began backing down the ramp, high beeps periodically piercing the silence. Finally the brake lights flickered and the engine went dead. The truck doors opened and she recognized Eric and Justin as they climbed out, wearing brown NOAA T-shirts over shorts. Blake was among them.

Blake strode toward her and the family waiting in silence. Carson thought how she'd always recognize his walk—slope shouldered, lanky, arms swinging. She straightened and brushed her hair from her face as he drew near. She knew that expression. He wasn't here to celebrate. This was serious business for him, and his focus was on Delphine.

“Okay, gang,” Blake said. “Big day, right? How you doin', pal?” he asked Nate with a smile.

“Good.” Nate's eyes were bright.

“You all have your assignments. Any questions? Taylor, Dev, I need you up in the truck. All we're going to do is to take hold of her in the wet transport, lift her, and put her in the sling. But she's heavy. We need all hands on deck. The rest of you, why don't you stand over there.” Blake pointed to a dock that stretched out in the water. “We'll be carrying her past that dock, so you'll have a good view from there.”

The group of women turned to walk off to the dock, as instructed. Dora hurried to hustle Nate away as the men retreated toward the back of the truck. Suddenly Blake turned around and walked back to Carson's side. His face softened and he reached out to touch her shoulder in reassurance. “I know you'll do great. Delphine looks real good.” His eyes brightened. “She's going to be fine.”

Carson met his reassuring gaze and felt her frustration melt away. “Thanks.” Such a simple word to convey so much feeling.

“Okay, then.” He dropped his hand. She heard the business back in his voice. “You're the water girl. The bucket is in the truck. Fill it with seawater and keep pouring it over her. We want to get her acclimated. And”—he smiled crookedly—“I know she'll want to see you.”

Carson's heart filled with gratitude at his understanding of how worried she was about Delphine. He always surprised her in this way, always had her feelings in the forefront of his mind. She followed him back to the truck, focused now on the task on hand.

Blake climbed up the truck to join the other men. Carson grabbed the bucket and ran to the water to fill it and lug it back to the truck. She climbed up on the truck and moved closer to the box. A blue tarp lined the box, and over that was the sling that would carry the dolphin into the water. Leaning forward, she stopped short, overwhelmed at seeing Delphine again. She let her gaze travel over the sleek dolphin's body. The wounds from the fishing line had healed, but she could still see the multiple scars crisscrossing her beautiful gray body. Carson's eyes roved over the tip of the dorsal fin that had been lopped off by the line, the partially missing tail fluke where the shark had bitten it off. And smiling, Carson saw the dime-size hole in her right tail fluke, the one that helped identify Delphine as part of the Cove's community. Delphine lay calm, motionless, her nearly closed eyes mere slits in her head.

Blake moved aside so Carson could get closer. Pushing
between him and Taylor, Carson gently poured the Cove's water over Delphine. Carson knew the moment Delphine recognized her. Her eye opened from a slit to wide and eager.

Blake tapped Carson's shoulder and she stepped aside to allow Blake back into his position at the side of the box. Time was of the essence. As she hurried off to get more water, inside the truck the men followed Blake's orders to grab the poles of the sling. Two women she'd met in the planning stages, Dr. Pat Fair of NOAA and Dr. Karen Spencer, the veterinarian, stepped forward to help. With a chorus of grunts, they all hoisted the dolphin from her wet transport berth.

“Careful now,” Blake shouted as they prepared to lower her from the truck. Taylor and Eric, both big men, jumped down from the truck to grab the front handles of the sling.

Once they had Delphine out of the truck, they slowly carried her to the end of the ramp, where the water lapped up, and gently set her down. Carson ran to the plastic bucket and poured more water over Delphine, while Dr. Spencer monitored her temperature and heart rate. Blake and Dr. Fair attached a small transmitter to her dorsal fin. Dr. Fair explained how the transmitter could pick up her location from up to two miles away to help them determine how she was doing. The transmitter would fall off in less than two months.

Throughout, Carson continued to pour water from the Cove over Delphine. All the while the dolphin kept her gaze on Carson.

“She's stayed amazingly calm through all this,” Dr. Fair noted. “Some of them get jumpy and anxious. Their heart rates accelerate.”

Eric agreed. “She's one remarkable dolphin.”

Blake caught Carson's eye and winked. They both knew Delphine was calm because of her presence.

“Let someone else get the water,” Blake called out to Carson. “Stay close to Delphine so she can see you. We want to keep her calm as we move her out.”

Carson promptly handed Taylor the bucket and hurried back to sit beside Delphine's head. “I'm here,” she crooned, bending closer.

Delphine went still and her beautiful almond eyes gazed at her trustingly. Carson's immediate reaction was to pet her, but she stopped her hand midair. She glanced at Blake. His dark eyes were watching her. When their gazes met, he nodded, signaling her to go ahead.

For the first time in weeks, Carson felt Delphine's wet, rubbery skin under her palm. She gently stroked Delphine's head as Taylor poured water over her gleaming gray body.

“Feel the water of the Cove,” Carson said softly to Delphine. “Smell the pluff mud. Hear the sounds of the birds. You're home again.”

“Ready?” Blake called out.

Carson joined Blake, Devlin, and Taylor in wrapping their arms around the sleek body and slowly lifting Delphine from the sling. The ramp dropped off slowly and soon they were walking in the sandy, squishy mud of the Cove. The water was warm this late in the season, refreshing as it swirled around them. They had a ways to walk to clear the grass and the dock. Once buoyant, the dolphin felt light in Carson's arms, and she felt they were more guiding Delphine to a safe release spot than lifting her. As she walked, Carson felt Delphine's eyes on her and turned her head to meet that deep, dark gaze.

“Thank you.”
Carson gently stroked the dolphin's head. “Thank you for teaching me how to live.” Tears streamed down her face. “Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you.”

“Okay, this is good,” Blake called out when they'd passed the dock.

They stopped moving, still holding the dolphin loosely in the water. Wind splashed droplets of water on their faces. Carson remembered the day they'd carried Delphine out from the Cove. The wind had raged that morning, an angry sea pushing waves into her face, over Delphine's blowhole. This gentle spray was so different, Carson thought. Refreshing. Welcoming. This morning she shed tears of joy.

Blake called out, “On the count of three, release. Ready?”

Carson bent closer to Delphine, holding her near. She stared at the dolphin's face, her sweet, perpetual smile, committing each feature to memory. It was a bittersweet moment having to let go.

“One,” called Blake. “Two.”

“Good-bye,” Carson whispered.

“Three.”

Sequentially, they released their hold on the dolphin and stepped back, Carson last. Delphine floated in the water between them for a moment. Then, like a shot, she swam off.

Everyone cheered. From behind her, she heard Nate shouting, “Good-bye, Delphine!” Carson stared out, following Delphine's path. She was heading in the right direction, into the heart of the Cove. Then, suddenly, the dolphin turned around. Carson saw her arching in the water, speeding back toward them. Toward her.

“Oh, no . . .”

Carson shared a quick glance of worry with Blake. They both knew that if Delphine did not swim off, if she lingered with the humans, she could be deemed nonreleasable.

Everyone on the team had silenced, watching to see what the dolphin would do.

“Don't come back,” Carson murmured, hands pressed together as in prayer. “Swim away.”

The dolphin swam to within fifteen feet of them, then veered off to swim in a small circle. Twice she circled. Carson watched with the others as Delphine dove back under the water. Her tail fluke waved in the air before disappearing.

“Did that dolphin just wave good-bye?” said Dr. Spencer with disbelief.

Dr. Fair smiled. “Never underestimate a dolphin.”

They all continued watching to see where she'd resurface. Holding a collective breath.

“There!” Blake shouted. “At two o'clock.”

In the distance, they saw Delphine leaping in the air, a spray of gray against the sky, before she disappeared again.

After a collective sigh everyone laughed, hugged, and patted backs, delighted with the successful release of another dolphin to the wild. Everyone began walking slowly back to the ramp.