The Wright Brother (2 page)

And sure enough, a dark head could be seen bobbing up and down around the dangerous bed of sharp rock.

Suddenly everyone seemed to become aware of what was happening. Mr. Wright, Mum, and Daddy—all of them rushed toward Julian, who seemed completely unaware of the fact that when the tide rose and covered the rocks they became too slick and dangerous to walk on.

Elisa had lived along the coastline long enough to know that the tide had already begun to shift and in moments those rocks he now played on would be hazardous. She didn’t stop to question her actions. With her heart lodged in her throat, she ran.

She was already wearing her swimsuit; she could slice through the water and make it to him before anyone else could. His parents were close to the rocky outcropping, but they wouldn’t reach him in time—they’d have to step carefully themselves.

Elisa was already a champion swimmer and as capable in the water as any average adult.

She didn’t shiver when the cold water rushed up the length of her calves and thighs. Instead, taking a deep breath, she dove into the almost frigid waters, breast-stroking expertly out.

Mrs. Wright screamed when Julian did exactly what everyone expected him to do. With a strange, garbled sound coming out of his throat, Julian’s arms windmilled violently, and like a cartoon falling in slow motion, Elisa caught a glimpse of him crashing into the dangerous waters.

Julian could swim, but just barely. He was really only good enough at keeping his head above water. She swam harder, kicking with all her might, when she noticed he was barely moving.

Elisa knew how badly head wounds could bleed. She’d seen her dad crack his forehead open once; she just hoped Julian was okay.

Kicking her feet with all her might and with five more powerful strokes, she got to his side. He’d turned over on his back, floating with his arms spread eagle and moaning loudly. Already she could see a purple knot swelling on his head, but thankfully there was no blood.

“Get him, Elisa!” Mrs. Wright called, waving her hand as if guiding Elisa toward the spot where she stood.

Julian was heavy, but the water made him buoyant enough that Elisa was able to wrap her arm around his middle and gently kick her way back toward the rocks, where Mr. Wright waited with arms wide open.

“It’s all right, Jules,” she whispered as she concentrated on getting them back to safety. He was gurgling, his fingers digging like claws into her wrists as he held on to her tight.

“I’ve got you. Don’t worry,” she soothed.

Her arms trembled when she finally was able to hand him over to his father. Mr. Wright plucked Jules away from her easily, wrapping his arm around his son and smiling down at her with a proud beam to his ocean-colored eyes.

“Good job, girl. Good job.” Faint lines around his eyes crinkled as he gazed down at her, but she was only thankful that she’d gotten to Julian in time. It could have been so much worse.

Arms feeling like wet noodles, she gave him a weak grin as she latched on to her daddy’s outstretched hand and landed on the rocky outcropping beside Mr. Wright. Gratefully accepting the towel Mum held out for her, she wrapped it around herself twice before patting Julian’s back.

“Hey, Jules, you okay?”

He didn’t respond to her question, but he did respond to her touch. He had his face pressed into his father’s neck, but his brilliant blue-green eyes were just for her as he nodded. As if to say thank you.

She smiled. “You’re welcome,” she said, even though she knew he’d never hear it.

Because Mum was a nurse, she checked him out quickly and determined that aside from the fact that he might have a bad headache later that night, he didn’t need to go to the hospital.

That night they watched the fireworks in silence. She and Jules held hands on the beach. He’d moved to her side after supper, and though she knew he couldn’t hear the booms or even see the colors, his eyes lit up as each firecracker danced through the air. And it made her happy to sit right there on that wet sand and listen to his happy little gurgles of laughter.

Elisa didn’t know what she would ever do without Julian Wright in her life.

~*~

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years.

Elisa was almost ten years old the day she learned the devastating news.

The day had started out like any other day. She was happy because now she was a fifth grader.

Mum had also told her she could finally go to a school dance. Next week was that dance and last week Mum had found her a pale pink dress that fell to her knees in soft waves. It looked super pretty on her. But even better, Mum had gotten her her first stick of lip-gloss. Elisa couldn’t wait to wear it. Janet was gonna be so jealous too, because her mom still wouldn’t let her wear makeup.

Of course her date was Christian, which totally didn’t count as a date, but she was still excited, even if he was a third grader.

Elisa had been held back a year because of her father. Well, because of his training in Europe, that was. Her parents had decided to hold Elisa back so that he could concentrate on his training, without forcing her mother to stay back home because of Elisa being in school. Because of that, even though they were almost three years apart, they were only two grades apart. Which was still sort of young, but she liked Christian and, unlike most boys in school, he could actually dance.

Of course, it would have made it even better if she could have gone with Joey Crawford; he was only the cutest boy in fifth grade. But Joey had a stupid girlfriend and probably wouldn’t have asked her anyway.

Brushing out her hair one final time, she slipped it into a ponytail, pulled on her prettiest purple bathing suit, and tried to ignore the nervous flutters in the pit of her stomach.

Today was the biggest day of her life. Qualifications to get to be a part of the club team—Mid-Maine Seals.

Roman and Christian told her she had it in the bag. Which she totally thought she might, and even though she was fast, she was scared she might not be as fast as some of the other swimmers trying out.

What if she didn’t make it?

Or, worse yet, what if she did?

She grimaced.

There was a heavy knock at the door. “Elisa, you dressed?” Her father’s deep baritone was a muffled sound.

“Yes.” She nodded, still hanging on tight to her stomach.

He opened the door and she smiled when she saw him. Daddy was still the most handsome guy she’d ever seen.

There was some gray now at the corners of his dark brown hair, but she thought it made him look very distinguished.

He grinned, but the smile never really touched his eyes. “You look nervous, little bit.”

She plopped onto her vanity stool and nodded. “I’m terrified. I’m not sure I’m good enough for this.”

Snorting, he sat on the edge of her day bed and nodded. “Oh, I understand that feeling. I’m always nervous before a big race—”

Daddy was a professional triathlete. Mum said that was where Elisa got her athleticism from, which was probably true; the most Mum ever did for exercise was gardening. She claimed to be allergic to running, which Elisa had totally believed until she turned eight and realized “allergic” was just another word for lazy. It had made her laugh when she realized how gullible she’d been.

“—but that’s how you face your fears.”

“How? By failing and coming in last?” She made a sound between a whimper and a whine.

Crossing his legs, he ran a hand through his hair. “If you try your best and come in last, there’s no shame in that. The only shame is if you defeat yourself by not giving it your all. No matter the outcome, we’ll be proud of you.”

“I love you, Daddy.”

Getting up, he came to her and wrapped her up in a big, soapy-scented hug. His hug lasted a long time, longer than normal, and he kept clearing his throat. It was starting to make her nervous, but she thought maybe she was just imagining things when a second later he took a step back and smiled down at her. And this time his smile did reach his eyes. Eyes that looked a little more wet than usual. “Ditto. Now let’s go.”

Blowing out a deep breath, Elisa got up, slipped on her shorts and shirt, and nodded. “Okay. The guys are coming too, right?”

The grimace had happened so fast that Elisa almost couldn’t be sure she’d seen it happen at all.

“Yep. Sure, they’ll be there. Where else would those rugrats be? They only worship the ground you walk on.”

She laughed. “They do not.”

But she knew they totally did. That was okay, though, she pretty much adored them herself. Being an only child may have been a sad life for her if it hadn’t been for her three friends that were more like brothers.

She leaned her head out the car window and waved just as the Wrights came tromping out of their house ten minutes later. Daddy was taking her ahead of the crowd so she’d have time to warm up before the competition.

But she frowned when not one of the boys waved back at her. In fact, Mrs. Wright didn’t look well, either.

Her nose was a bright cherry red.

Elisa jumped to her knees and stared out the back window of her family’s SUV as they drove off, watching as Mum walked out her home and over to Mrs. Wright before pulling her in for a tight hug.

“Daddy, is something wrong with Mrs. Wright?”

But instead of answering he clicked on the car radio and the nerves that’d been simmering in her belly now flared back to life.

All of that was forgotten the moment she arrived at the swim meet.

~*~

Elisa shouldn’t have been worried—her form was top-notch, her strokes sure. She’d slid into first across the finish line, even beating out two boys from her class who’d sworn up and down they were faster than her. Blinking water droplets out of her eyes, she scanned the bleachers for Mum and the Wright boys when she stepped out of the pool.

But the only face she recognized was her dad’s.

He was clapping and gazing down at her proudly. “Good job, little bit.” He scooped her up and twirled her around, but his voice seemed to lack some of the joy he normally enthused when she won a competition.

With a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, she wiggled out of his arms. “Dad, where is everybody?”

It was rare that the Wrights ever missed any of her meets. In fact, it’d only happened once before and that was because Roman had gotten a sudden case of appendicitis.

Suddenly the smile was gone. His face turned very serious and grave as he held on to her hand. “Lisa,” he sighed, “baby girl, we need to talk.”

She couldn’t do anything other than grab her stomach. People kept coming up and clapping her on the back and congratulating her, but she couldn’t respond because she knew something was really, really wrong.

She let her father guide her over to the bleachers and he sat her down and waved off her coach as he made his way over. Her father was never rude, and now she was even more scared.

With a mouth grown dry, she swallowed hard. “Daddy?” Her voice trembled.

Tipping his chin up toward the sun, Elisa knew she would never forget that moment. Never forget the way his face suddenly looked so shattered, or the way he inhaled three deep breaths, or how rough his palms felt when he grabbed her pruny ones.

“There’s no way to put this that won’t hurt you, Elisa. Mr. Wright died last night. It was very sudden and unexpected. Mrs. Wright is taking the boys to her family for a couple of weeks and—”

She couldn’t take a proper breath. It was like her lungs had suddenly stopped working correctly. “But…but…” She shook her head, because there were too many thoughts.

Mr. Wright is dead.

The dance.

Mr. Wright is dead.

Christian.

Mr. Wright is dead.

Roman.

Mr. Wright is dead.

Julian…

He shook his head.

What did that mean, exactly?

“Daddy, have they left already?”

“I’m afraid so.”

She screamed, hugging her arms to her middle. “But they’re coming back, right?”

He didn’t answer her, and even though she could feel the press of eyes all over her, she couldn’t seem to stop the tears from falling fat and heavy down her face.

“Daddy, please tell me they’re coming back.”

“I’m sorry, baby girl.”

He tried to wrap her up in his arms again, but she wouldn’t let him. She ran for the car. Maybe if they were fast enough they could get back. Maybe they could…

“Elisa, stop!” Her father ran after her, his footsteps pounding the pavement.

“Why did you bring me here?” Twirling on him, she balled her hands into fists. “Why would you do that to me?” She swiped at the tears dripping off her nose, angry with her father, with herself for caring so much about a stupid swim meet. “I should have been there for them. Daddy, why?”

His brown eyes were sincere and shimmering with wetness. They had attracted a large crowd, but none of it mattered.

She needed to see them one more time. Needed to say goodbye at least. They may not have been blood, but they were her brothers. They’d grown up together, she’d tended to their scrapes, played hide and go seek, listened to them talk all about their stupid cartoons because she loved them. From the very first minute she’d seen the triplets, she’d fallen in love. They were her family.

“How could you do this to me?” she hiccupped.

“Because your mother and I thought it would be best, Elisa. We know how you feel about them. What finding that out would do to you. You couldn’t stop them from leaving; they’re already gone. All you can do now is live, baby girl. That’s what this is about. Living. Remembering that no matter how sad, or tough, or hard things get, sometimes there’s nothing you can do to change it.”

Her lower lip quivered. “I hate you.”

“I know you don’t, sweetheart.” And this time when he pulled her in for a hug, she let him. Crying for Mr. Wright, crying for Mrs. Wright, but especially crying for the loss of her boys.

The Wrights returned back to Sunny Cove, Maine three weeks later to hold Mr. Wright’s funeral.

On the one hand, it was wonderful getting to see them. But on the other, Elisa felt terrible. All three boys had been quiet and sullen as they’d entered the church for Mr. Wright’s memorial, Julian even more so than normal.