Waking Up Gray (34 page)

“You just never know, Lizbeth. You just never know.”

“Well, if you do hook up with her, Ocracoke is off limits. I understand lesbians have a tendency to become lifelong friends with their exes. I’m going to hang onto my heterosexual roots here and say I’m not comfortable with that. Not for awhile anyway.”

“All right,” Molly said. “I’ll keep her away from Ocracoke. I haven’t spent much time in Texas. I think I’d like to see some of the Wild West.”

Lizbeth quipped, “Remember the Alamo.”

“Is that a warning?” Molly asked playfully.

“Well, I’ve seen her take one woman to her knees, shall you be next? Don’t forget she professed her undying love for Gray just days ago.”

“Hang on a sec,” Molly said, and Lizbeth could tell that she was on the move. She heard a door close, and when Molly started talking Lizbeth could tell she had gone in a smaller room, probably the bathroom. Molly asked, “Lizbeth?”

Lizbeth answered, “I’m here.”

“Hey, does this Dana thing really bother you?”

Lizbeth took a second to answer. She had to search her soul. If Gray was really done with Dana, then it shouldn’t matter to Lizbeth what Dana did or with whom she did it. “Molly, Dana isn’t my problem anymore. I believe Gray is finished with her. My concern is with you. Be careful. ‘Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.’”

“You know your Plato,” Molly said, adding, “I’m a big girl, Lizbeth. I see it for what it is and frankly, it doesn’t bother me. Women attach too much meaning to sex. It doesn’t always have to be about love. It could just be a mutual sexual attraction. I think I’ve been through enough women to tell the difference.”

Lizbeth sighed. “Oh my God, you are just like Gray. Dana is going to fall in love with you and I’m going to have to learn to live with it. I see it coming.”

Molly laughed. “Let’s hope not. I’m not looking for a relationship. The last one wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

“I’m so sorry I never talked to you about any of that. I knew when Ann wasn’t around anymore, but I just never asked you why.”

“Long story,” Molly answered, quietly. “We’ll talk about it sometime. Just don’t worry about me. I can handle Miss Fox.”

Lizbeth got it. “You’d know already if she was the one, wouldn’t you?”

“Yep. Pretty much like you knew with Gray. I don’t get that connection here, but the sex is great and I’ve had a dry spell, so forgive me my indulgence.”

Lizbeth laughed. “Okay, indulge away. Have a good time. I’ll call you when I know something. And thanks again, Molly. I love you.”

They exchanged goodbyes and Lizbeth went back in the kitchen, where Fanny had filled their plates and was waiting. Lizbeth pulled her chair out and sat down.

“That was Molly, the friend that arranged for the jet. She saw the story on the news.”

“Technology sure has made this a small world,” Fanny commented.

Lizbeth added, “And yet they can’t find a woman swimming in the water less than ten miles from here.”

Fanny said grace and then they proceeded to eat in silence. The marine radio squawked out positions. One search block after another was checked off. The sun had completely risen and the sky was bright and clear when they finished breakfast and stepped out on the porch. Fanny made Lizbeth leave the dishes in the sink, because that was Gray’s job and she would be home to do them. Lizbeth understood. Fanny had to hang on to what was normal for now. If she swayed in her belief, Gray could perish. Gray was the only thing Fanny had left. She’d buried everybody else. She’d outlived her entire family, except for Gray. Fanny was a strong woman and Lizbeth benefitted from that strength.

An old man Lizbeth recognized from the Community Store stepped up to Fanny on the porch. “Daylight now, Fanny. Slick ca’m out there.” Slick ca’m meant the surface of the water was smooth. “Ought to find her anytime, now.”

At least that is what Lizbeth thought he said. His brogue was so thick he was hard to understand. Any other time, Lizbeth would have been fascinated, but she couldn’t listen for sounds, she wanted information. She remembered the marine radio and went to move it back into the parlor, so they could monitor it from the porch. Just as she plugged it in, a voice rang out over the air.

“Coast Guard rescue vessel in the area. Coast Guard rescue vessel in the area. I am vessel to your right, the blue one, see me, over?”

“This is Coast Guard rescue vessel. We see you.”

“I see something floating in the water, off my starboard bow, about a hundred yards, over?”

People started pouring into the house, Fanny in the lead. Lizbeth was still holding the radio, squatted down by the plug she had just placed in the wall. Her hand was still on the plug. Lizbeth held her breath.

“This is Coast Guard rescue vessel. Roger. We see it, blue vessel. Will investigate.”

A hand touched Lizbeth’s shoulder and helped her to her feet. It was Jaye. She took the radio and placed it on the mantle, while Lizbeth fell up against Fanny. She wrapped her arms around Fanny’s waist. Fanny hugged Lizbeth to her. No one made a sound as they waited.

The time ticked by in slow motion. Lizbeth could hear Fanny’s heart beating as her head lay against Fanny’s shoulder. She could hear breathing around her, all ears trained on the white noise coming from the black box with the flashing red lights.

A crackle was followed by, “Hey, Will, what they pullin’ out over there?”

Another crackle. “Stay off the air, jackass. Family’s listening.”

The radio went silent again. The warning to stay off the air had made Lizbeth more afraid. Fanny had tightened her grip on Lizbeth at those words. The radio came to life again.

“U. S. Coast Guard Comm Stat Ocracoke, this is rescue vessel niner five, over?”

“This is Comm Stat Ocracoke. Roger rescue vessel niner five, over?”

“Comm Stat Ocracoke, we have located a floating object. Launch is in the water. Approaching object now, over?”

“Roger that, rescue vessel. Comm Stat Ocracoke standing by.”

The way they referred to the thing in the water as an object made Lizbeth’s skin crawl.

“Uh, Comm Stat Ocracoke, rescue vessel niner-five. Object appears to be a windbreaker or jacket, possibly yellow. Do we know what the survivor was wearing, over?”

Lizbeth looked up at Fanny. Fanny nodded her head, acknowledging that it was Gray’s.

“Comm Stat Ocracoke to rescue vessel, that is a negative, no clothing description. Will check with the family and get back to you, over?”

“Roger, Comm Stat Ocracoke, recue vessel niner-five standing by.”

One of the men flipped open a phone and hit a speed dial number. He said into the receiver, “Chuck, go in there and tell them boys, that yellow windbreaker is Gray’s… Thank you, bud.” He flipped the phone shut.

A few minutes later the radio relayed the news to the rescue vessel that they had indeed found Gray’s windbreaker. After a period of no more news, the crowded parlor began to empty back outside. Neither Fanny nor Lizbeth would leave. They sat together on the couch holding hands, listening. The rescue team had to be close now. If Gray was alive, she had to hear them looking for her.

The radio once again began to chatter about an hour later. Lizbeth and Fanny had not moved. Jaye brought them iced tea, but neither woman drank it. It sat on the coffee table in front of them. Lizbeth was caught up in watching the condensation drops slide down the glass and onto the coaster, when the radio came to life.

“U. S. Coast Guard rescue vessel niner-five. This is rescue helo one. Do you copy, over?”

“Roger, rescue helo one. This is rescue vessel niner-five, over?”

“U. S. Coast Guard rescue vessel niner-five. This is rescue helo one. We see something in that duck blind, three hundred yards to your port, over?”

“Roger, helo one. Duck blind, three hundred yards to port. We’ll check it out, over?”

“Roger that rescue vessel. Helo one will hover over position.” The voice on the air suddenly became excited. “Rescue vessel, we see movement. Yes, one survivor in the duck blind, rescue vessel. U. S. Coast Guard Ocracoke, this is Rescue helo one. The survivor has been located! She’s waving. Survivor located!”

“Rescue helo one, this is U. S. Coast Guard Comm Stat Ocracoke. Roger that! Survivor located.”

There was so much hooting and hollering, Lizbeth couldn’t hear anymore of the transmissions. Gray was alive and that was all that mattered. Now, how would she get to her? Where would they take her? She found herself standing in the middle of the room being hugged and hugging everyone else, but all she could think about was getting to Gray.

Lizbeth found Fanny on the porch grinning just like Gray, from ear to ear. “Fanny, where will they take her? I have to go to her.”

Fanny patted Lizbeth’s hand. “I don’t know darlin’, but she’ll call when she can.”

On cue, the phone rang. The whole house and yard grew quiet when Jaye handed the still ringing phone to Fanny. Fanny took it and pushed the answer button. She stuck the receiver to her ear, and as if there was nothing going on said, “Hello,” very calmly into the phone.

Her smile told everyone it was Gray. Fanny held the phone away from her ear and said to the gathered throng, “Gray wants to know if one of y’all could pick her up at the Coast Guard base? She’s a little tired.”

A loud and raucous cheer erupted in the room. Fanny put the phone back to her ear and said, “I believe somebody’ll be there to pick you up. I’ll go on and fix up somethin’ to eat, ‘cause I know you must be starvin’… I love you too, darlin’.” Then she hung up.

The giddiness of the rescue spread through the crowd. Fanny decided she would stay behind with some other women, to cook and prepare for Gray’s arrival. She would be tired, water logged, and in much need of food and rest. The rest of the crowd decided to all walk in mass down to the Coast Guard station. Marvina’s husband followed in an old Jeep, so that Gray wouldn’t have to walk home.

Lizbeth went right along with everyone else, so happy she almost floated down Howard Street. Jaye walked beside her, almost as happy as Lizbeth. Jaye really did care about Gray. Lizbeth reached over, wrapping one arm around Jaye as they walked. There was now an unspoken bond between them. They both loved Gray and Lizbeth realized that was okay.

They heard the helicopter before they could see it. Lizbeth finally spotted it coming in low across the water. The orange and white copter did a wide circle and then hovered over them before landing on the pad. First, the back door slid open and a rescue swimmer stepped out. He reached back into the doorway and helped a wobbly Gray, wrapped in a blanket and clutching a water bottle, down to the ground. She looked up at the crowd of well-wishers and smiled the patented Gray grin. The cheers echoed across the harbor.

Gray took two shaky steps, her feet in obvious distress. Several Coast Guard guys ran over to prop her up under her shoulders and moved her out from underneath the copter and over to her waiting friends. When they deposited her on the ground, several villagers took over the propping up by lifting her off her feet and carrying her to the waiting Jeep. There were so many people, Gray never saw Lizbeth, and Lizbeth couldn’t get close to Gray.

Once seated in the Jeep, Gray shook hands and accepted hugs, as everyone passed by her. Lizbeth fell in at the back of the line. She slowly made her way forward, watching Gray and about to burst. She wanted to throw these people out of the way and get to Gray, but she was patient, moving closer one painstaking step at a time.

She was next in line when Gray finally saw her. Gray’s facial expression gave away her complete shock. People around them started to fade back as the realization of who Lizbeth was fluttered through the crowd. A hush fell over them as they watched Lizbeth and Gray. Lizbeth stepped up in front of Gray, close enough to touch her, but she didn’t.

Lizbeth said, “So, you went for a swim?”

Gray grinned. “Something like that.”

Lizbeth could control it no longer. She threw herself into Gray’s arms and didn’t care who was looking. Gray wrapped her tightly in her grasp and whispered in her ear, “I came back, Lizbeth.”

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry,” Lizbeth whispered back, the tears she had held in for so long now raining down her cheeks.

Gray started crying, too. She was still holding Lizbeth tightly to her and Lizbeth could feel Gray’s body begin to shake with her tears. Gray gasped into Lizbeth’s neck, “I thought I wasn’t going to get to tell you that I loved you.”

Lizbeth pulled back and looked into Gray’s eyes. “Gray O’Neal, I intend for you to tell me that every day for the rest of my life.”

Gray smiled through her tears. “I will, I promise.”

The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter that followed them all the way down Howard Street.

#

Fanny tried to play it cool when Gray was deposited on her doorstep.

“Well, I recon you’re too tired to do the dishes.”

Gray smiled at her, knowing this was Fanny’s way of saying she was glad to see her. “Just leave ‘em. I’ll get to them after awhile.”

Gray’s feet and hands were shriveled from soaking up the water she was immersed in for hours. When she had reached water she could walk in, oyster and clamshells strewn along the bottom had ripped up the skin on the bottom of her feet. She stood on shaky legs for just a moment, before being the one to give in, and hugged her grandmother tightly.