Page 16 of Take Me Back
Present day
Maybe Benjie was right to be scared for my future. Maybe when you have nothing to lose, it allows you to see things more clearly.
Water splashes me across the face like a cold reminder of reality.
“Sorry ’bout that, ma’am. I’m trying to miss the waves,” Carlos yells.
Dane looks at me, as though expecting me to raise holy hell over getting a little wet, but I don’t.
“It’s fine. No worries.” I wipe the water from my face with my hand, squinting at the burn of the salt.
Maybe it’s the universe’s way of telling me to quit dwelling in the past and live more in the present.
Working as many hours as humanly possible was the only way I knew how to cope. All I could control. I’m letting fear of the unknown terrify me into forgetting how tolive.
The sun begins to set behind us, turning the clouds in the sky ahead pink and purple. By dwelling in the past, I’m missing all of the beauty in front of me.
Another good reminder. Be present or you never know the beauty of everything you’ve missed.
“Wow.” My voice carries over the salt-tinged wind.
Dane lifts his arm from around my shoulders. “Look at the sunset behind us. It’s even better.”
I crane my neck and, sure enough, beyond Carlos the sky is a wall of brilliant color. It doesn’t look like the sun is setting, but flaming out in a burst of orange and yellow, strengthening into red at the edges. I’m surprised I can’t feel heat on my face coming from the intensity of the hues.
“Wow.” This time I whisper the word like a prayer.
“It’s amazing what you can see when you’re not staring down at a phone or laptop.”
The dig isn’t subtle, and it’s definitely not lost on me. Instead of getting defensive, I agree.
“You’re right.”
We both go quiet, and eventually my awe at the vivid colors painting the sky fades away as the land behind us becomes more and more distant, and there’s nothing but water ahead of us.
Nowhere to swim to if something happens.
I’m not ready to die. Especially not now.
I promise I’ll change.
Concentrating on breathing in and out, I relax into the seat as little islands pop up, dotting the ocean in front of us. A new feeling, something resembling excitement, curls through me.
This is beautiful.
Clear Caribbean-blue water. Islands. Palm trees. Gorgeous.
And I’m blessed to be alive and experiencing it.
Ten days.
One marriage to save.
We can do this.
Chapter 7
Kat
