Kingdom Fall

There were three levels. The top was an exterior level we’d used when we went to the island. The main lounge and galley area were on the main level. Then there was a lower deck I hadn’t yet explored.

“You think we might end up in the water?” I said.

“I think we should be prepared.”

I raced downstairs against an invisible clock. I didn’t know if he really believed there would be wetsuits or he was giving me busy work to keep the fear at bay. Still, I opened closets, not really paying attention to the amazing décor. None of that mattered if we ended up at the bottom of the ocean.

When I raced back upstairs with the only wetsuit I could find, I said, “I found one, and before you say it, we are not having a Rose and Jack situation.”

My reference to the iconic Titanic apparently went over his head. He looked confused.

“Rose was on the Titanic. They didn’t make it in a lifeboat. Jack told her to lie on floating debris, which was a door, while he stayed in the cold water. The bitch should have shared. That will not be us.”

He shook his head. “It won’t. That’s a wetsuit, not a door, and it can only fit one.”

I held it out to him. I would not live with that guilt.

“You don’t have to. That can’t fit me.”

I looked down and noticed the sizing. “The tighter the better,” I said, from the little knowledge I had. Wetsuits kept you warm by trapping water inside and not allowing cold water to circulate.

“If I tried to put that on, I’d likely die from lack of circulation. Now you put it on.”

“You are not going to do that hero shit with me. I will go down with the ship.”

He got up even though the boat had started to rock with more force. He placed a big hand on my shoulders and one of the chairs to steady us. “Look at me.”

I did, feeling all girly with misty eyes.

“You have given me the greatest gift.”

“What’s that?” I rolled my lip between my teeth.

“You’ve accepted me, all of me, without judgment. You’ve given me a second chance. And if this feeling I have is love, I’ll die happy.”

I shoved him back. “You will not die on me. I will not fall in love and lose it in the same day.”

“If you think you love me, put on the suit, Lizzy. Please.”

The boat lifted on one side and we went tumbling.

He scrambled to his feet. “Do it.”

I couldn’t see through blurred vision as I put on the damn suit and he worked to keep us from capsizing. But I didn’t give up. I raced back downstairs and looked through every corner of the damn luxury boat until I found a life raft according to the case it was stored in. I’d found it in a cabinet that doubled as a bench. It wasn’t crazy heavy, but it wasn’t light either. I left it near the door. It was probably better outside, but I feared with the rough surf, it could get swept away.

“Look what I found,” I said, heaving the damn thing behind me.

“Good, leave it there for now. If we start taking on water, we’ll move it out.”

I nodded and sat by him. I wanted to hold his hand like some schoolgirl, but he needed both of them as the little yacht fought the raging waves.

Time rolled forward like the waves. Day turned into night, leaving us half blind to face whatever was ahead.

Faced with death, you come to terms with life. I accepted mine. I’d faced tragedy and conquered it the best I could. I’d gone to school and become what I wanted to be. I hadn’t accomplished all my goals, but I was happy with my life. What was killing my business wasn’t my ability to spot talent, but the ambitious place where I hung my shingle.

If I survived, maybe I could open a gallery in Soho. The rent had to be better than Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Even with the free rent now, if I couldn’t have a showing because of the building repairs, I wouldn’t make much money.

More than that, I’d found a man I could truly be happy with. The only question was if I could make him completely happy.

“Lights,” I said, seeing them off in the distance.

“It appears the ocean helped us.”

The choppy waters had carried us farther than our engines would have. The rain began, coming down in sheets.

“Get our bags,” he said. “I’m not sure how much time we’ll have when we dock.”

The wind howled and the radio came in and out. We got bits and pieces about the weather as I put our bags close to the door. The boat hit the pier with bone-rattling force.