GONE!!!
GONE!
The mist was rising from the water; Deanne could just make out the end of the jetty. She felt a cold wind blow off the water. How many days had it been? How many nights has she lain awake? Deanne turned back to the house. The lantern was still burning sitting on the kitchen counter. She knew it was no use waiting in the mist for someone who may never come.
It had been a normal day; the sun had been shining, and few clouds on the horizon. She had kissed Ben goodbye and hugged Luke. Ben her husband and Luke their son, both couldn’t wait to get out onto the water.
She had spent the day canning late tomatoes, it wasn’t until the sky turned dark that it was noticed a storm had grown. The blue sky was now blanketed with dark grey clouds. The clouds so thick that even the sun couldn’t fully break through.
Deanne prayed that her husband and son would be back soon. She lit the lantern so they would have a welcome light to come home to. The wind was picking up and the rain on the tin roof was pinging. She sat by the jars of tomatoes, smiling that Luke would likely sneak a jar off to his room.
She noticed a few flashes over the water and a few seconds later heard distant rumble of thunder. She shivered not from cold, but from fear. She wanted Ben and Luke home, but she wanted them safe more.
Deanne opened the door against the wind. She stared out at the water, the waves now splashing against the jetty. She went inside before the rain soaked her all the way through. She had only just closed the door when she jumped from a bang outside. She saw the big pecan tree smoking as she felt almost blinded from the flash of a lightning strike.
She sat in the lounge room with a woollen rug and Ben’s jacket that smelt just of him. She slept in snatches, waking with a start and looking at the jetty. Deanne slept on the couch for 3 days, and kept a constant vigil while awake, watching the jetty.
Deanne knew it was unlikely she would ever see Ben or Luke again. After a week the officials declared them lost. She was expected to organise a memorial service, but how could she accept her two loves were gone.
Deanne heard a whistle and looked at the jetty. No, it was coming from the front of the house. She ran to the front door. She felt tears running down her cheeks, the only man she knew that would whistle that tune was Ben.
Opening the door she saw Ben carrying a pail. She saw the tail of some fishes out the end of the bucket. “Ben, is that you? Where is Luke?”
“I promised you fishes, and yes it is I. Luke is fine, just recovering from a broken arm and leg.” Ben dropped the pail and gathered Deanne into his arms. “De, we were 2 days up the coast, I had a fever for 4 days. I am so sorry we didn’t tell you, but we were really sick.
“Benji, never leave me alone.” Deanne said as the tears just fell down her face.
“Never would I leave my wife. Just might tell you don’t expect your son back alone. His nurse I think will become his wife.” Ben chuckled.
Deanne knew a miracle had happened, her husband was safe and now at home. She also had wondered if her son would ever get married. Could this have been God’s plan? She had strengthened her faith and her son had found the one for him.
The mist was rising from the water; Deanne could just make out the end of the jetty. She felt a cold wind blow off the water. How many days had it been? How many nights has she lain awake? Deanne turned back to the house. The lantern was still burning sitting on the kitchen counter. She knew it was no use waiting in the mist for someone who may never come.
It had been a normal day; the sun had been shining, and few clouds on the horizon. She had kissed Ben goodbye and hugged Luke. Ben her husband and Luke their son, both couldn’t wait to get out onto the water.
She had spent the day canning late tomatoes, it wasn’t until the sky turned dark that it was noticed a storm had grown. The blue sky was now blanketed with dark grey clouds. The clouds so thick that even the sun couldn’t fully break through.
Deanne prayed that her husband and son would be back soon. She lit the lantern so they would have a welcome light to come home to. The wind was picking up and the rain on the tin roof was pinging. She sat by the jars of tomatoes, smiling that Luke would likely sneak a jar off to his room.
She noticed a few flashes over the water and a few seconds later heard distant rumble of thunder. She shivered not from cold, but from fear. She wanted Ben and Luke home, but she wanted them safe more.
Deanne opened the door against the wind. She stared out at the water, the waves now splashing against the jetty. She went inside before the rain soaked her all the way through. She had only just closed the door when she jumped from a bang outside. She saw the big pecan tree smoking as she felt almost blinded from the flash of a lightning strike.
She sat in the lounge room with a woollen rug and Ben’s jacket that smelt just of him. She slept in snatches, waking with a start and looking at the jetty. Deanne slept on the couch for 3 days, and kept a constant vigil while awake, watching the jetty.
Deanne knew it was unlikely she would ever see Ben or Luke again. After a week the officials declared them lost. She was expected to organise a memorial service, but how could she accept her two loves were gone.
Deanne heard a whistle and looked at the jetty. No, it was coming from the front of the house. She ran to the front door. She felt tears running down her cheeks, the only man she knew that would whistle that tune was Ben.
Opening the door she saw Ben carrying a pail. She saw the tail of some fishes out the end of the bucket. “Ben, is that you? Where is Luke?”
“I promised you fishes, and yes it is I. Luke is fine, just recovering from a broken arm and leg.” Ben dropped the pail and gathered Deanne into his arms. “De, we were 2 days up the coast, I had a fever for 4 days. I am so sorry we didn’t tell you, but we were really sick.
“Benji, never leave me alone.” Deanne said as the tears just fell down her face.
“Never would I leave my wife. Just might tell you don’t expect your son back alone. His nurse I think will become his wife.” Ben chuckled.
Deanne knew a miracle had happened, her husband was safe and now at home. She also had wondered if her son would ever get married. Could this have been God’s plan? She had strengthened her faith and her son had found the one for him.