Chapter Five

1990 – The Northwoods Island City

A few hours later Erin was sitting on the dock. Her stomach was upset after the afternoon she shared with Jack, and eating greasy fried fish for dinner hadn’t helped her situation at all. With the sun starting to set, her fingers began to work in earnest. The colors coming off the water were incredible. Purples and pinks with a hard line of red on the horizon. It was just beautiful. Her pastel sticks were bringing out the colors as well as her matching mood.

What happened up on the roof was strange, if not a little unsettling. Molly and Jackson definitely had a history of which she knew nothing about. Jackson hadn’t ever mentioned Molly, and when she’d found out that Molly knew of her, her thoughts were troubling.

Why would she hide that from me? It’s obvious Molly doesn’t like me for some reason. I just hope Jack will tell me what’s going on. I don’t like this one bit.

Hearing footsteps on the dock, her heart sped up. Speak of the devil. She didn’t need to turn around to know who was approaching. Jackson sat down in the chair next to her and didn’t say a word. Erin used her peripheral vision to watch her while she pretended to draw. Jackson sat quietly watching the sunset.

“So, what’s up with Molly? Any idea why she hates me so much? ” Erin asked flat out. And why didn’t you tell me about her?

Jackson didn’t answer right away. She was battling with so many emotions that she wasn’t sure which ones she wanted to face. “Molly is a spoiled brat sometimes, Hawk. She can be the nicest person, but like today, she showed fangs I’m not too fond of. ”

“What’s up with you not calling me Hawk around her? I feel like there is so much you haven’t told me. I think you stopped writing to me because of her. ” Erin worked on, finishing her drawing before the sun disappeared below the horizon.

If you only knew how much I haven’t told you. “You’re right. I was hanging out with Molly this summer and before I knew it, ” she snapped her fingers, “August was here and then so were you. I’m really sorry about that. You know how much I love your letters, ” Jackson said. “I’m so sorry about today. I really hated the whole thing. ” She ventured a hand on Erin’s shoulder.

Erin’s eyes met hers for the first time and she noticed the contact lens had been removed. Trying to hide her smile, she replied, “I didn’t hate all of it. It was really nice before she showed up. ” She reached up and squeezed the hand on her shoulder, then resumed working her magic on the page. “Although, I don’t think you should hang out with a person who wants you to change yourself. ” She pointed to her eyes. “Your eyes are unique and are a part of the awesome person you are. Don’t let her take that from you. No one should be allowed to do that. ”

Jackson started to dispute the assertion, but Erin put her fingers on her mouth. “You know I’m right. ” Jackson smiled, and the fight was over before it began.

Jackson moved closer to look over Erin’s shoulder. From the edge of the shore, Katie stood and watched the girls together, unable to suppress the discontent she felt. The closer Erin and Jackson got, the uneasier she felt. She knew there was more than friendship growing between them. It was a sinking feeling, and she would not allow it to happen if she could help it. No daughter of mine will act that way. “ Erin, make sure you come in at dark! ”

Erin, nearly jumping off her chair, turned around to face her mother on the waterfront. “Can I stay out until at least ten, Mom? I’m working on a great picture for Dad. ”

Trying not to be completely unreasonable, she compromised. “Ten o’clock, but no later. ”

Smiling with a brief wave, Erin called, “Thanks. ”

“Good night, Mrs. Hawkins. ”

“Good night, Jackson, ” she returned coolly, and then went back to her cottage.

“Hawk, what’s up with you and your mom? She never used to give you a curfew while you were here. ”

Taking a deep breath, she stilled her fingers. “Jack, I wish I knew. She has been such a… God I don’t even want to say it! Do you know she tried to get me to go to cheerleading camp instead of coming here this summer? I couldn’t believe it. Like there was any way I’d choose not to come and see you if I could. ”

Jackson was at a loss. “I don’t know, Hawk. What does your dad say about it? ”

“He says not to mind her, but I do mind. It’s like she doesn’t want me to be friends with you or something. What the heck made her feel that way? You’re my best friend in the world; how can she not want me to be around you? ”

Jackson’s arm went fully around Erin’s shoulders and drew their bodies close. “I don’t know, Hawk. I’ll just try to be extra charming so she isn’t so hard on you. ” Without thought, she kissed the top of Erin’s head. Eyes closing, Erin let her head fall against the broad shoulder beside her.

“I love you, you know, ” Erin whispered.

Pressing her lips against her head again, Jackson replied, “I love you, too, Hawk. ”

“Promise me something? ” Erin kept her voice low.

“Anything. ”

“Tell me about Molly when you’re ready, okay? ”

Not really wanting to think about her at the moment, Jackson agreed. “I will. I am sorry I didn’t tell you about her. It might have been much more evenly matched this afternoon. She came out swinging, man. I didn’t think she’d be so jealous of our friendship. ”

Feeling her face redden a little, Erin confessed, “I was a little jealous of her, too. She was acting like you were her possession. I did not like that one bit. ”

Jackson bit off her smile at Erin’s admission, grateful Erin was so different from Molly. There was no comparison. If there ever was any reason she had to choose between the two, Erin would win hands down. For right now, she would relish the idea of having her girlfriend and her best friend in the same place. She felt extremely lucky indeed.

“Do you want to try water skiing tomorrow? ”

A sudden fear washed over Erin. “I…I don’t know. I’m kinda scared about it, really. Maybe I should just stick to tubing. ”

“Well, you can if you want. I think we’re gonna take the boat out tomorrow and go skiing. You’re always welcome to try, but we’ll hitch up the tube to the boat if you’d rather do that. ”

“You wouldn’t care? ” Erin was feeling like the kid Molly said she was. “I feel stupid. ”

“There is no reason for you to feel stupid because something scares you. If you don’t want to do it, just go tubing and have a good time. ”

Jackson’s calm voice burred in her ear making Erin feel more loved and content than she’d ever felt. Erin breathed a small, relaxed sigh.

Breaking the warmth of their contact, Jackson asked, “So how’s that picture coming? It’s gonna be dark soon. ”

“Oh! I almost forgot about it. ” Her face blushed hotly. She held the picture up to view. The sunset was captured almost perfectly.

“Wow, Hawk, that’s really beautiful. You’ve gotten so good with your work, people are gonna be paying oodles of dollars just to own your pieces. Mark my words. ”

Erin blushed a deeper red under the praise.

“Thanks, Jack. You’ve always been in my corner when it came to my artwork. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. ”

Smiling softly, Jack said, “You’re welcome. I’ll always be your biggest fan. ”

“Speaking of fans, will you play me the song you wrote? I’d really love to hear it. ”

Jackson nodded. “Of course I will. I named it after you because of your love of this place… and, well, our friendship. It means a lot to me. ” Jackson hoped the look in her eyes didn’t show too much of her heart. The last thing she wanted was for Erin to be unnerved by the depth of the love she had for her. “I never told Molly I called you that and, well, it’s none of her business. I don’t think she would like it very much since I know she’d put the two things together. The less ammunition she has, the better for all of us. ”

Erin couldn’t understand why Jackson wanted to be friends with someone like that. It wasn’t her place to say who Jackson could be friends with, so she shook her head and said nothing.

“Come on, let’s put this away and go hang out at my house. Jackie and Sandra are gonna watch Ghost tonight. I’ve never seen it, so if you’d like to come over, we could watch it with them. Sandra makes a mean cheese popcorn with Velveeta. Really messy, but really good. ”

Erin nodded, happy to be on more solid ground with her friend again. “Sure, I wanted to see that too. Let’s go. ”

The girls walked to Jackson’s house where they were greeted by the sight of a very friendly kiss being shared by Jackie and Sandra. Jackson heard Erin’s small gasp and immediately cleared her throat. “Get a room, you two, ” Jackson said, though not fazed in the slightest at their normal behavior.

The women pulled apart quickly, clearly embarrassed at having exposed Erin to their affection.

Jackie saw the deer-in-the-headlights expression and wanted to make sure Erin wouldn’t run out of the house. “Are you okay? I’m sorry if that freaked you out. ”

The red on her cheeks spoke volumes about the swirling tides in her stomach. “Nn…no, no. I’m fine, really. It’s just um…wow. ” She laughed nervously. “I, ah, don’t see a lot of that from regular people… Well…not to say you aren’t regular…” She started stammering. “I’m just gonna sit over here and not say a word. ” She went and sat on the sofa.

“Awww, Hawk, I’m sorry you had to see that. ” Jackson’s lips thinned and she stared narrowly at her aunt. Sandra had the sense to leave the room. Jackson sat down next to Erin. “You want something to drink? It might bring down the color in your face. ”

Erin’s hands immediately went to her cheeks, warm and red from the images of the heated kiss flowing through her brain. Incredible. “Yeah, maybe some water would be good, ” she managed to squeak out.

“I’ll get it. ” Jackson jumped up and went into the kitchen, silently flagging her aunt to follow her.

In the kitchen, a heated round of whispers took place. “Jackie, how can you do that in the front room? Anyone could’ve seen you! ”

Jackie became defensive. “Excuse me, but this is my house and if I want to kiss my girlfriend, I’m damn well going to! ”

Feeling hurt, Jackson countered, “You knew I was going to bring her back here. I told you I was going to the dock to get her. ”

Nodding, Jackie began to apologize. “You’re right, Jack. And I’m sorry Erin had to see that. But hell, the more people see it, the more natural it’ll become. God, I can’t even touch Sandra when we’re with her family. I just can’t stand to do that in my own house. I’ll go in there and apologize. ”

“I’m sorry I overreacted. You know I don’t care if you kiss her, I see it all the time. This is just very new to Erin and I don’t want her to be freaked every time she comes to the door. ”

“Have you told her about you and Molly yet? ” Jackie asked.

Jackson’s eyes went wide and she stealthily looked around the corner to see what Erin was doing. Seeing that she hadn’t moved, Jackson went back to her aunt and shook her head. “No, and I don’t think I’m ready to. I think she’d be okay with me being a lesbo, but I don’t think she’d be fond of me being one with Molly. They kinda met today and it wasn’t pretty. ”

“Ooh, I want to hear that story after she leaves. ”

“Only if Sandra makes cheese corn. ”

The deal in place, the two women returned to the family room, Jackson carrying a glass of water for Erin. Jackie went to tell Sandra that she needed to make the best damn cheese corn to make it up to Jackson and her friend.

“How you doin’? ” Jackson asked, handing Erin the glass of water.

“You know, I’m fine, ” Erin said truthfully. “After the initial shock of it being, you know, two girls, well it was pretty okay. You can tell they really care for each other. ” She whispered the last part, making Jackson smile.

“Yeah, they do. ”

Sandra and Jackie came back into the family room and Sandra announced she would be popping corn for the film. “Go ahead and start the movie, I’ve seen it a few times already. I’ll have this corn made in about ten minutes. And Erin, it’ll be the best damn popcorn you’ve ever had. ” She winked, causing the teenager’s cheeks to flush.

“Thanks, I’m looking forward to it. Jack says it’s really, really good. ”

“You’d better believe it’s good, ” Jackie chimed in.

The three sat on the couch and Jackie started the film. Sandra brought the popcorn in and then inched her way to the floor by Jackie’s feet.

Erin’s eyes closed in extreme pleasure at the taste of the first kernel.

Jackson’s mouth watered as she watched Erin lick the cheese from her fingers. She knew at that point with the way her hormones were acting, she needed to pay close attention to the movie.

The following afternoon was, in a word, perfect. The scorching heat had cooled down to a very pleasant eighty-two degrees. It was an ideal day to spend on the water.

At one o’clock sharp, Molly arrived wearing next to nothing of a bikini. Jackson gave Molly a hug that lasted longer than Jackson wanted it to, but she didn’t want Molly’s jealous tirade to start any sooner than necessary. The feel of Molly’s body was so good against her own that Jackson closed her eyes and sighed. “So, are you ready to ski? ” Jackson asked her girlfriend.

“Sure, or I can just lay on the pier and make Erin drive while I watch you do your magic on the water. ” Jackson blushed at the compliment then noticed Erin’s approach to the gravel drive.

Erin had seen Jackson hug Molly. She noticed Jackson’s eyes had closed and wondered what Molly could’ve said to garner that response.

“Hi, there, ” Erin greeted, putting the thoughts aside. “Nice to see you. ” Molly barely acknowledged her.

Shorts covered Erin’s bikini bottoms but she was wearing a revealing top, which outlined a strong but feminine torso. She kept her tank top tucked into the waistband of her shorts. Jackson’s eyes were glued to the outline of Erin’s shoulders and the swell of her breasts. Her unfocused gaze was cut short by a light pinch to her side.

With a shake of her head toward Molly, she tried to change the subject. “Are you guys ready? The water is so perfect today, I can’t wait to pound the waves. ”

Both girls latched onto Jackson’s incredible energy and silently agreed, for the moment, to be civil. Molly added, “My brother got us some beer, if you want to bring it on the boat. ”

Erin’s eyes were wide, but Jackson answered with a shake of her head. “You know I won’t drive the boat if I drink. If you want to drink, that’s fine, but Jackie’s only been letting me drive it this summer and last. I don’t want to crash it. ”

“That’s fine. It’s in a cooler, so we can drink it later. ” She looked back and forth between Jackson and Erin. “Is that cool? ”

Both girls nodded, although Erin had never had more than a couple of beers before, so she was less than comfortable. She didn’t want to seem as childish as Molly said she was.

Jackson could tell she was having second thoughts and reassured her, “It’s okay if you don’t want to drink, buddy. You can just hang out. ”

Jackson had a way of making Erin feel so good. Even if a situation was making her feel less than comfortable, Jackson was always there to say just the right thing. Molly discreetly rolled her eyes and started walking toward the lake.

They made their way to the boat slips and took out the Formula Bowrider ski boat. With almost three hundred horsepower, the floating fiberglass could pull anyone through the water behind it. “This, my friends, is the boat of all boats, my dream boat. After she bought this, Jackie nearly fell to the ground when I leapt into her arms. ”

Erin laughed. “I bet. ”

Molly jumped easily into the boat, making herself at home. Because she was a year older than Jackson, and because Jackie would not have to get in the boat every time Jackson wanted to ski, Jackie was agreeable to letting Molly drive the watercraft.

Jackson was bringing the life jackets out of the boathouse with Erin in tow carrying the water tube. Erin cheerfully waved to her dad as he and a few cabin friends were pulling out to go fishing.

“Have fun, Peanut, ” he called. “Don’t forget to hold on. ”

“Ha, Ha. Don’t forget to bait your hook, ” she shot back, to the amusement of his friends.

Jackson looked back at Erin. “I’m so glad he’s regularly catching some fish. Otherwise, he might not come all the way back here each summer. ”

“I know. I almost want to put some big fish in his cooler to make sure he keeps wanting to come back. ”

“Ah, I think the trap was set a long time ago, Hawk. I can tell he has a lot of fun while he’s here. ” She paused. “Your mom, on the other hand…”

“Don’t go there, I’m just waiting for her to suggest a trip to Disneyland next year, ” Erin said, only half joking.

“Hey, come on you two! The sun is calling me! ” Molly yelled from the boat.

“I wonder what the sun called her, ” Erin quipped, earning a small chuckle from her friend.

Jackson ran back to the boathouse to get the skis and towrope. Molly and Erin put on their life vests and waited for her to return. In minutes, Jackson had checked the gas levels, attached the towrope, and put the skis on. She was more than a little excited to wedge through the water.

Molly was at the helm with Erin next to her on lookout. When the rope was just taut enough, she gunned the engine, pulling Jackson up easily. The smile on Jackson’s face grew exponentially as the number of turns and wave jumping increased. Molly easily steered the boat through the lake while Erin watched Jackson fly effortlessly through the water. When they got close to shore, Jackson dropped her left ski and tucked her left foot into the rear binding of the right ski.

Side to side, Jackson rushed through the water with Erin looking on. Molly added a little more gas, making Jackson’s adrenaline soar. She watched Erin wave every once in a while, and could tell she was having a great time. The smile never left her face. After her last trip around the lake, she motioned to Erin to tell Molly to go to shore. With Erin doing just that, they slowly made their way to the pier.

As the boat slowed, Jackson dropped the towrope and skied until she sank to the bottom of the shallow lakeshore waters. She pulled her feet from the bindings and walked up onto the waterfront. Ski in hand, she walked around to the other side of the pier to pick up the other ski that was floating toward the shore.

“That was so friggin’ awesome! ” she shouted, feeling like she could walk on this very lake.

“You were incredible, Jack! You’ve gotten so good! ” Erin gushed, much to the ire of Molly.

Putting on her happy face for Jack, she jumped onto the admiration bus, and added her twist. “Sweetie, you were fantastic out there. Nothing was gonna touch you. ” She smiled sweetly and Jackson smiled back, raising an eyebrow.

She slicked the hair back from her face and shook her head. “Man, what a rush! ” She laughed happily. “Mol, you wanna go next? ”

“Sure. Will you help me with the skis? Your feet are bigger than mine. ”

“Yep. Let’s just secure the boat real quick so it doesn’t go anywhere. ”

Sweetie? Erin didn’t understand Molly’s possessive thing, but she wanted it to stop. She wasn’t a threat to Jackson and Molly’s relationship, especially living four hundred miles away. Molly needs to get over it.

Molly and Jackson resized the skis to fit her smaller feet. When they were ready, Jackson jumped into the boat. She untied the dock lines from the cleats and once the boat reached water that was deep enough, started the engine.

Erin smiled at the carefree expression on Jackson’s face. It melted her heart completely. This was her home, her calling, and outside of her mother not being with her, she looked to Erin like the happiest person alive.

Erin watched as Molly set herself up in the water. Balancing behind her skis, she positioned the rope between them. Jackson looked back and waited for the line to be taut. When she was ready, Molly gave her a thumbs-up and off they went. Jackson gunned the boat as Erin again took the lookout position.

About halfway around the lake, they encountered some choppy water. When Molly tried to compensate for the fresh waves, she fell into the water.

“She’s down! ” Erin yelled.

Jackson steered the boat in a slow circle toward Molly so they could get her the rope. When they reached her, Molly was less than happy. “God damn waves. ” She spat water as she bobbed in the lake. “The tip of my ski dropped under one of the swells and I bit it, hard. ”

“Are you okay to keep going? ” Jackson asked, idling the engine.

“Yeah, just need to straighten out. ”

Erin looked at her with a smile. “You were doing great until you went down, ” she said sincerely.

Molly took it completely opposite. “It’s not as easy as it looks, but you wouldn’t know that, would you? ”

Her fear replaced by anger, Erin replied, “Not yet, but when you’re done, I’m gonna try. ”

Jackson turned and put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do that. You know she’s just baiting you. ”

Staring back into the shaded eyes of her best friend, she said, “I’m doing it. ”

Shaking her head with a laugh, Jackson said, “You’re the boss. ”

Looking back, Erin saw that Molly was just about ready. Molly gave Erin a thumbs-up, or it could’ve been her middle finger, Erin wasn’t sure from that distance. “I think she wants to go! ” she yelled to Jackson.

Turning back to make sure, Jackson got a, “Go already! ” from a wet, pissed off Molly.

Jackson gunned the engine and Molly stood right up, a smile back on her face. Erin looked over to Jackson, who was steering with an enormous smile on her face. She had pushed her sunglasses onto her head to keep her hair out of her eyes. Jackson noticed she was staring and looked over and winked.

Molly made it around the lake a couple of times then signaled to come in.

When the boat reached the shore, Erin jumped onto the pier and went down to where Molly was removing the skis. Showing Erin how to adjust the skis, Molly helped her get the equipment on.

“Now just make sure you keep your knees bent and your arms straight. Lean back, but in a crouched position, so you aren’t dragging your butt in the water, ” Jackson said from the boat. “I’m gonna pull away slowly until the rope is tight. When I start to pull you a little, give Molly a thumbs-up when you’re ready, and we’ll punch it. ” Erin gave a nervous nod and Jackson asked one last time, “Are you sure you’re ready? ”

Looking at Molly’s cocky stance with her arms crossed, Erin’s chin lifted and she met Jackson’s eyes. “Yeah. Let’s do this! ”

“That’s my girl! ” Jackson cheered, earning her a hateful glare from Molly. Jackson threw her arms wide in disbelief of her girlfriend’s jealous nature. “I’m just encouraging her, Jesus! ” Not wanting Molly to drive and drag Erin too fast, Jackson sat behind the wheel. “Tell me when she’s ready. ” Molly moved right next to Jackson on the bench, facing the rear of the boat.

Erin was settling back in the water, trying to get a feel for the skis, keeping the tips up. “You can do this, Erin. You can do this, ” she coached herself. “If that scrawny wench can do it, so can I. ” Her words surprised her, but looking at Molly’s smirk as she sat close to Jackson hardened Erin’s resolve. Raising a shaky hand, she gave a thumbs-up and hung onto the towrope with all her might.

Getting the go-ahead from Molly, Jackson gunned the engine. After a few seconds of battling for balance, Erin stood on the skis and adrenaline shot through her. The smile on her face felt the size of Lake Tomahawk. Who needs tubing when you can do this! Her heart was racing but she was still standing, and having a ball. As the boat turned left, Erin moved over to the right side, picking up speed. She bent her knees, using her legs as shock absorbers to ride the waves.

“How’s she doing? ” Jackson yelled at Molly.

“She’s doing great. She’s bouncing off the waves like a pro. ” Molly was not pleased. Another point for the great Erin.

“Fantastic! ” Jackson briefly looked back to see Erin’s smiling face as she battled the water around her.

When the boat slowed on its next turn, the slack on the rope increased and Erin found herself slipping backward, very close to the water. As Jackson gunned the engine and the rope tightened again, Erin was jolted forward. The handle flew from her hands, wrapped around her right leg, and got caught on her binding. She fell onto her back. “Oh, shit! ” With the rope caught on her ski, the boat continued to pull her, dragging her under the water.

Molly smiled. She figured she could let Erin bob around out there for a while. She leaned over and kissed Jackson’s cheek and stuck her tongue in her ear. Jackson playfully batted her hand away, completely unaware of Erin’s situation.

Erin held her breath as she was dragged below the surface. Help me! Stop the boat! Panic had set in a few long seconds ago. Erin’s chest started to burn, and then everything went black.

When Molly looked back, waiting to see Erin bobbing far from the boat, she noticed that the rope was not bouncing off the water, but held a ski with a body still attached to it. Realizing she’d made a fatal mistake, she screamed, “Oh, shit, Jack, she’s down! She’s caught! Stop! ”

Jackson immediately killed the engine and looked back at Erin’s motionless body, still being pulled by the boat. The lack of speed and the buoyancy of her vest brought Erin above the water.

In total shock, she screamed, “Hawk! ” Looking at Molly, she yelled, “Take the wheel but don’t turn on the engines. ”

She threw off her sunglasses, stepped one foot on the back end of the boat, and launched herself toward Erin. Jackson swam as fast as she could to her best friend. When she reached her, Erin’s face was pale. She grabbed the ski and pulled it off her foot and then tugged on her vest.

“Hawk? Hawk, honey, can you hear me? ” She felt for her mouth as she floated, not feeling any air coming out. “She’s not breathing! ” she screamed to Molly. She grabbed Erin by the vest and, keeping her head above water, dragged her back to the boat. “Hold her! ” she yelled to the blonde as she climbed small ladder rungs to get aboard. “On three, we lift her in and lay her down. We need to do CPR on her now! One…two…three! ” Both girls held on to Erin and pulled with all their might to get her over the side of the boat. Erin flopped gracelessly to the floor and Jackson immediately undid her vest and began CPR.

She tilted Erin’s head back, pinched her nose, and leaned down to breathe twice into her mouth while watching her chest rise. She put her palm down in the middle of her chest between her breasts, covered it with her other hand, and began to pump. “Come on, Hawk, breathe! Breathe, God damn it! ” She breathed again into her mouth twice and began to pump.

Molly looked on with frightened eyes, knowing that her jealousy and stupidity might have cost this girl her life.

On the fourth attempt with Jackson pumping on her chest, Erin’s mouth filled with water and she coughed and spat it out. As another water-filled cough erupted, she finally took in a lungful of air, much to the relief of the other two. Jackson gently rolled Erin to her side.

“Hawk? ” Jackson whispered through her tears, not knowing when she’d begun to cry. Erin’s eyes opened, then shut when another round of coughing violently burst from her body. A little more water was released from her lungs and she took another few uneasy breaths.

Erin opened her eyes, not knowing where she was right away.

Jackson leaned on her side to face her. “Hawk, can you hear me? ” She pushed the wet hair out of Erin’s eyes.

Blinking and staring glassily into the mismatched eyes she loved so much, Erin finally answered, “ Jack, is that really you? ”

Her eyes filled with tears and she began to cry. Jackson immediately grabbed and held her as they both wept from their fear and facing their mortality for the first time in their young lives. Jackson and Erin clung to each other for several moments while Molly sat and watched.

“It’s me, honey, it’s me. I gotcha, you’re going to be okay, ” Jackson choked out between sobs. She began to rock Erin back and forth as their hearts slowed to a normal cadence. “I’m right here, Hawk, I’m right here. ”

In disbelief of all that had just happened in such a short period of time, Molly digested her careless behavior, the accident, and after hearing Jack call to her, put Erin and Hawk together. Not used to being slow on the uptake, she decided to save that bit of information until a later time.

The boat ride back to shore was uneventful. As they pulled into the slip, Jackson saw her aunt and Erin’s mother on the pier waiting. Cursing silently, she knew they must have seen at least some of what had happened. She docked the boat, killed the engine, and tied off the cleats.

Katie immediately ran to Erin as she unsteadily exited the boat. “Honey! Are you okay? ” She held Erin out at arm’s length to look her over. Outside of red-rimmed eyes, her daughter seemed fine, physically.

Erin nodded solemnly and briefly leaned against her mother before walking slowly down the pier. She sat heavily on one of the chairs and stared out into the water.

Katie walked over to Jackson as she was getting the last of the equipment out of the boat. “This is your fault! My daughter could have died out there! How reckless and stupid are you? ” she shouted, inches from Jackson’s astonished face.

“Mrs. Hawkins, I wasn’t—”

“Don’t you dare tell me what you were and were not doing. I saw her go down and I saw you dragging her without stopping! ”

“Katie, please. I’m sure it didn’t happen that way. Jack is very responsible. ” Jackie tried to defuse the situation, hoping she was right about her niece.

“Oh, really? And just how did it look to you? ” She shot daggers at Jackie. “Clearly she isn’t responsible or this wouldn’t have happened. Do you always let her go boating unsupervised like this? ”

Molly’s soft voice interrupted from behind Jackson’s shaking body. “Ma’am, it was my fault. ”

Katie’s eyes shifted from Jackson to Molly. “Who are you? ”

“Mm…Molly. I was on lookout and I didn’t see her fall right away, ” she lied. “I told Jackson as soon as I realized she’d gone down. Jack stopped the boat immediately. I’m terribly sorry. ” She looked into unreadable eyes. “Jack saved her life, please believe that. ” Molly wasn’t sure why she was saying all of this. Perhaps her guilt was winning out, or maybe she just wanted Jackson to hear her defending her.

Katie looked between the two girls then across the pier to Erin, who watched with wide, horrified eyes as her mother made an ass out of herself. “Is that what happened, Erin? ”

Erin looked at Jackson and knew without question she had saved her life. “Yes, Mother, Jack saved my life. If she hadn’t given me mouth-to-mouth, I wouldn’t be here right now. ” She started to get angry. “Please stop shouting at her like she did something wrong. I don’t know what your problem is with her, but she’s done…nothing! Leave her alone! ” she shouted and ran off the pier to her cottage.

Face red with embarrassment, Katie glanced at everyone around her. “I’m sorry. ” Looking to Jackson, she said a quick “thank you” and very briskly left the pier.

When she was out of earshot, Molly said, “What a bitch! ”

Jackie whirled around to face her. “She saw her daughter almost drown. How do you think a mother would react? ” Jackie put her hand out to Jackson. “I want the keys for a while. ”

Jackson nodded sadly and handed the boat keys to her aunt. She didn’t want to touch them anytime soon anyway.

Jackie took the keys and stormed off to the main house, thanking everything holy that Erin hadn’t been hurt or killed.

Not able to say much, Jackson turned to Molly. “Look, um, I don’t think I’m gonna be very good company right now. You can go if you want. ”

Molly was not about to let Jackson get rid of her that easily. “No way, Jack. You need me right now. You’ve had a huge scare. Let me be the one you lean on now. ” The insinuation of her not being Erin wasn’t lost on Jackson. She looked doubtfully at Molly, but her need won out and she nodded.

“I think I need to just relax and sit for a while, if that’s okay. ” Jackson adjusted the skiing equipment in her arms. “Let’s put this stuff away and we can go sit up on the roof. Okay? ”

“Sounds good. I want to be here for you. ” Molly put her arm around Jackson’s shoulder as they walked down the pier toward the boathouse.

Jackson noticed the unused inner tube and a wave of emotion flowed through her. Desperately aware of how close she was to losing it, she clenched her teeth and motioned to Molly. “Will you roll that in for me? ”

Clueless of Jackson’s distress, she squeezed her shoulder and smiled. “Of course. ”

When Joe arrived back from fishing with his friends, he rested his poles on the side of cabin six and walked inside. The first thing he saw was Erin, wrapped in a blanket, sitting on one end of the couch, crying; his wife sat on the other end looking very angry.

“What did I miss? ”

His voice penetrated Erin’s funk, making her look up. “Oh, Dad! ” She flew off the couch and against his body. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and looked to Katie. She glared at her daughter and his eyebrows rose in question.

“We’re not coming back next year, Joe. Erin almost died out on the water today, ” she said tersely.

Joe looked astonished, but waited for more information. “Okay, slow down. ” He pulled Erin away from him so he could look at her. “What happened, Peanut? ”

“She got in—”

“Katie, please; I’d like to hear it from Erin. She’s the one who seems upset here. ”

“Oh, and I’m not upset? You know, maybe if you spent a little more time with her, this could have been prevented, ” Katie lashed out, needing to release her anger. “I’ll be in the kitchen fixing dinner. ” She got up off the couch and stomped into the other room.

“Come on, Peanut, let’s sit down and you can tell me all about it. ”

The two moved as one as they made their way to the couch to sit. Erin leaned against her father’s strong shoulder as his arm wrapped around her. “We went water skiing and there was an accident. ” When he didn’t comment, she continued. “I was doing really great. I got up and everything, Dad, ” she said proudly.

When she finished telling him what she remembered of the accident, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head. “So, your friend Jack is a hero, then. ”

“Not to Mom. She thinks she’s the devil herself, ” she spat looking toward the kitchen. “Daddy, I just don’t get her. Jack is my best friend. Yeah, we had something bad happen today, but she saved my life and still Mom was mean to her. ”

His jaw muscles worked as Joe warred with conflicting emotions. Katie had become unreasonable when it came to Erin’s friendship with Jackson. Anytime her name came up, Katie bristled and either said something rude or changed the subject. He was going to get to the bottom of it before the night was over. Her little tirades were getting very old.

“How are you feeling now? Are you having any trouble breathing? Should we have you looked at? ”

“No, Daddy; I’m fine. I’m just wiped out. I think I’m gonna go to my room and take a nap. ”

He kissed her head again and nodded. “That’s a good idea. You’ll feel better after a little shut-eye. ” Erin stood. “I love you, Peanut. I’m glad you’re okay. ”

“Love you, too, Daddy, ” she said, walking to her room and quietly closing the door.

Joe got up and stood outside of the kitchen giving himself a pep talk. No good will come of this if I just lay into her. From the doorway, he saw Katie chopping vegetables for dinner with a butcher knife. On second thought, maybe now isn’t such a good time. Taking a deep breath, he entered the kitchen.

Katie heard his footsteps and turned, hand on hip. “I want to leave, ” she said firmly.

“No. ”

“No? ” she asked, incredulous.

“No. Damn it, Katie, we’re paid through the month, we’re already here, and quite frankly, you’re overreacting as usual. ”

“Overreact—”

“Yes! Okay, so there was an accident. Yes, but that’s what it was, an accident. From what Erin told me, Jackson saved her life. ” When her body clearly stiffened at the mention of Jackson’s name, Joe lowered his voice. “What is your problem with her? She’s done absolutely nothing but befriend our little girl. Hell, they’ve been friends since they were kids. Tell me, what is your damn problem? ”

“She’s not normal, Joe, okay? I’ve seen the way she is with Erin. It’s not right! ”

His face took on a look of disbelief. “What in God’s name are you talking about? ”

“She’s a queer, I know it, ” she hissed. “The way she touches Erin’s arm or some part of her when she talks to her. Last night, she had her arm around her on the pier. Oh, but silly me, Erin said she was simply drawing you a sunset. ”

“She did, Katie. It’s on the table over there. That was the truth. ”

“That’s not the point! ”

Backing up and crossing his arms, he leaned against the counter. “Then tell me—what is the point of this? ”

“Didn’t you hear me? I think she’s a lesbian. ” The last word came out as a whisper.

“So what, Katie? So what if she is. How does Jackson being a lesbian hurt our daughter? Did you see her force Erin to kiss her? Did you see her force Erin to do anything? She has done nothing to Erin but be her best friend. Nothing, Katie! ”

Katie knew she was not going to win the argument, but she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to protect her daughter. “Not yet, Joe, but it’s coming. You mark my words. ”

“You’re crazy, you know that? Sometimes you just push too damned far! ” He pushed off of the counter. “You and Erin have been at each other’s throats regarding Jackson for the last year and I’m really growing tired of it. ” He started out of the kitchen, but stopped and turned to his wife. “And if you think I’m leaving here because you have your head screwed on wrong, you are even more deluded. I came up here for some peace and relaxation, and I’ll be damned if your ridiculous imagination will take that from me. If you don’t want to stay, then I suggest you rent a car, because we’re not leaving. ”

“We? ”

“Yes. You don’t think I’m gonna let you take Erin home, do you? She loves it here. The only time she doesn’t talk about this place is when we’re actually here. Jesus, would you lighten up? ”

“No, Joe, I won’t lighten up. If you want to see your little girl become the victim of a predator, that’s not okay with me. It’s not right or natural, what they do. It’s not. ”

“But verbally abusing your daughter is right? Don’t you see that you are alienating yourself from your daughter? I swear to you, Katie, ” he took a deep breath, “you need to change the way you treat her or we’re going to be making a much bigger decision than where to vacation in the summer. ”

“Is that a threat? ” Her voice was low with menace.

“No, Katie, it’s a fact. I will not be able to live with a woman who purposely tries to demean her daughter on a daily basis, especially because of some ridiculous notion she has stuck in her brain! ” Deciding to throw fuel on the fire, Joe added, “Let me ask you this, Katie. What if Erin did come out one day and say she was a lesbian? What would you do? Would you continue to crucify her? Would you throw her to the wolves? Or would you be supportive and comfort her while she was going through a horribly confusing time in her life? Ask yourself that and you let me know if my ‘threat’ is out of line. ”

He stomped into the living room, leaving a slack-jawed Katie to digest her husband’s surprising words.

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