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“I thought someone would be here to, I don’t know, greet us. But I guess it’s not like we just won the Tour de France or something,” Angela says, her tone deflated.
“It does feel anticlimactic,” I agree. “Let’s head to the General Store. It’s open every day and we can get something to eat.”
“And you can see what Jamie has said? About Captain Jones?”
“Right.” I pull my phone out and turn it on. Next to me, Angela does the same.
I hear her send a voice message to her moms, telling them she’s okay. My heart aches a bit at that—at how much they care. By all accounts my parents are loving, but…they would never worry about me.
About my younger sister? Sure. But not me. I haven’t even told them we’re stranded on this island.
I focus my attention on what Jamie has sent, and decide it’s better to call him. When he answers, he tells me he’s with Cat and I put him on speaker so Angela can also hear.
“Hi!” Cat calls through the phone. “Are you okay? Have you both been mauled by a bear? Did you have to hunt for your food? Did Carter have to construct a snare?”
Angela just laughs at that.
“I can, by the way. Construct a snare, that is.” It seems important that everyone knows that. Especially Angela. “But we were fine. There was food in the cabin.”
“And whiskey,” Angela adds.
“Ohhh, tell me more. Did you?—
“They didn’t do anything, Cat,” Jamie cuts in. I can hear in his voice that he’s trying to protect me from her prying. From putting me in a situation where I have to admit that I wanted something to happen that never will.
“We got drunk,” Angela supplies. “And now we’re back in town and we want to go home.”
“About that,” Jamie says.
“James Hart, if you tell me we can’t get home, I swear to God,” Angela mutters.
“You can!” Cat chirps. “But just not today. Captain Jones can’t come back and get you until, um, Thursday.”
“Fine, we’ll find another person to come and get us. We’ll use the mailboat,” Angela says.
“That only goes to Moose Island. And you’ll have to take another ferry after that, and then rent a car,” Cat says.
“When did you learn so much about the islands,” Jamie asks in a suspicious tone.
“I want Angela to get back. I miss her. And chartering a boat is the best option,” Cat says.
“Look,” I cut in, “we’ll see if someone can take us from here, okay? I’m sure some people have their boats in the water for the season already.”
Jamie and Cat are both quiet for a beat. “See, that’s the problem we’re running into,” Jamie starts, sounding sheepish. “The weather has been so wet and cold this year that we haven’t found many charter companies who are ready to go yet. Their seasons are starting May first.”
“I guess the day we hiked out was the first nice day we had,” Angela mentions. “But I’m sure Carter and I will find someone. I’m sure everyone who lives here owns a boat of some sort. And you guys can keep asking around in Harborview for someone.”
“Yes, we definitely will,” Cat says, but something is off about her voice, almost like she’s lying.
But that makes no sense. Cat has no reason to want Angela and I stranded here any longer than necessary. She has no idea anything is afoot between us. I know for a fact that neither Angela nor I ever shared what happened between us with our friends.
“Thanks Cat,” Angela says. “Please try hard. I don’t want to miss any more work. Speaking of which, I really need to call my boss.”
“We’ll get it figured out, don’t worry Ange,” Cat says.
We say goodbye to them and hang up. Angela immediately gets her phone out, and calls her boss. I spend a few minutes looking up charter companies that operate around Isle North but they’re all the same: May first opening date. The same day Captain Jones can come get us.
I hear Angela sigh, and I look over to see her hanging up angrily.
