Page 99 of Not Just for Christmas

On cue, the crew members opened the full-height, double doors leading onto the beach. Cold air whistled through the building and there was a collective shiver as everyone pulled their collars up higher. The open doors revealed the new lifeboat sitting in a metal trailer on the sand, ready to be launched. I tightened my grip on Sam’s hand, remembering how I’d seen him tumble beneath the waves out there yesterday.

‘And isn’t she a beauty!’ Jane gestured to the boat. ‘Can anyone guess why this B class lifeboat will be so helpful in a fabulous place like Craggy Bay?’

Tilly’s hand went straight up. ‘Because it’s bright orange and everyone will see it coming.’

Caroline and I exchanged proud glances.

‘It is a lovely colour, isn’t it?’ Jane said once the laughter had died down. ‘Another reason that this new boat will be useful is that it’s very good for callouts close to shore, in big surf, or in shallow waters, or near rocks. Which is important on a popular beach like Craggy Bay because there are a lot of swimmers and paddleboarders and kayakers and surfers who love being on the beach and in the sea. And it’s our job to keep them safe.’

I felt my throat tighten as Heather slipped her arm through mine.

‘Who loves playing in the water?’ Jane asked.

This time Sam was the first to put up his hand, and my heart sank, willing her not to ask him anything personal, but instead she looked at me and smiled. And for a second it felt as if she could read my mind.

‘Today I am here on behalf of the RNLI to receive this new lifeboat into our fleet so that we can bring even more people home safe from the sea. It has been funded by a donor who themselves lost a loved one at sea. They couldn’t be here in person, but they sent the following message.’ Jane glanced down at a piece of paper before reading aloud. ‘Nothing I can do will bring back a much-loved friend, who felt as at home in the water as he was on land.’

‘She could be talking about Jack,’ I whispered to Heather, who nodded sagely.

‘But by naming this lifeboat in his memory,’ Jane continued, ‘he can be part of the rescue mission for other victims of the sea, and I know that’s something he’d be proud of.’

‘That’s a lovely gesture,’ Caroline said. ‘Aren’t people kind?’

I kept quiet. If I saw a lifeboat with Jack’s name on the side of it being pitched and tossed by the waves on its way to rescue people, I wasn’t sure I’d like it one bit.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, let’s give a huge round of applause to our new boat, which I hereby name Superhero of the Sea!’

‘The Superhero of the Sea!’ Sam gasped, tugging my hand. ‘Just like Daddy called them.’

I’d never heard anyone else refer to lifeboat crews that way. It was Jack’s special name for them. And only a select few people would know that.

Everyone started clapping and Jane had to raise her voice to invite us to join her down on the sand to witness the boat being launched into the water for the first time.

Together we watched as a tractor hitched up to the boat’s trailer and began to steer it towards the shore. I couldn’t drag my eyes from the nameplate on the side of the boat. Black writing on an ivory sign: Superhero of the Sea.

The trailer reached the water’s edge, three crew members jumped in, and with a splash the brand-new lifeboat took to the sea.

If ever Jack had been given the chance to name a boat, he would have chosen that. And as I watched the boat speed up over the white horses, and the crew turn and wave, a sense of warmth came over me, as if Jack was right beside me.

‘That’s so cool,’ said Sam, sounding uncannily like Dylan.

My heart thudded. Dylan. The anonymous donor. It had to be.

Heather met my eye. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ she whispered, her eyes glistening with tears.

I nodded and the two of us stepped closer to each other by mutual agreement.

‘He’s a good lad,’ she said shakily. ‘A good friend to our Jack.’

‘Can we go closer, Mum?’ Tilly tugged on Caroline’s hand.

She and Heather accompanied the children down to the water’s edge, but I stayed back, wanting a moment alone.

There isn’t a day goes by without me thinking about him, or wondering what I could do to make sure accidents like his don’t happen to anyone else.

This was what he’d decided to do. Dylan would have donated anonymously because he wasn’t interested in virtue-signalling, he simply wanted to help. It was a kind, thoughtful and respectful gesture.

And in return, I’d accused him of not being affected by Jack’s death.