The sun was low in the sky when Calum stepped off the bus. But he cared nothing for the late hour as he walked to the beach. Nor did he care for the cold water as he waded into the surf, even though the chill sent shivers down his spine and raised goosebumps on his skin. His pants and shirt were safe - no one else was around, and besides, thievery was next to nil here.
When the water was up to his waist, he took a deep breath and dived beneath the waves, wiry arms pulling him along as he swam against the current, the waves breaking overhead. The current was strong today, the waves high in the wake of a storm the night before, but Calum had swum in rougher waters than this, so he felt no fear as the waves took hold of him, lifting him up for a moment before he was slammed to the sea floor, the impact driving almost all the air from his lungs.
Over and over he tumbled, until finally, lungs burning, he made a break for the surface, coming up with a gasp. Treading water, he shook his wet hair out of his eyes, thankful for the calmer waters now he was beyond reach of the surf. The beach was just visible, and, seeing the nearby cliffs, he swam over and hauled himself up onto the jagged rocks, nimble hands and feet finding good holds to get him up to a small shelf a third of the way up. It was just wide enough for him to sit, and he let his feet dangle as he watched the ocean below him. The wind had picked up, but he welcomed the chill, reminding him he was still alive despite the pain gnawing at his heart. He just prayed his mother would be able to come out of this falling out with her skin intact - Barry had had murder in his eyes, and Calum suspected his young lover was probably now out of his reach. Privately, he made a vow to himself then and there to get his mother out of that house of hell and under the roof of the house in Carrickfergus, and Barry could drink himself into an early grave if he so desired.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVlmreqFpG
A bell rang below, startling Calum out of his thoughts, and he looked down. Fergus's squidding boat, loaded with the day's catch, had hove into view, and Fergus himself stood at the wheel, his eyes narrowed as he squinted up at his nephew. "Barry didn't take too kindly to my bit of news," he called up.
Calum rolled his eyes. "Kicked me out," he said. "But it's me Mam I'm worried about."
"Bridget's going over there," Fergus assured him. "I suspected things were going to go south, so I took the liberty of getting one step ahead of me hotheaded little brother. If all goes well, you should see Molly at the kitchen table."
"Thank God," Calum said, some of the load lifting from his heart. "That's grand."
"Thought that might cheer you up," Fergus said, giving his nephew a warm smile. "Now, are ye comin' in on the boat or swimming?"
Calum sniffed the air; rain was coming, and he could see the dark thunderheads massing on the horizon. "Hold the boat steady," he called, before turning around and inching his way back down the cliff. Fergus brought the boat closer, and Calum dropped the last few feet, landing on the deck. "Have to pick up me pants and shirt before they go into the sea," he said, and Fergus chuckled, gently ruffling the younger man's salt-stiff hair. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI2nQwpOHO
