My Substitute Wife Is Not on the Return Manifest novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Count

"Signe," Dane said again, over the swimmer's radio. "Get in the basket."

"I can't."

"I know. I've known for three years."

She held the handset against her ear and did not understand him.

"Every storm you count to three," he said. "Out loud, under your breath, when a helicopter goes over. I never asked because I thought you'd tell me when you wanted to."

The swimmer had his back turned and his head bent, being careful not to listen.

The wind hammered the deck.

"I'll count with you," Dane said. "Three slow breaths, and then you're off that boat. I'm right above you. I'm not going anywhere."

Her eyes stung.

She handed the radio back and stepped into the basket.

The swimmer clipped her in and checked the strap twice.

Then the cable drew tight, and the deck dropped away under her feet.

The rotor noise closed over her head.

Her chest locked.

"One," Dane said, in the swimmer's headset, and she heard it through the swimmer's helmet, faint and steady.

She breathed in.

The ferry shrank on the water below, and the surf broke white on the ledge beyond it.

"Two."

Her hands were knotted in the cage of the basket.

She breathed out, slowly, and the sound did not hurt as it had before.

"Three."

Hands reached down and pulled her through the cabin door.

The swimmer came up behind her.

Somebody wrapped a silver thermal blanket around her shoulders and tucked it under her chin.

It was not Dane, because he was in the front seat, with both hands on the controls and his helmet turned forward.

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