The Lifeguard Read online

  “What footprints?” Skip chuckled. “I didn’t see any—”

  “I saw them,” Justin broke in, “on the rug, right?” At her grateful nod he smiled. “I saw them. Really. They were there.”

  “Okay, you saw them. So who put them there?” Skip asked.

  “She probably did it herself,” Neale said matter-of-factly, shouldering past Kelsey into the kitchen. “She probably just tracked the water in from the beach—”

  “You’re crazy,” Kelsey shot back, and he whirled on her with a look that stopped her cold. “If I tracked the water in, then why wasn’t there any in the hall outside my door or on the stairs?”

  “There was water in the hall and on the stairs,” Skip said, deadpan. “You tracked in the whole damn ocean!”

  “You’re lying,” Kelsey whispered, and her eyes fell on Justin, wide, pleading.

  “Skip,” Justin sighed, and then to Kelsey, “He’s lying. But there were footprints from the tub across the floor and onto the rug. You…probably did it coming out of the shower.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. As she stared at three pairs of expectant eyes, she could feel herself going rigid, could hear her voice going thin.

  “I didn’t make those footprints on the rug! They were already there when I came out of the bathroom! I hadn’t even been on the rug before then!”

  Justin looked uncomfortable. He dropped his eyes, his brow creased with an anxious frown, and Skip slapped Kelsey on the back with a loud guffaw.

  “You’re just like Donna—two crazy females! You really expect us to believe that? Look here, Kelsey, if you didn’t do it, then who else could have? I mean, who’d be wandering around the island going into girls’ bedrooms and making puddles, huh? Was anything missing?”

  Kelsey shook her head reluctantly. “Well…”

  “Well, was it?”

  “Well…no.”

  “Okay. Nothing stolen. Nothing ransacked. Nothing vandalized. No murder weapon on the pillow, no suspicious note slipped under the door—”

  Kelsey looked up, shocked at his words, but Skip didn’t notice and went on.

  “Nobody was in your room, Kelsey. All this disappearing stuff is making you paranoid.”

  “Justin?” She turned to him, her eyes beseeching, and he reached out and took her arm.

  “Kelsey, it could have been a lot of things…I believe you heard something, but Skip’s right—things like that just don’t happen on this island.”

  “You imagined it,” Skip dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “It wasn’t real. Maybe it was another of your weird dreams, huh?”

  “Maybe it was a ghost,” Neale said, glancing at Justin. “Maybe it was Beth coming back to see who was in her room.”

  The sudden silence was painful. After several seconds Neale turned and walked toward Skip’s car. Skip coughed uneasily. Justin sat down on the step, looking disgusted.

  “Don’t listen to him, Kelsey. He’s just in his usual good humor.”

  “Come on, I think we all need to get out of here for a while.” Skip took Kelsey’s elbow, but she shook him off.

  “I think I’ll stay here, thank you.”

  “Oh, boy,” Skip rolled his eyes, “hurt feelings. Okay, I apologize, does that make you feel any better? I apologize for not believing your weird stories. You’ve been around Donna for exactly one day and already her wild imagination is rubbing off on you.”

  Justin got up and went inside. “I’ll tell Dad we’re going.”

  “Going where?” Kelsey sounded icy, and Skip put on a downcast face.

  “To my house. You remember.”

  “Skip, I hardly think this is the time for a party—”

  “Oh ye of little faith, just trust ole Skip here a minute, okay?” He paused, then leaned into her face, his expression sincere. “Look, Justin’s my best friend. I just want to get him away from all this for a while. Nothing wild and crazy—just good friends and some positive environment for a change.”

  Kelsey regarded him primly, and he gave her a hesitant smile.

  “Okay, I’m sorry for what I said. If Justin believes you heard something, that’s good enough for me. But what or who, I don’t know. Personally, I think everyone’s jumpy—seeing spooks in every corner. I know it must be tough for you, being in Beth’s room and all—that’s why I think it was probably just the wind, and you were so scared coming out of the shower, you didn’t even remember tracking the water.”

  “But the seaweed—how do you explain that?”

  “What seaweed?”

  “Oh, Skip, don’t tell me you didn’t see the seaweed—”

  “Kelsey, I swear, I don’t know anything about any seaweed. Footprints, yes. Water, yes. Seaweed, no.”

  “But the others must have seen it—didn’t they say anything—”

  “Look, Kelsey,” Skip said, taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly, “all I know is that we got in the house and everyone went off in a different direction to see if anyone was hiding in there. You’ll have to ask them about your seaweed. When I got to your room, I didn’t see any seaweed. And I didn’t smell any saltwater, either.” He reached out, gently squeezed her shoulder. “Now come on and go with us, what do you say? I know it’d make Justin happy if you would.”

  Kelsey didn’t know what to think anymore. What he said made a lot more sense than her own fears. After all, hadn’t Donna told her how safe the island was? And why would anyone have just walked into the cottage knowing the boys were probably around somewhere? She was tired, and she was jumpy—and more than anything she didn’t feel like arguing anymore.

  “What you’re doing for Justin,” she said at last, “I think it’s nice.”

  “Of course it’s nice, I’m a nice guy.” Laughing, he gave her a hug and pulled her to the jeep, taking a flying leap into the front while she hesitated by the door.

  “Coming?”

  She hadn’t heard Justin come up behind her, and now she felt his hands on her shoulders.

  “Oh…I don’t think I should,” she turned to smile up at him and felt his chin brush the top of her head.

  “Why not?”

  “Well,” she said awkwardly, “this is for all your friends and everything, and—”

  “You’re my friend.” His smile was gentle, and he tapped one finger on her arm. “Aren’t you?”

  Their eyes held for a long moment.

  Flushing, she looked down and stammered, “Well…yes…I’m your friend.”

  “I’m glad.”

  The horn blared, and Skip shouted, “Hey, you two, climb aboard! Donna’s meeting us there with the food, and I’m starved!”

  “You’re always starved,” Justin shook his head and boosted Kelsey into the backseat of the jeep, where she squeezed down uncomfortably beside Neale.

  “Okay, everyone, hang on!” Skip called, and the next minute the jeep lurched forward, throwing Kelsey helplessly against her seatmate. Neale shrugged her off as if she didn’t exist, and they didn’t speak a word to each other the remainder of the ride.

  Donna had told her how rich Skip’s family was, but Kelsey wasn’t half prepared for his house. While the boys went out to the swimming pool, Donna gave her a tour of all three floors.

  “Do you think we should be snooping around like this?” Kelsey hesitated on the landing, mesmerized by the chandeliers, the fine art on the walls, the sculpture lining the carpeted hallways. “What will his parents say?”

  “Not a thing. His dad’s on the mainland tonight. Charity ball. His mother’s in Paris with her new boyfriend. And anyway, who’s snooping? It’s practically my house, too.” Donna giggled, and Kelsey followed eagerly at her heels.

  When they got to Skip’s bedroom, all Kelsey could do was stare. The place looked more like an apartment—a two-room suite with couches and chairs, a categorized wall of records and tapes, an elaborate stereo system, plush carpeting, framed prints, a paneled library and solid oak desk.

  “Hang on,
I smell the pizza burning—be right back!”

  Before Kelsey could reply, Donna vanished downstairs, so Kelsey went on in, her eyes roaming the room in disbelief. Another whole wall was encased in glass and held trophies—swimming trophies—dozens of them. Kelsey walked over and stared, then turned her attention to still another wall covered with certificates and awards, all neatly framed and bearing Skip’s name. Standing on tiptoe, she tried to read the top row when a voice from behind made her whirl.

  “It’s only me,” Skip grinned. “Go right ahead. Far be it from me to interrupt adoration.”

  Kelsey couldn’t help but smile. “It’d take me years to admire everything. I’ve never seen so much stuff. All for swimming?”

  “Yeah.” Skip threw himself down across his waterbed. “And a few lifesaving awards for good measure.”

  “You mean you really have saved somebody?”

  “Three somebodies, if you please.”

  “You’re quite the hero.”

  “Aren’t I though?” His grin widened. “You know of some body that needs saving?”

  Kelsey tried not to blush and turned back to the trophies. “Your dad must be so proud of you.”

  There was no answer, and after a few seconds, Kelsey looked back at him, surprised by the scowl on his face.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “Not at all. Let me escort you personally around my humble abode.” He jumped up again, his mood changed so abruptly that Kelsey regarded him in amazement. He linked his arm through hers and began walking her around the room. “My kitchen, Madame. Very helpful on the cook’s night out. You see here the microwave, the refrigerator tucked discreetly beneath my dining table? Ah, yes, and here we have my wardrobe—” he flung open folding doors to reveal a closet as big as Kelsey’s living room at home—“all color coordinated and custom designed, and—as you can see by my current and favorite attire of ragged jeans and torn T-shirt—positively useless. Now! Here we have the bath—sunken tub, separate shower, gold faucets, and—watch your step, my dear—out onto this very private deck, a Jacuzzi of my very own. Impressed? No? Well, well, come right this way and see my darkroom…and my personal computer system…and my larger-than-life viewing screen for TV and VCR…and—”

  “And there’s not going to be any food left if we don’t get downstairs!” Donna’s voice came authoritatively from the hall, and Kelsey laughed as Skip looked askance.

  “My God, she caught us! Now it’s blackmail for sure!” He swung an arm around each of them while Donna tried to look disapproving. “All right, ladies, to the pool it is!”

  Kelsey stood for a moment on the wide patio, surveying the gigantic swimming pool banked with flowers and ferns, the wooden gazebo, the lattice-covered porch with its bar and stereo and barbecue pit large enough to roast a whole cow. She felt like the newest member of a country club.

  “Aren’t you eating?”

  Kelsey looked up as Justin handed her a paper plate of food. She hadn’t realized till now how really hungry she was, and she took the plate, smiling.

  “Thanks. It looks wonderful”

  “And you look tired.” He studied her, worry in his blue eyes. “Feel like sitting down?”

  “That would be nice.”

  He led her to a small table and pulled his chair closer to hers.

  “I…I’ve been trying to think of how to thank you.”

  Kelsey’s eyes widened. “Thank me for what?”

  “For last night. For telling me you were there.”

  “Justin, I didn’t do anything.”

  A hint of a smile touched his lips. “You cared. Thank you for caring.”

  She looked down self-consciously, suddenly intent on her pizza. “I just know how it feels to lose someone, that’s all.”

  There was muffled conversation behind them, Skip and Donna arguing beneath the blare of the music.

  “I’m sorry,” Justin said. “I’m sorry that you’ve ever had to lose someone.” He didn’t pry, and Kelsey blinked back unseen tears.

  “So what will you do now?”

  “Drink till I pass out?” It sounded so out of character coming from him that Kelsey started to laugh.

  A shy smile hovered on his lips once more, as if he were secretly pleased. “I like it when you laugh. You should do it more often.”

  Flustered, Kelsey toyed with her plastic fork, not knowing what to say.

  “I know how you feel,” Justin went on. “People always feel that way when something bad happens. They want things to be normal again. They want the bad part to be over so they can get back to their nice, safe routines. But they keep thinking about the victim—about how she can’t ever be happy again…or normal…or sometimes—even alive—” His voice dropped. “And then they feel guilty wanting to get on with their lives.” He sighed and pushed back his uneaten food. “Right now all I want to do is be here. Be anywhere. Anywhere but home. Thinking of anything but Beth.”

  Kelsey nodded but didn’t trust her voice to speak.

  “I think Neale’s right,” Justin reflected. “The not knowing, that’s the worst. ’cause then, every day of your life you think maybe today you’ll hear something. Maybe today she’ll turn up.”

  “But you can’t do that,” Kelsey said, surprising even herself. “You can’t live your life for something that might never happen. ’cause then one day your own life is over, and all you’ve done is live for someone else.”

  Justin watched her, his face thoughtful. There was a light in his eyes, soft, like the sound of his voice, and his sweet, sad smile.

  “Feel like taking a walk?”

  “All right.”

  He took her arm, guiding her to a tall gate in a wall at the back of the yard.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The beach is right out here.” He was looking back over his shoulder and didn’t notice the way she suddenly tensed. “They’re still arguing. They won’t even miss us.”

  “What about Neale?”

  “I don’t see him. Their fighting probably drove him away. It’s what they do best together, fighting.”

  “She really likes him, you know.”

  “I know.” He held the gate and she went ahead of him, stopping almost at once, unprepared for the sudden surge of darkness.

  “It’s okay,” Justin said softly. “The moon’s just behind a cloud. You’ll be able to see the whole beach in a second.” He reached for her hand, and she held onto him gratefully as he led the way across the sand. The wind was balmy and slow, sighing in over the black eternity of ocean, and the sky sputtered for just an instant, then slowly flooded with light.

  Even to Kelsey it was beautiful. As the moon shone down between trails of clouds, the beach shimmered around them—the sand, the rocks, glowing like burnished silver. Far beneath a sprinkling of stars the shoreline gleamed wetly as water tumbled in and out, burbling like a sleepy child at play. Kelsey watched it all, felt its power and beauty and wished, wished, that she could love it…that the fears would never come to her again.

  “Well, what do you think?” Justin asked softly, squeezing her fingers.

  Without hesitation Kelsey said, “I think it’s wonderful. And terrifying. I always used to want to live on the beach.”

  His glance was quizzical. “And now?”

  “No,” she said quietly, and they kept walking, side by side.

  After a while Justin gave her hand a little shake. “Well, this is how the other half lives.”

  “The other half, meaning you?” she teased, and was rewarded by another almost-smile.

  “I was talking about Skip,” Justin corrected her. “And all these other mansions we’re walking by.”

  “Are we trespassing?”

  “The beach is private, but technically we’re Skip’s guests. And don’t forget, I am the lifeguard.” His tone had taken on a new relaxed sound that Kelsey liked, and she smiled up at him.

  “And do you enjoy it? Being a lifeguard?”

&
nbsp; He shrugged. “It’s a job. I get to meet lots of people—”

  “Girls.”

  “Yeah, okay, girls.” His smile was almost embarrassed. “It’s certainly not as glamorous as the movies make it. I don’t go around rescuing damsels in distress very often, and yes, I have gotten sunburn, and no, most of the time people don’t pay attention when I yell at them, so I have to go out and chase them back in.”

  “Which beach is your favorite?”

  “This one. It’s a lot calmer. Not so many accidents waiting to happen. You feel like a swim?”

  Without even thinking, Kelsey stopped, jerking her hand free from his. “I…no. Not tonight.”

  “It’s really warm,” Justin assured her. Going to the water’s edge he filled his hands from a burst of spray and let the water trickle onto the sand at his feet.

  “I don’t have a suit.”

  “I’m sure there’s one back at the house you can use. I’ll just go back and—”

  “No!” Kelsey tried to control the anxiety in her voice. “No, I mean I don’t want to go swimming. I hate it.” She ducked her head, hoping he hadn’t seen the panic on her face, and was disconcerted at the feel of his hand beneath her chin, his fingers tilting her face upward toward his.

  “Kelsey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. You don’t have to swim. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  She struggled to tear her eyes away, so conscious now of his touch upon her skin, the way he was looking at her, all kindness and concern.

  “It’s not that,” she whispered.

  “It must be something. You seem pretty upset.”

  She hadn’t realized she was trembling. Now she mustered all her resolve and backed away, forcing a smile.

  “I just don’t like the water, you know? Like some people never like spinach or going to the dentist or taking their finals?”

  “Did something happen when you were little to make you so afraid?” he asked gently.

  Two years ago…two endless years of remembering… “I haven’t always been afraid.”

  “But you’re afraid now.”

  Kelsey nodded. “But you should go in and swim if you want to. I’ll stay here and watch.”

  “No. Let’s go back to the house.”