He smiled again and was gone, leaving me with my mouth still hanging open. Michelle grinned at me before telling me to get my stuff and go home. “You’re fired, for now.” I gave her a hug and, after a few more goodbyes, I almost sprinted from the building.
Mom, Dad, Kelsey and I had gone out for a celebratory dinner at the Wharf, my favorite seafood restaurant. I’d been promising Kelsey that we’d go to the beach the next day, and we’d arrived a little after nine o’clock with the idea to do a little shopping first. Kelsey was still wearing the parentally approved conservative one piece mom had bought her at the beginning of the summer, so I’d decided to treat her, as long as the parents didn’t find out. She was eighteen and about to be a senior in high school, after all. I remember how badly I’d wanted something a little more daring to show off the new body I’d been developing at that age.
She’d picked out an orange string top with a more conservative bottom. I’d made the rule that the whole of her butt had to be covered, at least. She’d worn her new suit out of the shop, covered only by her cut offs, her one piece tucked away in our beach bag.
We made our way to the north end of Tagalong Beach. There were several beaches nearby that had better surfing, so this one was ideal for lying out and swimming.
I found a great spot near one of the lifeguard towers. The young woman on duty in the tower was striking, with short, tousled blonde hair and incredibly toned shoulders and arms. I wish I had those.
I spread out our huge beach towel. “Okay, sunscreen.” Kelsey sighed but sat down and let me lather her up well.
“Stay in sight okay?”
She nodded and ran off towards several guys throwing a football around near the water, leaving me holding the squeeze bottle.
After kicking off my own shorts and sleeveless T-shirt I spread lotion over my legs and front, telling my phone to wake me in an hour before lying back and enjoying the southern California sun.
I was up well before the alarm, pulling out my Kindle and starting to read. Kelsey was down by the water’s edge, splashing around with a group around her age. I felt a pair of eyes on me, so I looked up over my shoulder. The lifeguard was still sitting there, but I couldn’t tell what she was watching behind her sunglasses.
Suddenly she stood, folding up her eyewear and grabbing her binoculars, stepping forward to the edge of her structure. That time I’d definitely gotten a glance, giving me a look at her clear blue eyes. Some girls had all the luck.
I knew I was pretty, but I wasn’t athletic by any stretch, not like Kelsey, who was already two inches taller than my modest five three frame. I’d always admired girls with an athletic build, wondering what it would have been like to be able to be a serious swimmer or runner. I’d loved soccer and softball when I was a kid, but by the time I’d gotten to high school, I just wasn’t competitive. Instead I’d gotten my Dad’s Mom’s curves. They’d served me well enough, I guess.
Speaking of which, a Frisbee landed next to my blanket, and I looked at the broad chest and six-pack of abs headed my way.
“Sorry about that.”
Funny, he didn’t look sorry at all. If he hadn’t thrown it my way on purpose I’d eat my Kindle. But I was in a good mood, and he was cute enough. I cocked my head to the side and smiled at him. “No problem.”
“Are you here by yourself? ‘Cause that would just be wrong.”
I giggled at him. “You’re sweet, but I’m here with my little sister.”
“And where’s she?”
“Down there in the water.” She was up on some guy’s shoulders, trying to push another girl off another guy. She seemed to be having a good time, and her new friends didn’t look too much older. “She’s a senior in High School, so she ditched me as soon as humanly possible.”
He laughed at my joke, probably a little too loudly. “I get that. Well, if you want some company, can I get you a drink?”
“Sure. That little stand over there has great strawberry lemonade.”
“Coming up. I’m Luke, by the way.”
“Aly, hi.”
He held my hand for a second when I offered it to him, before grabbing his disc and heading back towards his friends. The lifeguard was looking at me again, and I felt ashamed for some reason. She smirked at me and turned back to face the water.
I felt a twinge of disappointment that she’d turned away. Weird. Oh, well. I only had to wait a few minutes before Luke was back with two strawberry lemonades. I let him sit down next to me. He was actually pretty sweet, and I’m sure most girls would’ve melted into a puddle at the attention. He said he was a fireman, apparently loved to read and play basketball and was a huge Lakers fan. And amazingly enough, he’d actually asked me about what I enjoyed as well.
It had been a nice half an hour, and I was just thinking that if he asked for my number, I’d probably give it to him, when I heard movement from the tower next to me. The lifeguard was talking rapidly into her handheld radio. A moment later she jumped down into the sand and sprinted toward the water holding her red flotation device, screaming for people to get out of her way.
I glanced down towards the water where I’d last seen Kelsey. She wasn’t there. I looked around the beach, finding the group of kids she’d been with. I didn’t see her. I stood, my eyes casting around.
“Everything okay?” Luke looked concerned.
“I don’t see my sister. Kelsey!” A second lifeguard came tearing down the beach, following the first into the water. “Kelsey!” I turned slowly on the spot. I saw the group she’d been with but she wasn’t there. My heart was starting to beat faster, and I had a sick feeling in my stomach. “Kelsey!!” That one was as long and loud as I could make it. I scanned the boardwalk. Maybe she’d gone up for a drink or a snack. Which she wouldn’t have done without asking me for some money.
Where the hell was she? I shouted for her again before, almost painfully, I looked again at the water, just in time to see the female lifeguard from the tower next to us surface with a girl in tow. I knew who it was immediately. My mind tried to rationalize, gibbering to me that it couldn’t possibly be her, that she hadn’t been out in the water that far, she was too good a swimmer for this to happen, but I knew.
I recognized the orange bikini I’d just bought her, her light brown hair darkened by the water. I couldn’t breath as my heart fell through my stomach. I almost vomited, stumbling down the beach toward the water. A crowd was starting to gather at the shore, but I broke through until I was ankle deep. I’d stopped yelling her name in favor of wracking sobs. They were doing rescue breathing out in the water. I didn’t even know that was possible. I’d never in my life felt more helpless than I did at that moment.
I’m not a religious person, but I’ll admit I prayed. I prayed for strength for the lifeguards, for the sea to be calm. But mostly I prayed for the opportunity to hug my sister again, to watch her bopping around to her silly music, to hear her jabber on about boys from school while we watched a late night movie.
My legs were jelly and I had no idea how they were still holding me up. A siren, and the crowds parted to allow an ambulance through, followed shortly by a yellow pickup truck, both with flashing lights. Somehow their presence made it more real, and I covered my mouth as hot tears streamed down over my cheeks. I looked back out to sea.
The lifeguards were coming back now. They had Kelsey with them. Was she moving? Maybe? It seemed like it took them forever to get to shore. Kelsey was holding on to the floaty things the male lifeguard was hauling behind him. She looked ashen, but holding her tight was the other one, the woman who’d been watching me from before. Her face was a carven portrait of professional concentration. For a moment Kelsey slipped off the red floats, but the woman lifted her back on, placing her fingers back on the handles.
Kelsey’s eyes were open for a moment. She was alive. I almost fainted in relief. As they approached the shore I began calling out again, just before the female lifeguard scooped her up in her arms and began carrying her onto the beach.
“Oh my God, Kelsey!? Kelsey, please answer me! Is she okay? Please!” An EMT gently pushed me away.
“Give us some space ma’am, please?” The woman laid Kelsey on the gurney while I tried to get closer. “Ma’am, we’re going to take care of her, but you need to stay back. You know her?”
“She’s my sister.”
“Okay, what’s her name?”
“Uh, Kelsey, Kelsey Winterberg.”
“How old is she?”
“Eighteen.”
“Is she allergic to anything? Any health issues?”
“No, I don’t think so. Is she going to be okay?”
“She’s breathing on her own, that’s a good sign. We’re going to take her to the hospital to be sure. St. Michael’s Northside. Are your parents here?” I shook my head. “Call them, tell them what happened, get your stuff and meet us at the hospital. Alright?”
“Okay, let’s get her out of here.” The other EMT barked the order, and the one talking to me repeated what hospital they were going to, before running to help.
I watched in shock as they loaded her into the ambulance and were gone. I looked around in a daze. People were staring, and filming of course. My eyes found the lifeguard. She was sitting on the tailgate of the yellow truck, next to a tall woman in a white T-shirt and blue shorts. As the woman helped her to her feet our eyes met. I tried to say something, but nothing would come out. I needed to say thank you. What was the look on her face? Disdain, maybe? Or maybe I was just projecting. She turned away and climbed into the front seat, and moments later they were gone as well.
By the time I got back to my beach towel I was shaking. Luke was nowhere to be seen. Just as well. I’m not sure how I got through the call to my father. I was expecting him to yell, to curse at me for not protecting Kelsey, even though he’d never do something like that. All he’d said was that he’d get mom and meet me at the hospital. Then he told me he loved me, which almost made me dissolve into tears. As I put on my shorts and top and packed up I let myself cry. I was going to need to get it out of my system before driving into North LA.
I pulled into the parking lot for the huge hospital and followed the signs to the emergency room entrance. I walked up and the woman behind the desk smiled at me. “Can I help you?”
“Um, they, uh, brought my sister in. She almost drowned?” I choked a bit on the word.
“What’s her name, hon?”
A minute later I was being directed to a small room filled with monitors, one of which was beeping steadily away. Kelsey’s eyes were closed, and an oxygen hose was situated under her nose. She was so pale, and I felt my breath hitch as I stepped forward and took her hand. Her eyes fluttered open.