She’d never get over that as long as she lived, though it seemed that might not be much longer. Unless someone in that boat was the answer to her prayer.

She had to stay awake. She had to hold on. They had to see her.

Please see me.

The boat cut through the water, tossing in the wind, and again Louisa tried to wave.

I wish I’d fallen in love.

It was supposed to be routine. Summer on Nantucket hadn’t even started yet, but when Cody Boggs spotted the yellow paddle floating in the water, his gut wrenched.

They’d gotten a call from someone on the beach only moments ago—possible swimmer in the water.

“It’s hard to make out,” the caller had said. “But I felt like I should call. If it’s a person, they’re in danger.”

Cody was already out on the water, his first time on the boat with the crew, so they sped toward the reported sighting. They were about to give up when Cody saw it. A paddle, but no kayak. No paddleboard. No canoe. No person.

Odd.

“Slow down,” he told the ship’s coxswain. He glanced at one of the petty officers. “Do you see that?”

A tight line creased the other man’s brow. “The paddle? Yeah.”

“I’m going to take a look.” Cody pushed through the door and out onto the deck of the lifeboat, where two other men stood.

“See something, sir?”

“Not sure.” Cody scanned the water through his binoculars, looking for any sign, pausing on the shoreline of Nantucket.

The one place he swore he’d never be stationed. The one place they needed him.

The paddle bobbed in the water. The wind had kicked up, one of those instances where the weather changed without notice.

Anyone could’ve thought it was going to be a decent day on the water. He would’ve thought so too at first blush, but he knew not to ever trust the ocean.

The coxswain turned the boat and sped parallel to the island, passing Madaket Beach. No sign of anyone in distress. But none of the men on that boat wanted to head back to the station without the absolute certainty they’d done all they could to ensure there was no one out in that water.

Cody shifted his gaze from the beach to the sea, scanning the vast ocean, looking for any sign of life.

Nothing.

His gut didn’t usually steer him wrong. He was always ready for the tide to turn—on the water and in his life.

The coxswain opened the cabin door. “Head back to the station?”

“Go out a little further,” Cody called back.

The man did as his XPO ordered, and Cody whispered a prayer. Same prayer he always whispered in these kinds of situations. “Lord, if I can save one soul, lead me to them now.”