Author: Tracy Buchanan
Published: 21st July 2015
Publisher: Avon
‘How many casualties?’ Guy asks.
‘A hundred and eleven died,’ I say.
‘Rogue wave, right?’ Guy says. ‘Dived a ship in the Atlantic Ocean that was taken down by one of those.
Must’ve been big news at the time.’
‘Very big news.’ I pick up my stabiliser jacket – or stab jacket, as we call them – checking it all over.
‘The rich dude who owned it died too, didn’t he?’ Guy continues.
I give Ajay another look. This man talks too much. ‘Man, I can’t wait to get under.’
Ajay shoots him a look. ‘Remember to keep the excitement in check. Safer that way.’
‘Yep, you won’t get much diving done when you’re dead,’ I say.
‘You didn’t tell me what a firecracker we have on our hands,’ Guy says to Ajay. ‘Was she this bad when you were training her?’
‘Worse,’ Ajay says, smiling.
‘I am here, you know,’ I say.
Ajay looks contrite. ‘Sorry, Willow.’
‘You will be sorry when I kick your arse at table football tonight.’
Everyone laughs. This is what I’ve learnt working as a diver the past few years. Let them know when they’ve gone too far then lighten the tone, no hard feelings. The commercial diving world is tight and it’s hard to fit in, especially as a woman. I manage though, I’ve even made some good friends, my ‘tribe’, as I call them.
Guy catches my eye and shoots me a sexy smile, his blond hair hanging in his eyes. I ignore him. Ajay thinks I’m too fussy when it comes to men, comparing them all to my dad. But it’s hard when every time a man looks at me, I think of the way my dad looked at my mum when they were young.
One of my earliest memories is of us all sitting in our huge garden. I watched my parents gaze at each other beneath the willow tree I was named after. Then my dad noticed me watching them so he pulled me into his arms, telling me he loved me over and over. I loved those summer days at the cottage. That memory of my parents still haunts me now.
We all grow quiet as the buoy marking the ship’s location comes into view. I take a deep breath.
Finally, we’re here.
I focus on the routine of preparing for the dive to calm myself, pulling the shoulder straps of my stabiliser jacket down so it’s nice and snug. Then Ajay helps me get my air tank on. I check my diver computer on my wrist, pressing the small buttons around its large clock face to set all the measurements up. Then I pull my weight belt up and grab my fins before walking to the edge of the boat and looking down at the calm sea. The ship is right under my feet, right here. I press the button to inflate my stab jacket, feeling it expand against my chest. Usually that feeling sends a thrill of excitement through me: time to head in and grapple with the sea.
But I’m suddenly feeling apprehensive, even reluctant, to jump in.
Ajay squeezes my shoulder, looking me in the eye. ‘All set?’
‘She can handle herself,’ Guys says. ‘You said yourself she’s dived worse wrecks.’
‘This is different,’ Ajay says.
Guy nods. ‘Yeah, I guess the fact no one’s dived it since the rescue operation makes it more dicey.’
‘It’s not just that,’ I say, glancing at him. ‘That rich dude who owned the ship? That was my dad.’
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