Free Water Lily in July by Clare Revell

a rush to get home. He’d arranged to see Kaylie when he got back to port, and he could speak to her on the radio any time he liked. Soon he would feed out the lobster pots which would need a good twenty-four hours to sit.
    The radio cracked and her melodic tones came over the airwaves. “Wolf Point Lighthouse to Seascape . Are you receiving? Over.”
    With a smile, Rob got to his feet and made his way to the bridge. He grabbed the mic and keyed it. “Wolf Point Lighthouse, this is Seascape , receiving. Is that you, Kaylie? Over.”
    Her laugh was as refreshing as a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day. “Who else would it be? Over.”
    “Maybe Angus finally perfected his Kaylie impression? How are you? Over.”
    “I’m good. Listen, Angus says there’s a storm coming in. A big one. It isn’t on the radar yet, but he thinks it’ll be a good idea for you to head in sooner rather than later.”
    Rob glanced around as she spoke. “Storm, ah, right. There isn’t a breath of wind out here.”
    “I know. I’ve never seen the sea this calm. But I trust Angus, and if he says there’s a storm coming, then I believe him. Over.”
    Rob checked his position, although he knew exactly where he was. Forty-five miles southeast of the lighthouse. “I’m due back in two days. Tell Angus to keep his hair on, and I’ll be fine. Is there any chance you’ll be back on leave by then?”
    Her laugh sent shivers down his spine. “I wish. I can’t see me getting away until September or October now.”
    “That isn’t fair.”
    “That’s life.”
    He chuckled. “In that case, your next care package will contain a very long braid of plaited hair for me to climb up that incredibly high tower you live in to rescue you. I miss talking to you in person. Over.”
    “You only saw me last night. Anyway, you can court me over the radio just as easily as in person.”
    Rob grinned. “Yes, I can, but I can’t kiss you over it. Over.”
    “Sure you can. You do it like this.”
    Kissing sounds came over the radio, and he roared with laughter before responding in the same way.
    Kaylie giggled. “See, it’s easy.” There was a pause. “You will head in, won’t you? Over.”
    “As soon as I can. Tomorrow at the earliest. Over.”
    “Rob…”
    He cut her off. “I have lobster pots to put out. If the radar picks up this storm, I’ll head right in. I’ll speak to you later. Over and out.”
    Replacing the mic, Rob flicked on the weather channel on the radio. There was nothing about any storm coming in the next twenty four hours. Still, if Kaylie thought it important enough to warn him, then the least he could do would be to heed it and go back a day early. If nothing else he’d get to see her. He went on the deck and started to feed out the remaining pots.
    He decided to head farther out and set up the overnight catch early—that way he could make port by midafternoon tomorrow at the latest. He shook his head. No, he’d go back now. Take what fish he had, wait until this ‘storm’ blew over and come back tomorrow for the lobsters. It wasn’t as if they’d be going anywhere.
    ~*~
    Kaylie made her way back up to the lantern room. This job certainly kept one fit, although the pay and living conditions left a lot to be desired.
    Angus glanced away from the horizon for a few moments. “Talked to him then, lassie?”
    She moved to the light and started cleaning it. If there was a storm coming in, they had to be ready. “Yeah. He’ll turn around when he gets the chance.”
    “Good, the sooner the better. Now there’s work tae do, so let’s crack on. This storm is a’coming.”
    Kaylie glanced at the flat sea and deep blue sky. Storm. Right .
    If nothing else this would be good practice at “battening down the hatches,” as he termed it. She’d seen bad weather here, but nothing that got Angus as spooked as he was now.
    But the day passed and nothing happened. No clouds, no hint of rain, not even a breath of wind.
    Rob