Jake Morrison's Arc

Chapter 30 of 54

The morning after the blood draw, Jake walked the shore with Frank's map in his hand. Five landing points had guards and fences now. The sixth was still bare. It was a low stretch of rock where the water came up soft and quiet. A creature could climb out there while everyone slept and no one would see. Jake found Marcus loading lumber onto a cart. "Last gap," Jake said. "We seal it today." Marcus wiped grease on his jeans and grinned. "About time. I hate loose ends." They hauled planks and stakes down to the rocks. Marcus measured the ground with his boot. "Fence here. Stakes below the waterline. Anything that climbs out gets stuck." They worked through the heat. Jake drove posts while Marcus lashed the boards. Sweat ran down their arms. By noon a solid wall of sharpened wood ran across the last gap. Marcus tested the top rail with his weight. It held. "That's six," he said. "Whole island's ringed now." Jake stepped back and looked down the shore. Every landing point had a fence. Every fence had a guard. For the first time, no creature could climb ashore unseen. The gap was closed. While they worked, Marisol had gone to the doctor's cabin. Sofia came running down to the rocks. "You need to come," she said. "Marisol's fine. It's good news." Jake dropped his hammer and ran. Marisol sat on the exam bench, one hand on her belly. The doctor smiled. "I heard two heartbeats," she said. "I think she's carrying twins." Jake sat down hard beside Marisol. Two. He took her hand. "Twins," he said. She laughed, then wiped her eyes. Sofia hugged Marcus at the door. Then Sofia's face changed. "I have something too," she said. She looked at Marcus. "I'm pregnant." Marcus went still, then pulled her close and held her tight. That evening Jake stood on the porch with Marisol. The last fence stood black against the water. The island was whole. He thought about the twins and the life ahead. He turned to her. "I want to do this right," he said. He got down on one knee. "Marry me. Not because we're scared. Because I want you for the rest of it." Marisol pressed both hands to her mouth. "Yes," she said. "Yes." Jake stood and held her. "After the babies come," she said. "When they're safe in my arms, we do it then." Jake nodded against her hair. The shore was sealed. The wall held. But now the island had to feed twins, feed Sofia's child, feed nine new mouths through the seasons ahead. Jake looked at the fenced-in coast and knew the real work was only starting.