Embracing Change (16 page)

Memories of playgrounds a continent away surfaced as she pushed her way through the bushes to see this patch of innocence.
What happened to that little girl?
Life seemed so simple back then. Mom and Dad would take me to the park at weekends and push me on the swings. Then Daddy would catch me at the bottom of the slide and we’d go to the tearoom for sticky cakes and a drink …

She walked from one piece of equipment to another, pushing the seesaw up and down and touching the slats on the wooden climbing frame. It was as she climbed off the swing that she realised the rain was thickening into sleet. Her shoes were quite sodden by then, and her fingers stiff with cold.
I wonder if I should shelter in the playhouse until the weather calms down?

She walked across to the wooden structure, its red and yellow paint faded and scarred. She could imagine little girls playing house here, peeping out of the windows, sweeping the steps with a branch, rocking dolls, and cooking on a plastic stove … She took hold of the smooth wooden handle and pulled the door open.

It took her a moment to realise there was someone inside; a bald man with tattoos and facial hair, his eyes dull from drugs or alcohol. She slammed the door shut as he reached towards her, his hand grasping empty air.

“No!” The scream was involuntary, surging from tired lungs as she urged her feet forward, forcing speed from them, tripping over hidden roots. She fell several times, falling face first into flax plants, their sharp tips piercing and ripping her skin.

He was coming after her. She heard his breath, laboured and heavy as he coughed. Heard his heavy footsteps as he pounded through the bushes …

And then there was nothing. Just the sound of sleet slapping against leaves, and surf crashing on the beach nearby.

Sarah crawled into the shelter of some bushes, her heart beating erratically, stiff with fear. What if he was sitting quietly, waiting for her to come out of hiding?

She flattened herself and tucked her jacket close, pulling the hood over her head.

Oh, God. I’m sorry I got angry. Please keep me safe from this man. Don’t let him find me. Please, God, give me another chance.

The words of a psalm that Joel had read to her popped into her mind:
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

She would wait. Wait for him to give up and move first. Wait for him to assume she had gone.

As she huddled in the bushes the sleet lightened and she realised it was snowing, delicate flakes whirling around her, silent and calm by comparison with the force of the earlier rain.

Chapter Twenty One

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.

—Psalm 91:5

Joel’s phone rang at 3pm. “Hey, Joel, Jade here. Have you seen Sarah today?”

“Nope. Haven’t heard or seen a thing.”

“I’m worried she’s done something stupid. She left at midday after saying she’d had some bad news.”

“Do you know what it was?”

“She wouldn’t tell me. Just said she was going for a walk on the beach.”

“In this weather?” His mind flipped through the possibilities. “Hold on, Jade. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

He made it in eight and walked straight through to Sarah’s room, Jade following behind. “That’s why she’s not answering her cell.” He picked it up from her bed. “It’s on vibrate, so you wouldn’t have heard it ringing.”

Next to it her laptop hummed, the power light shining steadily. He ran his fingers across the mouse pad, causing the page to pop back to life. “I wouldn’t do this normally, but we need to find out what’s going on inside her head.” Jade leaned over to look and together they read the scanned newspaper article.

“Which beach did she say she was going to?” Joel’s voice was urgent.

“She didn’t.”

“Let’s go.”

“Just a moment. Let me leave a note for her to call me in case she comes back while we’re out.”

“I’ll wait in the car.”

Joel prayed as he waited for Jade.
Lord, please keep Sarah safe. Don’t let this tip her over the edge or cause her to do anything stupid. Look after her, wherever she is, and give her wisdom to cope with this weather.

Jade pulled the passenger door open and jumped in. “Maybe she’s having coffee somewhere. She’s not used to snow and is probably nervous about driving in it.”

Joel reversed down the driveway, wipers slashing at the accumulation of white on the windscreen. “I hope you’re right but we’ll start at the beaches. I’d guess she’s gone to Sumner or New Brighton, because she’s familiar with them. I don’t think she’d pick a secluded beach. She’s still too nervous.”

“New Brighton is closer. Should we start there?”

Joel nodded as he pulled onto the main road. “I’ll get onto the Marine Parade in North Brighton and we’ll look for her car in all the parking lots from there onwards.”

For the next twenty minutes he followed the coastline south, detouring through sandy parking areas and peering down side roads. Snow was still falling and the afternoon was almost as dark as dusk. In New Brighton village, he drove up and down the main street and checked the beach parking area twice. It was deserted except for a few hardy seagulls, screaming like frightened cats as they wheeled overhead. “We’ll keep going,” he said, glancing at Jade. “There’re more parking lots ahead.”

He spotted the Toyota as he turned into the second one, its shimmery blue paint an eerie grey under his headlights. “There it is!” He pulled up next to it and checked for the tiny rust patch on the right fender, the yellow smiley face hanging from the rearview mirror. “Yep, it’s hers. She must be down on the beach.”

They climbed out of his car, pulling on gloves, rain jackets and hoods.

“I wish I’d thought to bring a thermos,” Jade said. “If she’s still out there, she’ll be frozen.” The wind whipped her words away, mingling them with roaring waves and crying birds.

“Look here.” Joel pointed to the ground. “Do you see these tracks by the fence? They look new—maybe this is the way she came.” He set off to follow them, hugging the fence, step after step until they suddenly veered left towards the ocean and disappeared into flattened sand and fresh snow.

Jade was behind him, her face pinched with concern. “You don’t think she …”

“No, no. We mustn’t think that. Maybe she walked too far and took shelter by walking inland again. Maybe she walked past the houses and found a coffee shop or somewhere else to wait out the storm.” He started moving again. “We’ve got to keep looking.”

They were near the reserve at the end of the spit when Jade tugged his sleeve. “Over there!”

Joel strained his eyes through whirling snow and saw a figure coming towards them with hunched shoulders and slow uncertain steps. “Is it her?” He started to run across the sodden sand, sinking and squelching as he dragged each foot forward. “Sarah! Is that you?” The figure looked up and he shouted her name again. Finally she raised a hand in the air and waved slowly.

Joel reached her as her legs sagged and she collapsed into the sand. “Sarah, what happened?” He bent over her as Jade came up behind him.

“Is she alright?”

“She looks frozen—her lips are blue and her clothes are soaked. Let’s get her into the car and try and warm her up.” He picked her up, struggling a little with the wet slippery jacket. “Will you get the car open, Jade?” He battled across the sand, taking the most direct route to firmer ground. Inwardly, his heart was in turmoil.
She looks so vulnerable, so beautiful. I hope she’s not hurt, not too cold.

“There’s a man in the playground,” Sarah murmured suddenly. “He needs help.”

“What happened? Did he do anything to you?”

She shook her head and lapsed into silence again.

“Let’s get her in the back seat, and get these wet things off her.” Joel was exhausted as he helped Jade pull off Sarah’s wet shoes and socks, and slip her arms out of the sodden jacket. “I’ll start the engine to get the heater running.”

“The man needs help,” Sarah said again as she huddled into a ball.

“What about you, sweetie?” Jade leaned over her friend. “Are you hurting anywhere?”

“Just cold. I’ll be alright.” She shivered violently and Joel reached down onto the floor.

“We’re going to put Shelley’s blanket round you. It’s a bit hairy but it’ll help warm you up.” Jade tucked it around her and looked at Joel. “Do you think she needs medical attention?”

“I said I’m alright.” Sarah’s voice was stronger now and laced with indignation. “But there’s a man unconscious in the reserve. Near the kid’s playground.”

Joel made some quick decisions. “Take her home, Jade. If she shows any sign of disorientation or sleepiness, then take her into the emergency room.” He picked up Sarah’s jacket and felt through the pockets. “Her car keys are here. I’ll go and have a look for this mystery man and then I’ll drive her car back. Call me if there’re any problems.”

He pulled his jacket closer and set off down the beach.
What is going on here, Lord? I’m relieved Sarah’s safe but something obviously happened out there. Help me find this man; keep him alive until I get there.

The snow was starting to settle now, shallow piles against the beach wall and a fine layer across the sand. Joel walked as quickly as he could towards the reserve.
It’s years since I last walked round here.
I don’t even remember seeing a kid’s playground.
The beach curved round, and through the dusky greyness Joel saw depressions dusted with snow.
Sarah’s footprints
. He hurried over and followed them to the place she had left the reserve.
If I follow this path, it should bring me to the playground,
he reasoned
.

He saw the man just before he entered the area. He was lying on his side, arm flung out, his beard powdered with white. “Are you awake, sir?” He shook the man’s arm. “Can you hear me?”

A low moan came from the man’s chest but his eyes stayed shut.

Joel pulled out his cell phone and dialled triple one. “I’m calling from the reserve at the end of New Brighton Spit. There’s an unconscious man in the children’s playground.” He answered the string of questions the operator fired at him. “Yes, he’s still breathing … but not responding to my questions … he looks as though he could be homeless … yes, he’s out in the open … I’ll stay right here.”

He clicked the phone off and sat down next to the man, trying to shelter him from the wind and snow as much as possible.

What a bizarre afternoon, God, but I sense You’re doing something here. Be with this man and help him with whatever his problem is. Let this experience be a turning point in his life; a place where he can make some positive decisions and get himself on the right track.

His thoughts turned to Sarah. Had she found the man lying here, or had there been some interaction, a struggle, an attack? What had happened to her in the hours she’d been away from home?

The police arrived quickly, followed shortly by two ambulances. “I know nothing about him,” Joel stated. “He was lying here, unconscious when I found him. He hasn’t said a word.”

He moved to the side to give the paramedics space to work on the man. “I’ll give you my contact details and then I’ll head home if you don’t mind. It’s icy out here.”

He decided not to say anything about Sarah until he knew exactly what happened to her.

Chapter Twenty Two

I’ve never been so cold in all my life. The snow and sleet penetrated everything, leaving me frozen like a slab of meat; just like my heart ...

From the journal of Sarah Johnson

Saturday 9th August

Back at the house, Jade helped Sarah into the bathroom and turned the shower on to lukewarm. “We’ll start off slowly. I don’t want to burn your skin.” With gentle hands she peeled off wet clothes, leaving Sarah in her underwear. “We were so worried about you,” she continued, as she directed her friend into the stream of water.

Sarah nodded, allowing her to soap her back. “My shoulder’s aching.” Her teeth chattered as she spoke.

“The one with the scar?”

“Um hmm.”

“I’ll be careful.” She pooled some shampoo in her hands and began to rub Sarah’s hair. “What on earth were you doing, girl? Look at these twigs!” Jade plucked some out and showed them to Sarah. “And you’ve got cuts all over you.” She lifted Sarah’s hand to show her some of the slashes.

“I’ll tell you when Joel gets back.” A shiver ran through her body, in spite of the warm water.

“Want me to turn the heat up a bit more?”

“A little.”

Jade finished soaping and rinsing and wrapped her in a thick towel. “Will you be able to dress yourself?”