Huge Surprise in Swim Trunks ch.17

She turned and whispered something to Fleur, which made the blonde giggle and nod. Fleur whispered something to Harry's sister, eliciting a throaty chuckle. His sister nodded, her light blue eyes crinkling at the corners, a knowing smile on her lips.

Daphne stood in the doorway and frowned at her sister and him. "What are you two... Oh..." Her gaze followed theirs, and her wide mouth curved into a Cheshire Cat grin.

"Do you think you can split that big log?" the blonde friend asked, dropping onto the armrest of the deck bench and pointing at a waist-high round. "I bet you can't split it in half."

"Doubtful," Fleur frowned. "It's too big."

"You lack faith," Tracey winked at Harry, who straightened up before wincing. He saw what the girls were doing, but his foolish pride still boiled inside when his sister flashed him a proud smile. "My brother can do anything... Do it, Harry."

The whole thing was foolish. A stubborn part of Harry wanted to drop the axe and walk away, not wanting to let Tracey push him around. These were childish emotions, and he knew she wasn’t trying to manipulate him, unlike the friends. The pride he saw in her eyes was genuine, and something inside him leapt at the thought that his magnificent stepsister saw him this way.

He frowned before turning his attention to the log in question. It was a solid piece of wood, almost as tall as his waist. Wider than the axe handle, he doubted he could split it in half, but the challenge piqued his interest.

Setting the axe down, Harry was dimly aware that Fleur was pulling her dying phone from her pocket as he turned the log. Knots from small branches circled the bark, but he found a spot free of twisted wood and, lifting the axe again, adjusted his grip. Now he had a challenge before him, and the first strike filled him with satisfaction as the blade sank deep into the wood.

Working his arms, Harry engaged his whole body in the movements, deepening his breath as he made a line of axe strikes up the center of the log. His muscles ached, his lungs burned, but he stitched a line up the middle of the log, his chest heaving. The world turned into nothing but the axe in his hands and the wood before him. He struck the heavy steel once, twice, and on the third blow, the log split into five parts with a sharp crack. With a heavy chest, he looked at the girls in triumph but didn’t meet the expression he expected. Instead of being impressed or even amused, the girls were breathing almost as heavily as he was, staring at him with open mouths. He saw Fleur’s knuckles gripping his sister's hand, white with tension, and hard points pressing through Tracey and Daphne's tops.

Harry’s attention was drawn to the shadowy figure standing in the cabin doorway. His stepmom stood leaning against the frame, her arms crossed under her massive breasts, with a look that seemed possessive as her eyes roamed over his sweaty torso. As the silence stretched, Harry’s discomfort grew, but the distant thump of helicopter blades saved him from the awkward moment.

"Pack up whatever you want to take with you, girls," said his mom, causing sister and her friends to jump in surprise. "We're heading back to civilization."

Daphne slipped her phone back into her pocket and gave Harry a look that promised the previous night was just a taste of what he could expect from her. Fleur gave him a similar hungry look, while the expression on his sister’s face was unreadable.

"Maybe selling the cabin was a bad idea," his stepmom said, stepping off the porch and running a finger along her sweaty arm. "You've got a talent with that axe."

"A chainsaw would have been smarter," Harry muttered, his cheeks flushing as her pale blue eyes met his.

"But not as... fascinating," she glanced over her shoulder and moved closer, her lips almost brushing his cheek as she stood so close. "The world doesn't recognize what a great man needs anymore, sweetheart... but I do. You are everything I always hoped you would be... and more. I love you, Harry. No matter what happens, remember I will always love you."

Her whispered words stirred a nameless fear in Harry, and he wanted to press her with questions, but the words slipped away when he looked into her pale blue eyes.

There was worry in her gaze, and her lips pressed together as they drew closer, but Harry ignored the unease in his gut and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you, mom."

She relaxed at his words, her body melting into his. Tilting her head back, she looked at him with a smile that eased the tension in his chest. His gaze fell to her full lips, and he wanted to lean in and steal a kiss, but he hesitated when he heard sounds from the cabin.

"We'll talk more tonight," she patted his chest and withdrew from his arms, shielding her eyes to watch the approaching helicopter.

As the wind picked up, Harry's eyes were not on the whirling blades like hers and the girls', but on the outline of her figure as her dress clung to her. She rarely showed more skin than her hands and face, but it was a sight he didn't want to forget. The shoulders of her dress were torn, the skirts slashed, and the neckline exposed. She looked like a shattered goddess, and only Tracey stepping between them broke his intense gaze.

His sister frowned and didn't hide a satisfied smile when she saw how hard he swallowed. Though his step mother was magnificent, his sister outshone Instagram models. Built with proportions a plastic surgeon would never tamper with, she knew how to pose for maximum effect.

"Get back inside until it lands," Harry warned the girls as the wind picked up and loose stones and sand began to fly around.

The helicopter touched down on the clearing near the cabin, and two firefighters rushed forward to help them board. One had a medical kit and checked the girls' feet, wrapping them in clean cloths after disinfecting, while Harry helped mom and sister buckle into their seats. Once secured, he assisted Daphne and Fleur before strapping himself in.

They took one last look at the little cabin that had become their sanctuary, then, with a thumbs-up from the pilot, the helicopter lifted off. His mom and sister, sitting on either side of him, held his hands tightly as the forest shrank below them.

The sky was thick with clouds and hazy from smoke, and the pilot kept them low. It gave them a bird’s-eye view of the devastation left by the fire. The lake was surrounded by blackened tar, homes were gone, leaving only foundations, and the trees were a skeletal forest exposing the slopes below.

It was surreal to see the shape of the land stretching below them, devoid of vegetation and life. The destruction spread for miles in every direction, and at higher elevations, it was even worse. Their escape was nothing short of a miracle as the helicopter circled the hills, and they saw the fire had reached the cabin and was smoldering towards their sanctuary. His mom and sister huddled closer, and the friends clung to each other, watching the mountains pass below.

The flight wasn't long, but every second in the open vehicle was jarring. As they touched down, Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him but kept his face composed and stood firm as he helped the girls down. His mom clung to him for a moment, her nails digging into his back before she let go so he could help Daphne down.

"An ambulance is ready to take you five to the hospital if needed!" one of the firefighters shouted to Harry over the whir of the rotors. "Otherwise, the motel will have rooms for you."

He pointed to a motel adjacent to the small airport with a flickering sign and soot stains along one wall. "Thanks again!" Harry shouted back, shaking the man’s hand before returning to the group.

They moved away as the helicopter lifted off, continuing its rescue mission. Waving, they watched the brave men fly away and allowed the paramedics to lead them to a triage tent.

The paramedics and nurses were shocked they had survived and peppered them with questions. Harry was exhausted, dirty, and wanted to find a hot shower and a warm bed, but the girls eagerly recounted their adventures. While his mom sat beside him, checking his vitals and administering an IV, her fingers intertwined with his as they listened to the stories.

Fleur was the most eager to talk, words pouring from the blonde teen as she described their fun weekend and how it turned deadly when Harry woke everyone up. Daphne admitted she thought they'd never get out of the lake alive and shivered as the memory of that dark flight brought back her emotions.

Tracey took over the narration, and the natural charm of Harry's sister soon had all the nurses and paramedics sitting in stunned silence, listening. She didn't embellish anything or make the journey more harrowing than it was, but the way she described each scene transported the listeners, making the fear and relief tangible for them.

"If that cabin hadn't been there... if Harry hadn't remembered it from an old map... we'd still be wandering those woods, or worse." Tracey's eyes met Harry's, and he felt warmth flood his cheeks.

A nurse spoke up, saving Harry from the awkward moment. "Reporters have been asking about survivors. They'll want to talk to you five..." She looked around the group. "Unless you want to slip out the back. There's a path to the motel. We can keep them away from you for a few hours at least."

Harry nodded, but his mom sat up and shook her head.

"We'll gladly speak to the press. The whole world should know about the bravery of my son."

Harry winced and tried to plead, but when his mom made up her mind, nothing stopped her. She had his sister and friends on her side, and before he knew what was happening, a girl was powdering his nose, and then a burly man had a camera in his face.