Days

Dawn found them on the dock as the tide pulled back from the pilings. Kevin tested the sistered beams while Jenny watched salt-creep bloom on the rotting wood. "Don't lean too hard…

Dawn broke heavy and still over Sorrel Island. Jenny sat on the cottage steps with her ankle propped, watching epoxy cure on the jerry can repair while Kevin scanned the empty hori…

Dawn brought a hard south-east wind driving salt spray across the reef. Kevin checked tension on the landward cleat sistering while Jenny monitored water levels for surge signs. Th…

Dawn found Kevin on the porch with a wrench, the Yanmar idling while he checked mounting bolts. "Bolt tension's holding. Vibration's down to a hum at idle — comes back faint above …

Dawn found Kevin at the workbench brushing a second coat of epoxy onto the jerry can's pitted seam. The first coat was still tacky. "Epoxy's thin," he said. "Might need a second co…

Dawn broke clear over Sorrel Island, a light onshore breeze stirring the dry air as the tide fell low, exposing rocky tide pools. Kevin warmed the cracked diesel can with a propane…

Dawn found Kevin hauling the heavy supply crate onto the dock planks as the tide turned. Jenny sat on a weathered cedar beam, notebook in hand, clouds thickening overhead. Kevin pr…

Dawn found Kevin hauling a waterlogged crate onto the dock as the rising tide tugged the lower pilings. Jenny sat on a cedar beam, watching the barometer drop while rain intensifie…

Grey light lay flat on the water as the tide pushed against the dock pilings. Kevin crouched at the seaward corner of the dock with a 19mm wrench, inspecting the stainless through-…

At dawn, Kevin and Jenny stood on the south dock as the tide receded, exposing barnacled pilings. Jenny checked the barometer; Kevin inspected the mooring ring for storm stress. He…

Dawn broke under a flat, heavy sky as Kevin and Jenny stood by the dock watching the tide climb fast against the reinforced pilings. The air thickened with humidity. Jenny said, "T…

Dawn found Kevin at the south piling, flashlight on the bolted sister. "South piling's solid. Bolt didn't walk," he said. Jenny watched from a dock plank, ankle propped on a driftw…

Dawn broke grey and windless, the barometer at 991 hPa and falling. High tide pressed against the newly sistered south piling. Kevin stood at the cottage door, mug in hand. "South …

Dawn broke heavy and still over Sorrel Island, the north ridge lost in low overcast. Kevin tested the dock planks with his boot heel, finding rot deep in planks two and three from …

Dawn broke over steady rain drumming the cottage roof. The water tank reached its full 400 litres, overflow trickling into the drainage trench. Kevin and Jenny sat on the porch ste…

Dawn found Kevin on the cottage steps tapping the barometer — 983, steady — while Jenny wrapped a fresh cloth around her ankle. The air hung heavy and still over the dry garden. At…

Dawn brought heavy rain from the west, drumming the roof and turning the garden path to mud. Kevin sat at the kitchen table watching the barometer — 986 millibars, rising slow — wh…

Dawn broke flat and wet, the barometer at 984 hPa and rising. Kevin lifted the soldering iron and flux from the workbench, eyeing the copper spillway joint at the northeast foundat…

Dawn arrived thick with humidity. The French drain at the garden's north end wept water, unable to penetrate the clay pan beneath. Jenny probed with the hand auger, hitting clay at…

Dawn broke with the first heavy drops hitting saturated soil. Wind whipped the shade cloth over the tomato rows as Kevin and Jenny stood under the porch overhang. The north garden …