“Back off,” a woman said, and her command was firm, but kind. “Give the poor girl some space.”
“Do you think she’s dead?” a man asked, and his voice so loud that it sounded as though he was speaking directly in my ear.
“She’s not dead,” the woman retorted. “Look, she’s moving….”
Though my head pounded as if I’d been beaten near to death, I managed to open my eyes. Three old faces stared down at me, and only then did it become apparent that I was looking up from a stranger’s couch.
I sat up quickly, but two gentle hands fell on my shoulders. The hands belonged to the female, sixty-something, graying woman, whose movements were smooth and purposeful. She had an elegant grace about her that was admirable, and I couldn’t help but feel assured by her touch. As I glanced up at the two men behind her, I instantly recognized one and jumped to my feet.
“Bruno!” I stumbled as I worked to throw my arms around him. “What’s going on? Where are we?”
Detective Bruno smothered me in his strong arms and held me close to his chest.
“Lonnie heard you screaming from the street,” he said, still holding me tight. “He looked out the window just as you hit the ground, sweetheart.
“Hit the ground?” I asked, reaching up to feel the back of my head. My fingers brushed across a bump, and I winced at the simple touch of my own fingers across the protuberance. “I don’t remember—”
“You had a nasty fall, little one,” the woman said. “A limb fell from the old oak and pinned you.”
“Down like a sack of potatoes,” Lonnie added, clapping his hands together dramatically.
The room was dark, only lit by the few candles strewn about on tables throughout the house. After five minutes beneath his comforting hug, Detective Bruno loosened his grip and guided me back to the couch.
“The cell towers are down,” he said, and his expression grew stern. “No one can get calls in or out right now. The power’s been out for a few hours, and Main Street is flooded; we can’t get across town. Last I spoke to Charlie, he’d picked Matt up from the restaurant. They were heading home to take cover.”
“Are they safe?”
“They should’ve made it home in plenty of time,” he assured me. “The wind was bad, though. We lost contact.” I nodded as Bruno knelt down to meet my stare. “Why in the world were you out in that, Julie? You were supposed to be at the school. Charlie had sent….” He looked over his shoulder and then back to me. “Someone was supposed to pick you up.”
“I didn’t wanna wait,” I said, feeling defensive. “Derek left, and I thought I could make it on my own.”
“Well, look how that turned out,” his tone sounded far too much like Luke’s. And then the simple thought of Luke made my heart slam against my chest. Had he made it to the school to get me? Why hadn’t I called him? I should’ve told him I was leaving. Was he looking for me? Was he safe?
“What about—”
“No word from him,” Detective Bruno said as if he knew exactly what I’d been thinking, “but I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Do you want a snack or anything, kiddo?” Lonnie asked, leaning over Bruno’s shoulders. “We’re all stocked up on goodies.”
“No thanks,” I said, still looking at the Detective. “I need to get home. Charlie’ll be worried sick.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” the woman took a step forward. “Didn’t you hear? The streets are flooded. There’s no power. It’s pitch dark. It’s not safe for you out there, darling.”
“You can sleep upstairs,” Bruno said. “Grace will show you to your room.”
“Where are you going?” I took his wrist as he started to stand. “You’re not going to stay with me?”
“I’ll be on the couch,” he said. “I won’t be far.”
“Are you sure,” I started, but leaned closer to whisper so only he could hear me, “are you sure we’re safe with these people? They’re kind of….” I looked back to Lonnie and Grace, and they both stared down at me with goofy smiles beaming from one ear to the next, “strange.”
Bruno glanced behind his shoulder and winked at the woman.
“Grace is my sister,” he turned back to me, “and Lonnie is the poor schmuck she talked into marrying her.”
I smiled up at Grace and Lonnie, but I’m certain that they read through the insincerity. It wasn’t that I was ungrateful, but history had taught me to be a little skeptical of anyone who was so willing to lend a helping hand for nothing in return.
“It’s just one night,” Bruno assured me. “We’ll get you home tomorrow.”
Five minutes later—after listening to Lonnie relive an animated and exaggerated version of my fall—I followed Grace up the dark staircase. Her nightgown swept each step as we climbed to the second floor, and I watched closely so as not to step on the back and trip her.
“Watch your step here,” Grace pointed to the final step. “It’s creaky. I’ve been waiting on it to fall through for years, but it hasn’t given out yet. You never know though.”
“Have you lived here a long time?” I followed her to the first door on the right.
“Only five years,” she turned back. “It was Lonnie’s house before we were married.”
“Ah, newlyweds?” I asked, cherishing the idea that new love could blossom at any given age.
“We were married five summers ago,” she said. “We didn’t have a big ceremony, just something small and comfortable. It was a second marriage for each of us, so we didn’t see the point in all the frills and thrills.”
“That’s sweet,” I stepped in the room as she opened the door.
“You can sleep here for the night,” she said. “I know it’s not a five-star hotel, but the bed’s comfortable, and the sheets are clean.”
“It’s perfect,” I said, letting my eyes wander across the dark space. “Thank you.”
She set an extra candle on the dresser and turned to go, leaving me alone in the cold bedroom. I made my way over to the window and looked outside, hoping to get a better idea of where I was, but nothing was easily discernible in the dark.
“Knock, knock,” Lonnie stuck his head in the room, “brought you some clothes.”
“Thanks,” I said, coming over to take the folded men’s pajamas from him.
“I took a wild guess that one of Grace’s nightgowns would probably swallow you whole,” he smiled again. “These are just some old things that used to belong to my….” He trailed off for a moment before shaking his head. “Well, anyway, I hope you can get some use out of 'em.”
“Thanks again,” I said, lifting the clothes a little higher. “For everything, really. You didn’t have to take me in like this; I can imagine it’s unnerving having a stranger sleep in your home.”
“Any friend of Bruno’s is a friend of ours,” Lonnie said. “Besides, I can’t remember the last time someone slept in that bed. It’s a comforting thought knowing there’s a grateful soul just down the hall.”
I nodded and smiled.
“I’ll let you get dressed,” he said, turning away. “Sleep well.”
After Lonnie left—closing the door behind him—I slipped out of my damp, dirty clothes and into the long, flannel pajama pants and tee-shirt.
I pulled the blankets back on the bed and climbed in, remembering nothing before I fell into a dreamless sleep.
The morning sunlight shone through the curtains. I turned over, my back to the window, and hoped to fall back asleep. When the light continued to pierce my eyes and became too unbearable to ignore, I opened my eyes and shot up at the sight of another person in the room.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, and I couldn’t mask my shock for even a moment.
Luke sat in a corner chair on the other side of the room. He didn’t smile; he didn’t wear anything that even closely resembled a happy expression. He sat still: his lips pursed, his eyes glaring, and his stare unwavering.
“Luke, wh
at are you doing here?”
“What part of I’ll be right there to get you got lost in translation?” he asked, and I could hear the anger in his voice. “What the hell is wrong with you, Julie? Grace said they found you pinned between the sidewalk and a tree branch.”
“I don’t remember that part—”
“Do you remember the message I sent you?”
“Yes, but—”
“Do you remember leaving the school when I specifically told you not to?”
“Yes, but Luke—”
“But nothing, Julie.” His words were sharp and cold. “I’m sick of this. I’m sick of you blatantly ignoring me when I give you an order. I know you don’t like to think so, but I do know what’s best for you.”
“I know you like to think that,” I mumbled, pulling the blankets up. “But look. I’m alive. I’m safe, sound, and well rested. In the end, it all worked out.”
“Well, isn’t that just peachy?” he said, and his voice was laced thick with sarcasm. “Sweet little Julie spent a night in a stranger’s house, sleeping in a stranger’s bed, wearing a stranger’s clothes, and ignoring the advice of everyone who wanted to help her. God only knows what could’ve happened to you.”
“Detective Bruno said I could trust them.”
“So you can listen to him, but you can’t listen to me?”
“He cares about me—”
“Dammit, Julie,” he said, and he let go of a heavy sigh, “was this just one of your sick plans? You nearly got yourself killed, and for what? Just so, if you happened to pull through, I might run to your side and finally profess my undying love for you? Is that what you want? For me to admit that I care?”
“No,” I suddenly felt two inches tall. “I don’t care if you tell me you hate me, Luke. It doesn’t really matter anymore. All I’m saying is, your words don’t always match your actions. How was I supposed to know you’d actually show up last night?”
“Real nice, Julie,” he rolled his eyes for what seemed like the tenth time. “Any excuse to make me the bad guy—”
“What do you want me to say, Luke? I’m not wrong! You don’t know the meaning of consistency! You never carry through! I can’t spend my life trying to figure you out!”
The door creaked open, and Detective Bruno stuck his head in the room. His eyes met mine, and he furrowed his brow with worry.
“Everything okay in here?” he asked, but then his glance fell on Luke. “Oh,” he stood straighter. “When did you get in?”
“A few minutes ago,” Luke mumbled, not meeting Bruno’s stare.
“Sorry about the yelling,” I looked between the two of them. “I didn’t mean to disturb anyone—”
“No sweat,” Bruno winked at me. Then he turned back and glared at Luke with nothing but disappointment. The gaze lingered for what felt like years, and I suddenly got that same feeling I’d gotten the night Bruno called Luke at the costume party. What was going on between them?
When the two men finally broke their stare, Bruno managed a smile. “Everyone is up and at ’em,” he said. “Lights are back on, and breakfast is on the table. We just got a hold of Charlie. He and Matt are both safe and sound, but you should probably get dressed. The roads are clear now. They’re on their way over to get you.”
“Thanks,” I threw the blankets off to slide out of the bed.
“Heads up, Julie,” he said, looking as if he didn’t want to say what he was about to say. “He’s pissed as hell that you left the school alone.”
Bruno left the room without another word. I turned back to Luke and shrugged.
“So?”
“What?” he asked, still bitter.
“I need to change. You need to go.”
“Right,” he stood up. He walked toward the door and stopped short as he reached for the handle. He didn’t turn around, didn’t look back, but rested his forehead on the door in front of him.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Julie,” he said, and his voice was muffled against the wood. “If anything would’ve happened to you….”
“I know,” I figured that was as close to an apology as I would ever get from him.
He pushed himself back and opened the door, but before he stepped out, he finally turned around to look at me.
“I won’t be here when you come down,” he said, and his voice had lost every bit of its anger and sarcasm. His words were soft and heartfelt, and I assumed it took everything he had in him to muster up that much kindness. “Get home safe, and don’t let Charlie give you too much crap.”
“You’re leaving?”
“I can’t stay,” he threw a quick glance over his shoulder. “Lonnie and I don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye. Grace let me in this morning, but he doesn’t know I’m here. It’s probably best if we keep it that way.” He rubbed his thumb across the scar on his lip before turning back to me. “Get home safe—”
“Luke,” I stepped a little closer to him.
He dropped his shoulders as if he didn’t want to waste another second of his time, but I felt like—given the fact that he’d calmed down for a few minutes—there was no better time to tell him how I’d been feeling.
“You don’t have to respond to this, okay?” I asked. “Just know that… I do understand that I’m not a cat, and that you’re not a mouse,” I began to recycle Derek’s speech. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop chasing you. I love you, Luke. And when you love someone the way I love you, you don’t give up.” I let go of a deep breath and took another step forward. “I left the school last night because I let an idiot make me believe that you didn’t care for me. I let Derek convince me that you were never going to come. Up until about five seconds ago, I might’ve believed him. But I know you care, despite it all.”
I couldn’t help but think about how much I’d chased Luke, and it was even easier to remember all the times he’d run from me. He seemed far too determined to fight whatever it was that he was feeling, but that didn’t mean he didn’t deserve the truth.
“I don’t know what you’re running from, Luke,” I continued, “but I’m here to help you. And if you don’t want my help, that’s okay. I’ll wait. I’ll keep waiting… until you tell me to stop.”
He closed his eyes, and I watched as he struggled to find a response. He opened his mouth a few times, but only closed it again after he couldn’t find the words.
“Jules, I….”
“One word,” I said, holding up a finger that he couldn’t see; he still hadn’t opened his eyes. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” he whispered, but it was so quiet I barely heard it.
“Then I’ll wait,” I stepped closer again, “until you’re ready.”
Luke’s eyes finally flittered opened, and he watched me for a few faint moments. Without a word, he took a step back into the room, opened his arms, and pulled me to his chest. He wrapped me in the warmth of his hug, holding me as tightly as he possibly could without snapping me into a hundred tiny pieces.
I closed my eyes and savored every moment our bodies spent touching, and I took in every ounce of Luke’s scent in those moments that were wrapped in our hug.
Luke rested his head on top of mine and pressed a kiss to my messy hair.
And just when I thought I heard him begin to say something, the creak at the top of the steps sounded, and I suddenly sensed that we were no longer alone. I opened my eyes and smiled at a red-faced Lonnie.
“Good morning,” I reluctantly pulled away from Luke’s hug.
“Julie,” Lonnie tore his eyes away from Luke long enough to smile at me, “Charlie’s here.”
I nodded. “Thanks, I’ll get dressed and be right down.”
“Don’t bother,” he said. “You can take the clothes. We don’t need ’em here.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, looking down at the pajamas he’d given me the night before. “It won’t take but a minute.”
“They belonged to my son, sweetheart,” he threw a glanc
e back at Luke. “He’s dead to me. Keep ’em.”
Lonnie disappeared back down the steps. I turned back to Luke and waited for a response, but he stood still, staring expressionlessly at the floor.
“Luke?” I tried to steal his gaze. “Luke, is Lonnie your—”
“Yes,” he said, finally meeting my stare, “Lonnie’s my dad,” he said, and then his eyes wandered the room. “This is my old bedroom, and those…” He brushed my hair behind my shoulder and smoothed a wrinkle on the shirt, “those used to be my clothes.” He tried to mask his hurt with a failed attempt at a smile. “Now I guess they’re yours.”
“Luke,” I lifted his chin. “Do you want to talk about this?”
“No,” he said, standing tall. His demeanor changed completely with his posture. His red eyes were the only indication left that he’d had a momentary lapse into normalcy. He was back to his fake, forced smile and unnecessarily distant attitude. “Don’t keep Charlie waiting.”
And with that, he was gone.
FIVE
Just a Little Series (Part 1) Page 18
