by Groves, B.
Margo continued to cry, and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Margo, what—”
“I’m so sorry.”
Gabby had to get up. She had to get to her sister. A sense of ominous dread filled her to the core.
But, before Gabby could stand Margo placed the gun to her temple and pulled the trigger.
It was the last gunshot Gabby heard before the world came crashing down around her.
She never blinked as Margo’s blood exploded from the other side of her head.
She never fell straight down to the floor. No. She just kind of collapsed in a heap right in front of Gabby and Dean. Her limbs now sticking out in odd angles.
All was silent as Gabby’s mind tried to process what occurred in front of her.
Her stomach lurched at the sight of her sister on the floor. She felt the bile rise in her throat and thought she would lose the contents in her stomach, but that never happened instead… all she could do was scream.
Gabby’s eyes never left Margo’s body. She always thought she heard Margo cough, but was never sure. Or was it wishful thinking that her sister might somehow live? Blood trickled from her temple soaking her hair in thick, dark red liquid, and flowed from the side of her mouth. Her eyes were open and stared straight at Gabby, but no longer contained any life. She was gone.
Gabby never knew how long it was before the firemen pried Dean from her arms.
All she remembered was shaking. Just trembling so badly she thought her limbs would fall off her body.
Her hair covered her face in a blonde curtain until a police officer was asking if she was injured.
She only stared at him for a moment before being able to mutter “no.”
After all the turmoil, she asked for an ambulance for her sister.
“That’s your sister?” The police officer asked.
Gabby nodded. “She’s… she shot people.”
The officer spoke into his radio. “Hammon! Get in here!”
“Is that Margaret Ryan?” The officer asked. “The shooter?”
“Yes,” Gabby answered. “She… she needs… he… help.”
There wasn’t much more said to her after that. Another officer came into the library and escorted Gabby out and down the hall until she was settled into a police cruiser and driven away from the school forever.
Gabby felt the masculine hands on her cheeks as fingers wiped away her tears.
Gabby tried to snap out of her haze, as Dean looked her over in concern.
Had she told the story out loud or had she only relived it in her mind?
She wasn’t quite sure and narrowed her eyes in a silent question at Dean.
Was she shaking again? Yes, she was shivering from an imaginary blast of cold wind through her body.
Gabby turned to see the memorial of the victims still in front of her. The beautiful hand-painted trees with the victim’s names engraved there for as long as this building existed.
The sunlight from a skylight was shining down on her as Gabby sat in the middle of the atrium.
The sunlight made a warmth take root inside of her. She had to wrap her arms around her chest trying to understand what she was feeling.
Some closure?
Was that what she was feeling? Could she find the path of moving on with her life? Was that why the sun was shining directly on her? All these years she only walked through deep darkness, and now she was blinded by a spark of light shining at the end of the long tunnel.
“Gabby,” Dean said, bringing her out of her thoughts. “I know you’re not all right, but say something.”
“Something,” Gabby said with a smile.
Dean chuckled and kissed her forehead.
Gabby was so happy Dean was there with her, she could hardly put a lid on her feelings.
“That’s my girl,” he said.
Gabby turned her head to see the names of the ten injured on the wall to the right.
She caught Dean’s name and turned back to him with wide eyes.
“It’s okay. My name is there, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here with you,” he said.
Gabby heard the sincerity in his voice.
Could she tell him now? Could she tell him her feelings for him? Would that change the game for them? Should she hold back a little longer and take a slower approach?
She wanted to. She wanted to say it. She wanted to tell him she never forgot him, and how she hoped beyond the cruel reality they would still be together one day.
Gabby took a deep breath over her torn thoughts. Her mind settled and her body relaxed.
“It will take more time, but you took a huge step,” Dean commented.
“I’m still not sure if it was over a cliff,” Gabby half-joked, exhaustion making her voice hoarse. “How long was I comatose?”
Dean shook his head. “You’re joking, that’s a good sign. Not long. A couple of minutes.”
Gabby made a face and said, “I think we’ll both sleep good tonight.”
“Not until after we have a nice quiet dinner.”
Gabby agreed, and Dean helped her to her feet.
He wrapped his arms around her, and she soaked up his warmth through his plaid jacket.
“Thank you,” she said. “For being here with me.”
“Always.”
Gabby smiled into his chest from that one word. There was so much more they needed to say to each other, but it could wait for now.
One day at a time, she thought.
“Dean?”
Gabby’s eyes flew open at the male voice that echoed into the atrium.
Dean’s body stiffened, and she thought she heard him curse under his breath.
He stepped back and Gabby turned to see Michael McConnell staring them down.
His facial expressions were a mixture of disapproval and outright hostility.
“What are you doing here?” Michael asked. The question was directed at Dean.
Gabby turned to Dean who was surprisingly calm. She thought he puffed out his chest ready for an argument.
“I came to organize equipment for tomorrow’s practice,” Dean answered. “You’re doing a helluva job of that. Next question. What is she doing here?”
Gabby bristled when Michael pointed a finger at her.
“The Ryan family is to never step foot on this property again,” Michael said. “I think that was made crystal clear a long time ago.”
“Hello to you too, Michael,” Gabby said under her breath.
“I’m sorry for being here,” Gabby said turning to Michael. She wouldn’t let him intimidate her. “I will walk out, and we can forget this.”
“Gabrielle, you knew this. Our lawyers told your family after the tragedy. What makes you think you can come barging in here now?”
“I let her in,” Dean said. “She deserves to see it like anyone else. She was a victim too.”
“I understand that. I said I was sorry, and I will leave. This doesn’t have to be an issue,” Gabby said trying to keep them all calm.
“I could call the police right now, and have you charged with trespassing, but since I’m a nice guy, I will let you leave peacefully,” Michael said.
“I see you haven’t changed,” Gabby said with her own outright disgust. “Still as arrogant as ever.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed, and his face twitched.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve talking about arrogance when you showed up and ruined everyone else’s day,” Michael shot back.
“Bullshit,” Dean spoke up. “She would have been fine if Randy wasn’t drunk and hit her.”
“Do you know what some of the families said after you left? They were upset. I can’t put it any nicer.”
“And, I already had Pam give a statement about my regrets. I don’t know what else I can do. Is this conversation over?”
“Jason told me about your freak out in the restaurant. Is there any other trouble you want to cause, Miss Ryan?” Michael asked with an eyebrow r
aised.
Gabby took a deep breath trying to remain under control.
“I told you I would leave peacefully, so if you’d kindly get the hell out of my way, then we can go,” Gabby said through gritted teeth.
Michael pointed his finger at Dean. “You and I will discuss this tomorrow. Seeing you around town with her, won’t be good for your reputation,” Michael said.
Gabby turned to see Dean take a step back in surprise, and then his jaw clenched from sheer anger.
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say,” Dean said. “If I remember correctly, there is nothing in my contract about who I socialize with, and I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”
Michael put his hands up defensively. “You are a great teacher, Dean. Your students love you. I’m just giving you a piece of advice.”
Gabby couldn’t allow Michael to intimidate Dean over her. She wouldn’t. Michael McConnell can think what he wants about her family. She was used to the hate, the accusations, and the news articles year after year that quoted so-called experts about Margo’s case. Hell, there’s even a few books out there somewhere, but she’d damned if he was going to try to control her friends.
“I remember seeing you,” Gabby said the words slowly. Not hiding the accusation in her tone.
Michael turned to her in question before Dean could speak up.
Gabby stepped out of the atrium, and into the hallway to come face to face with Michael McConnell.
He hadn’t aged too much over the years. Everything about him was still in its perfect place even on the weekend. Everything from his hair to his perfectly trimmed fingernails. The man was all about impressions and only out for his best interests.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Gabby looked down at the floor and smirked. “I know what you think of my family, and I’m sure you think I knew ahead of time what Margo would do. That’s okay. I’ve been dealing with that for so many years, that I’ve learned that the truth will always be within here.”
She pointed to her chest in emphasis.
“But, one thing that has always bothered me was your lies,” she said with a steady voice.
Michael flinched and paled. His mouth opened a few times, and Gabby knew the denial was coming even though his facial expressions were telling the truth on their own.
“There were people that day that tried to put themselves on a pedestal for their so-called heroic actions, but you,” Gabby pointed her finger. “After I watched the news footage, something always bothered me. You said you helped some frightened girls out of the side door of the gym. Really? I remember otherwise.”
Michael’s mouth opened and closed as he tried to gather his thoughts. Gabby took her moment and continued.
“I was speaking to Jennifer that day, and I seem to remember you walking to the back of the library.”
Gabby felt the tears threaten once again, but she pushed them back.
“That day is so clear in my mind. Sometimes it haunts me so horribly that I can’t function. There was only an emergency exit in the library, and it was alarmed. I don’t remember you leaving in between the time Margo came in and started shooting.”
Michael took a step towards Gabby in a threatening manner. His face was flushed from the neck up; veins were popping out of his forehead and neck.
“This is preposterous. How dare you? How dare you fling those accusations at me? The sister of a fucking murderer! You bitch!”
Gabby felt Dean’s presence behind her. She saw the figure of Dennis standing helplessly behind Michael.
Gabby calmly met Michael’s eyes. Choosing her next words for dramatic effect. “You got what you always wanted Michael. It’s all about power, isn’t it? Soon, you’ll have full control. Who knows maybe you’ll have this county by its balls all because of your lies that day, and how you profited from my family’s suffering. Makes me wonder what else you’ve done.”
Gabby kept her stare steady as Michael muttered curses at her.
“Why did you lie, Michael? Why?” Gabby asked her voice steady.
Michael’s expression changed from fury to smug within seconds.
“You’re grasping at straws aren’t you, Gabrielle? You’re so desperate to save your sister’s name you will accuse anyone of anything,” Michael shot back.
“Not at all,” Gabby said. “I’ve never made excuses for my sister’s actions, but she was aiming at someone and other people got in her way. Who was it?”
“Are you implying I had something to do with your sister snapping?” Michael laughed. “You are out of your mind!”
“Am I? You sure do love the girls. You always did,” Gabby said.
Michael’s fury returned with a vengeance.
“Gabby…”
Gabby heard Dean behind her, and he put a hand on her arm.
“Get her out of here or I will call the cops have you both arrested,” Michael said.
“Come on,” Dean said.
Gabby cocked her head. “You haven’t denied it, Michael. This will be continued.”
“You’re damn right, and if you try anything, I will sue the shit out of you for slander,” Michael said.
Michael turned to Dean and said, “Looks like we need to have a chat tomorrow.”
Dean turned back to Michael and said, “I look forward to it.”
Gabby was guided out of the school and Dean opened the door for her.
She tried to hide her smile even though she knew Dean had to be furious at her right now since he didn’t say a word to her as they walked back to his truck.
She hoped that she could talk to him and really hoped that he wouldn’t somehow lose his job over this.
She was sorry for him, but the at the same time she had Michael right where she wanted him. He never confessed that he lied, but the look on his face told her the story.
Dean got into the truck and sat there for a minute taking a deep breath.
“Dean—”
Dean put a hand to silence her. “No.” He shook his head several times before speaking again. He turned to face her and Gabby couldn’t quite make out his expression. Gabby went cold expecting the worst from him.
Dean sighed. “I have a confession to make.”
Gabby’s mouth dropped open. What was the confession?
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but I’ve been watching Michael for a while now,” Dean said.
Gabby visibly relaxed in front of him, but knowing he could still be upset with her.
“Why?”
Dean took another deep breath and started the truck. He put the vehicle in drive and started out of the parking lot.
“When you first came back, I was having my own issues, and I saw him…”
Dean turned the corner and gripped the steering wheel.
“I saw him outside smoking a cigarette with a student and not at a time they should have been out there. I vaguely know the girl, and he told her they better go back inside before they were seen,” Dean said.
Gabby’s mouth dropped again. She didn’t know what to say. Her mind went into overdrive. Was this it? Was this her chance to prove whom the man was that Margo was involved with? Was it Michael McConnell?
Gabby racked her brain trying to remember if she ever saw Michael talking to Margo somewhere at the school, but no memory surfaced.
“He’s always been a flirt. You know that, but I found that odd,” Dean said. “I’ve been a teacher long enough, that no matter what a student is going through you never step over a certain line.”
“I don’t want you to lose your job, though.”
Dean’s eyes stayed on the road for a minute. Then he turned to her and gave her a half-smile. “I can go anywhere and teach, Gabby. That’s not the issue. I’ve been watching him ever since, and I can’t prove anything.”
“Do you think…” Gabby couldn’t even finish the sentence. She clutched her stomach when it flipped over.
“Let’s take it one step a
t a time,” Dean suggested.
“I understand,” Gabby said even though she was frustrated. She waited ten years; she could wait a little longer.
She turned to Dean and asked, “Are you upset at me?”
Dean didn’t turn her way again for another minute. His face went stone cold and Gabby—again—had the dread course through her.
Would he stay with her long enough to expose Michael McConnell then leave her cold again?
Was this the beginning of the end for them? Was he mad at her and never want to see her again after this?
Was she being paranoid?
Were the emotions of the weekend taking a huge toll on both of them?
“Dean?”
“Hang on.”
Dean turned his truck to the right and headed for the shoreline. Gabby turned to him in confusion, but he didn’t elaborate what he was doing.
Gabby remembered where they were going and wondered why Dean was driving to Sunset Lake.
He stopped the truck in the parking lot. They had their pick of any space they wanted since the place was deserted this time of the year.
Dean opened and the door and got out of the truck.
Gabby sat there not knowing what to do. She was so afraid of what he would say next that sweat was forming on her brow in spite of the chilly day, and her heart accelerated in her chest.
She took a deep breath and swallowed when he opened the door and beckoned for her to get out of the truck.
She did, and he took her hand and led her out to the entrance to the beach.
Gabby inhaled the salty air and looked up to see the sun glistening over the rough water of the high tide.
The wind blew her hair around her face, and she had to keep pushing it back.
They stood at the crest of the dunes, and Dean stopped and turned to her.
She stiffened not knowing what to say to him.
“Do you remember this place?”
“Of course,” she answered.
He turned and pointed over to a huge stretch of sand.
“Remember when we were entering our senior year, and the seniors had a big bonfire in celebration?”
Gabby smiled at the memory. It was a last minute get together. She remembered it so well.
They partied all through the night there, because this place was never a huge tourist attraction, and no immediate neighborhoods would have people complaining about them.
