Written in the Scars (34 page)

The water ripples across the cup and I fight to focus on it. Sleep prickles at my consciousness, thanks to the shot by Doctor Walker. Of course, I had to tell him I was pregnant and when I realized that another person would know before Ty, I had a complete meltdown.

I look up as a knock sounds gently on the door. Vernon’s head pokes around the corner.

“Can I get you ladies anything? Anything at all?” he asks.

“My husband and brother and friend.”

His face falls. “We’re trying, Mrs. Whitt.”

“Try harder.”

“We’re discerning their location now. I’ll update you as soon as I know more.”

“You have to find them,” I implore. “You don’t understand . . .”

A part of me feels bad. It’s not his fault, not specifically. Ty chose to go to work even though he knew the risks. But Vernon chose to be the face of Blackwater, so surely he expected some venom from me. If not, he should’ve reconsidered his decision.

“The Pettis family is in the room next to you and the Salis family too. If you would like to see them, it’s the door on your left.”

I nod, but have no interest in seeing them at this point. I don’t even know them, not really, except Sharp, whom I loathe.

“And we haven’t located any family for Cord McCurry. Do you ladies have any idea where to find them?”

My heart lurches in my chest and I look at Lindsay. “We are his family.”

“I mean blood family.”

“You don’t understand, Vernon. We are his family.”

He nods, not understanding, but getting my point.

“There is a Reverend Mitchell here to see you,” he states. “Would you like to see him?”

“Yes. Please,” Lindsay speaks up.

“We’re holding all visitors unless you give us their names specifically. Is there anyone you’d want to see besides your attorney and doctor?”

Lindsay gives them the names of her parents. My heart breaks at the fact I don’t have my parents here.

“Um, Ty’s mom is on a cruise. I’ve called the cruise line and they’re trying to reach her, so if she calls, please put her through. But I’m doubting she’s reachable.”

He looks concerned for a brief moment before smoothing out his features. Eric Parker told us when he visited earlier that Blackwater would try to segregate us from outsiders until this is resolved. He suggested we stay here for proximity purposes, but to fight for access for whomever we wanted to see. So far, we haven’t wanted to see anyone.

“The media is asking if you have a statement . . .”

“They should contact Eric Parker if they have questions,” I report.

“Very well. I’ll send the reverend back.”

I watch the door for the Reverend Mitchell’s silver head to pop around the door.

“Did you choose pink and silver because it’ll match the Reverend’s hair?” Ty laughs, stretching his legs out on the tailgate of the truck.

Moon Mountain is lit up with a million fireflies twinkling around us. I press my cheek against his chest and cuddle against him.

“No, I picked it because it’s pretty,” I say, listening to his heart beat.

“You know what else is pretty?”

“What’s that?”

“You.”

“You think I’m pretty?”

TY

“You think I’m pretty?”

I watch the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen blush at the idea. How could she not know? How could she not have a clue that she’s all I think about as she sits in front of me in math? How does she not understand she’s all I’ve thought about when I’m alone since she showed up to our school ten days ago?

“I hope you’ll think about being my girlfriend.”

Her blush deepens as I try not to do something stupid and ruin my chances before I get this locked down. I’m afraid to say too much, smile too big, touch her too much just in case I’ll burn any points I’ve managed to get with the gorgeous new girl in class.

“Really?” Her voice is soft, just like the faint scent of strawberries in her hair. “You want to go out with me?”

“Who wouldn’t want to go out with the prettiest girl they’ve ever seen?”

A light flickers to my right. It’s weak, an almost brown hue instead of the yellow light that usually comes out of the headlamps. Cord’s face sags, bags evident under his eyes. “Everyone good?”

We all nod because anything more would be a lie.

The light flips off again and the darkness takes over.

“I fucking hate the dark,” Cord laughs. “I always leave the light on in the bathroom down the hallway at night because I hate waking up to pitch black.”

“My dad always said you’re safer in the dark because the odds are even between you and whatever is after you,” Jiggs relays. “I don’t think this counts.”

“This fucking sucks,” Cord says, blowing a breath. “I need a fucking shower and I don’t know if it’s more to get clean or warm up.”

Everything is damp. Even the little platform we built now has water just below the tops of the rocks. The chill is settling in our bones, making our bodies ache.

“Better get used to this not sleeping stuff,” I say. “Lindsay is having a baby, you know.”

“Yeah . . .” Jiggs voice trails off and I know he’s considering our situation. But I need his spirits up. We need to stay as positive as we can for as long as we can.

Until we can’t.

I can’t go there. I feel like I should, to prepare, but how do you prep for . . .
that?

“You’re naming it after me, right?” I ask instead to distract me as much as anyone.

He snorts, the sound making me grin. I can imagine him shaking his head, rolling his eyes—but I have to imagine it because, although he’s a foot away from me, I can’t see him.

“Lindsay thinks it’s a girl,” Jiggs says.

“So, Cordelia, right?” Cord asks.

“No, assholes. I’m not naming my kid after you two,” Jiggs laughs. “After we get out of here, I might not want to ever see you again.”

“I feel you there,” I sigh, making them both chuckle.

“And as cold as I am,” Jiggs says, “I might go along with her plan to move to Florida.”

His voice softly carries through the cavern as he begins to cry. “Fuck it, you guys. I just want out of here. I’ll move wherever the fuck she wants. I just want her.”

The silence we’ve come to know intimately takes over once again as his crying tapers off. Our breathing rattles through the room, the drips of the water piercing the stillness. It’s like a scary movie, and we’re waiting on the predator to jump out.

“You know,” Jiggs gulps, “if we don’t get out of here . . .”

His voice breaks again and I reach for him but can’t find him in the dark. My chest tightens as I scoot my ass along the jagged rocks until I’m beside him.

“Listen to me,” I say, “we’re gonna get out of here.”

“Maybe,” he says, his voice raw, “maybe not. But, you know, at least Lindsay will have—”

“Look,” Cord interrupts, his voice booming over Jiggs’. “Shut up about this ‘maybe not’ bullshit. Okay? They’ll come for us. You know they will.”

“Yeah . . .” Jiggs says, sniffling. “This isn’t fair, man. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Elin says we all have a purpose in life,” Cord says, his voice even.

“What?” I ask, irritation heavy in my tone. “To come to the pits of hell and die? I object.”

“Maybe—” Cord is cut off by a faint sound that isn’t our voices, isn’t our breathing, and isn’t water.

It’s the sound of a drill.

ELIN

“Have you eaten anything?” Dr. Walker looks at me, then Lindsay, and back to me again.

I shake my head no.

“You both need to eat. For you and the babies.”

Looking away to the paint-chipped walls of the conference room, tears blur my vision. My heart is broken. My soul ripped to pieces. My mind unwilling, unable, to consider my life in any way other than with a happy ending with my husband.

My brain spins out of control. If I don’t keep it focused on a memory, a plan, an idea, it starts wondering where he is, if he’s hurt, in pain, cold.

If he’s dead.

Bile creeps up my throat, singeing the already burnt tissue from multiple trips to the bathroom before now. There’s nothing left in my stomach. There can’t be. Just the by-products of the agony I’m in.

I miss his smile, the way his laugh washes over me and makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. I need that. I need that now.

“Please be okay,” I whisper. “We need you. You promised me you’d come home. You promised me you wouldn’t lie.”

“Can I get you ladies some fruit?” Dr. Walker asks.

“I can’t eat anything,” Lindsay says behind me. Her voice is devoid of emotion. Like me, she’s completely spent in every way.

She stands, grabbing the armrest of the chair and steadying herself. “I just keep thinking I fought with him for the last few weeks about moving. I just pushed and pushed and . . .” She bends at the waist, her head in her hands. “He left for work mad at me.”

I spring to my feet and hug her, tears flowing down my cheeks. “He’s never mad at you. He loves you so much.”

“They should have some news for you soon.” Dr. Walker chooses his next words carefully. “I know you’re scared right now, ladies, and that’s understandable. But can I be honest with you?”

My head turns slowly until I’m facing him. I’m unable to smile, to nod, to tell him he can say whatever he wants because I’m numb.

“Your husband and brother are both strong men. I’ve known Ty since he was a boy and would come into my office and ask for the requisite sucker and sticker before his appointment, not after. And Jiggs . . .” He chuckles and looks away for a moment. “I’ve known your brother since he came to me his freshman year for a physical for football. He made a not-so-gentle comment about me asking him to look away and cough.”

The corner of my lip twitches. “I can only imagine.”

“I’m sure you can,” he says. “You know, in my area of expertise, we believe in the science of things. In cold, hard facts. But I’ve always believed, even in med school, that there was more to it than that. That people can feel other people’s thoughts and wishes. And after all that schooling and thirty years of practice, I still do.”

He kneels in front of me, glancing over my shoulder at Lindsay for a split second. “I know you’re scared. You have every right to be. But you need to be strong. For you,” he says, before tapping my belly, “for the baby. For your brother and husband and Cord . . . and for Lindsay.”

“But I’m not strong right now,” I whimper.

“You are stronger than you realize, sweetheart. I want you to dig deep and think about what I’ve said. Send your boys below some good vibes, let them know the world is praying for them and pulling for them.”

My brows pull together. “The world?”

“It’s all over the media, Elin. It’s breaking news on the major stations. They have this place locked down tight.”

“My God . . .” My head buries in my hands. “Will this make it harder for Blackwater to focus?”

“I think they’re actually getting some help from experts they wouldn’t have access to normally,” Dr. Walker says. “I think this is a good thing.” His face scrunches and he takes a deep breath. “But I think you need to prepare yourself in case this doesn’t end up the way we want it.”