Part 10 (1/2)
”I promise.”
He was watching her closely, knew she was feeling emotional, but instead of offering comfort, he withdrew his hand and stood. ”Do you feel up to talking more about the nightmare?”
Embarra.s.sed, Kristen pulled herself together. ”If you think it's important.”
”You said Salva's boat had the accident in the Gulf.”
”Yes.”
”In the nightmare, is everyone in the water?”
”No. Just me and Ben.”
”And the two of you are drowning?”
”Yes.”
”Why isn't Salva?”
”I don't know.”
”Try to think. What's he doing on the boat?”
Kristen did as he asked and closed her eyes, tried to think. The vision of a body floating by flashed in front of her eyes and she jerked them open and scrambled off the bed. ”He's dead. Ben's dead.” She started to shake, then cry. She blinked back the tears but they wouldn't stop. Angry and frightened that she could cry for someone she couldn't even remember, she pounded her forehead with her small fist. ”Why can't I remember him? I know his name and that he has green eyes, so why-”
”Shh. It's okay.” Blu tugged her into his arms and rubbed her back. ”I shouldn't have pushed. If you're supposed to remember, you will. Let's forget it for tonight.”
He let go suddenly, as if he hadn't meant to touch her in the first place. But earlier he had wanted to touch her, to hold her. Kiss her. Why was he so aloof all of a sudden? Kristen wondered.
”I've got clean T-s.h.i.+rts in the bottom drawer if you'd rather sleep in something else.”
”Haven't you been listening? I have nightmares when I close my eyes. I'm not sleeping anymore tonight.”
”I'll bring you some warm milk.” He went to the drawer, grabbed a light blue T-s.h.i.+rt and tossed it at her.
Angry that he was being so cold, Kristen let the T-s.h.i.+rt sail past her and land on the bed. ”I hate warm
milk”
He arched a black brow, then strolled past her, retrieved three magazines from the built-in nightstand and laid them next to the T-s.h.i.+rt. ”Maybe if you read, you'll fall asleep. Me, I'm turning in next door.”
She stared at the magazines. The top two were commercial fis.h.i.+ng periodicals, the other... Kristen shoved the fis.h.i.+ng mags aside and uncovered aPlayboy. Struck speechless, she stared at the brunette with glossy red lips and monster b.r.e.a.s.t.s that strained to fit on the cover.
From behind her, she heard Blu swear. Then his long arm was reaching past her to snag thePlayboy.
Moments later, he was out the door, leaving her with the two fis.h.i.+ng periodicals.
Chapter 8.
^ Someone was singing-not singing exactly, it was more like humming. Kristen blinked awake and shoved herself up from the bed. She saw that the bedroom door was open, and wondered about that-last night Blu had closed it after he'd made his quick exit out of the room.
She flung the sheet aside and swung her legs to the floor. Wearing Blu's large T-s.h.i.+rt and her underwear, Kristen crept to the door and peeked out, gazing in the direction of the galley. An older woman stood at the counter, humming while she sliced fruit. She had gray hair pulled back in a neat bun at the nape of her neck, wore flat black shoes, and a brown skirt and white blouse. Kristen watched for a moment, keeping herself hidden, or so she thought. ”I'm Rose, Blu's mama,” the woman called, not turning around. Kristen squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then finally she stepped out of the bedroom and came forward. ”I'm Kristen,” she said. ”Ah, where's Blu?” Rose set down the knife and turned. ”I was going to ask you the same thing.” Blu's mother was at least smiling. Kristen tried to relax. ”I'm not sure. He never woke me, so...” She didn't finish what she was saying. It sounded as though... ”I checked DuBay Pier first thing this morning. When I didn't see the boat, I decided I might find him here. He uses the old family slip here at River Bay sometimes when there's a storm brewing. Last night we had a corker. Relax, child. I normally don't waltz in like this unannounced. I had some news for my son, and when he didn't hear me call down, I thought he might be sick or something.” ”Maybe he stepped out for some groceries.” Kristen could feel Blu's mother giving her a thorough once-over. ”It's possible. I found a carton of sour milk in the fridge, three eggs and a six-pack.” She patted a brown paper bag on the counter. ”That's why I brought my own. I do that from time to time. Have you known my son long?” ”Not too long.” There was no way Kristen was going to admit she'd known Blu only two days. This was his mother and she'd found Kristen in her son's bed. In his T-s.h.i.+rt. It was obvious that Mrs. duFray was thinking the worst-though she didn't seem all that upset about it.
”Are you from Algiers, child? I've lived here for over fifty years. Known dam near everyone. Do I know yourfolks?” ”No. I'm not from around here. I'mfrom...” Where was she from? ”I'm from Florida ... St. Petersburg.” ”So you're just visiting? Or have you relocated?”
”Visiting.”
Kristen scanned the room, looking for the phone. She couldn't wait any longer to call the shelter, and with Blu gone it was the perfect time. When she spied the phone on the wall, she said, ”I have to make a call. Do you mind?”
”Not at all, child. You make your call, and I'll get your breakfast on the table. I made eggs. Hope you like them scrambled.”
”You didn't need to fuss.”
”Nonsense, child. Everyone needs to eat. Except for my son, it seems.”
Kristen reached for the phone on the wall and quickly punched in the shelter's number. At the last minute, she took the cordless into the bedroom. ”Sister Marian, please,” she whispered into the phone once it was picked up.
A moment later the sister was speaking. ”This is Sister Marian. How can I help you?”
”This is Kristen.”
”Oh, my dear. Are you all right?”
”Yes, I'm fine. And Amanda?”
”She's fine, dear. Missing you, but we're becoming friends. I believe she's beginning to trust me a bit.”
”I'm sorry I didn't come back to the room last night, or call sooner. Something happened and ... I have a favor to ask. It's really important and if-”
”Ask dear. If it's within my power, I'll be happy to help. It's just such a relief to hear your voice and know you're all right.”
Kristen felt tears sting her eyes. ”I can't make it back to the shelter today. Maybe not even tomorrow. Take care of Amanda, please. And if someone comes looking for us- What I mean to say-”
”We've never seen you or know anything about a child. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
”Yes. I know that means-”