Part 33 (1/2)

Wanderlove Belle Malory 48240K 2022-07-22

”Speaking of biscuits, Grams, I'm a little hungry. Do you mind if I cook something?”

”Sure,” she said. ”I'll help you. I've been kind of liberal with my grocery shopping these days and I actually have some carbs stocked up in the fridge.”

”Nice.”

Miriam and I cooked pancakes together. The house was quiet and the only sounds came from the clanking of dishes, the sizzling of the frying pan and other kitchen sounds.

We ate together around the island. Neither of us said anything until we finished our plates.

”I haven't had a good pancake in over a year,” Miriam told me.

I smiled. ”They were pretty delicious,” I said.

Silence filled the air again. I heard the noise of someone moving around upstairs.

Annika.

My throat constricted whenever I thought of her.

I think Miriam caught me looking towards the ceiling because she knew the direction my thoughts were headed.

”She's okay with you coming back,” Miriam said to me softly. ”In fact, I think she's relieved.”

”Why on earth would she be relieved?”

”I think she feels guilty.”

”For what?”

”She knew about your abduction, Lola. Before it happened. She saw Gorge coming to your school in her dream and she found out he was the one who had broken into the school. He was searching for your records. Since she knew Gabe would eventually find you, she didn't try and stop it from happening.”

I gulped my orange juice, trying to avoid the anger from was.h.i.+ng over me. I was through being upset with Annika.

Miriam continued by telling me, ”She didn't know you would be tortured, Lo. She feels incredibly sorry about that. Like I told you before, she's not a horrible person. She was simply going through a hard time.”

I nodded and forced myself to smile. ”I understand.”

FORTY-ONE.

A few nights had pa.s.sed since I'd come home, which was still a weird way for me to think of this place. It was the weekend and I would be starting school on Monday. I desperately hoped I could catch up. Miriam already mentioned I would likely have to enroll myself in summer school- a prospect which had me groaning. I'd wanted to spend at least part of my summer visiting my father and my old troupe. But I wasn't sure if that could happen now.

I walked the beach every night also, casting wary glances at the Constantin mansion. I think I hoped maybe Gabe would see me in his line of vision and come to see me. But he didn't- which was good. I didn't know what I'd say to him, anyway.

”You're moping,” Miriam pointed out to me. We'd just eaten dinner and she caught me scrubbing the same dish for a long time. I quickly rinsed it and picked up another as if nothing were wrong.

”What do you mean? I was just daydreaming or something,” I said, trying to laugh it off.

She raised a skeptical brow.

”You better just go and speak with him. Get it over with.”

I dropped my dish now and turned off the hot water. ”What are you talking about, Grams? I was just doing the dishes.”

”You know what I'm talking about, Lo.”

I crossed my arms, frustrated. I decided to give up my pretense act of being okay. ”I thought you didn't think it was safe for me to be around him. So why do you suddenly think I should go talk to him?”

”It is safer when you're not around him. But in my opinion, you're going to remember your past whether you're around him or not. You may as well be happy with the time you've got, even if it's only a short time.”

With that said, Miriam left the room, leaving me to contemplate what I should do. I was more confused than ever. For the time being, I decided I would do nothing. Besides, Gabe hadn't made an effort to see me since we'd come back. I was sure he'd seen me walking close to his house. Maybe he didn't care as much anymore. And maybe that was a good thing.

Sadly, I finished the dishes and headed upstairs to my bedroom. I stayed awake all night, thinking about things. I remembered so many happier times with Gabe. The two of us laughing over silly jokes, dancing to countless songs and watching thousands of sunsets together. I remembered Gabe playing the piano while I listened from my window seat, smiling. I remembered reading to Gabe from my books while he rested his head in my lap. I remembered our beautiful children, and their children. I remembered exotic places the two of us visited together, exploring and finding new adventures.

I remembered happiness.

FORTY-TWO.

”Just breathe,” I said to myself. ”You're going to go through with this.”

I'd made up my mind. After a night of hardly any sleep, I decided I would follow my heart. I would tell Gabe how I felt, and I prayed he still felt the same way.

I was so nervous, walking along the docks and heading towards Gabe's boat. My feet felt much heavier, too. Like stones. I forced myself to walk faster, before I changed my mind and ran back to the house.

I heard a familiar voice laughing as I neared the boat. It was a woman's voice. A ball of anxiety formed in the pit of my stomach. I turned past a corner and saw the side of Gabe's body from where I stood. My feet slowed.

Gabe was wearing his khaki cargo shorts, a brown leather belt, and no s.h.i.+rt. His abdomen muscles contracted as if he were laughing hard about something. I moved closer to him, taking one step at a time. . .until I finally saw her.

It was Annika.

My stomach felt like it dropped out from under me and my throat swelled up in the same instance. It had been her voice I heard laughing happily. She continued to giggle even now.

Gabe turned towards me suddenly. He hadn't even noticed me coming through his mind sight, he'd been so distracted by Annika. Realizing this made me wish he hadn't seen me at all.

His lazy grin disappeared when he saw my expression.

Feeling ashamed for letting him catch me there, I turned away and walked back in the direction I'd come from. I didn't know what else to do.

My breath wavered as I inhaled deeply a few times- a lame attempt at trying to keep the tears away. My eyes watered anyway.

”Lola, wait!”

Gabe called me from behind. I looked back to see he was running barefoot towards me on the wooden dock.