So focused on Jill, Claire doesn’t notice that the dog has sat up. Its ears are peaked at attention. Another whistle sounds, then the rumble of a motor. The dog leaps to the door, barking.
Claire moves Jill’s head gently from her shoulder then rushes to the door. More barking sounds, but from outside. She pushes the door open.
“Help! Please help us! We’re in here!” She waves frantically, tears wetting her cheeks as she watches the hound who’d darted off returning. He runs through the trees and straight toward the cabin, three men on snowmobiles in his path.
The men’s arrival relieves her like sunshine bursting through the window, putting an instant end to a nightmare. Two men in red jackets unload heavy packs onto the snow. Paramedics. The other, a police officer, approaches her first.
“Claire Fiksen?” he asks, holding a gun at his side.
“Yes.”
“Are you alone?”
“No.” When he draws the gun, she raises a hand. “No, I mean my sister is here. No one else. She’s sick and needs help...badly.”
The cop enters the cabin with Claire, ensuring it’s safe, then calls to the paramedics. “All clear. But we might need more help.”
One of the medics wraps Claire in a heavy blanket. “Thanks,” she says. “But please take care of her first.”
Jill lies under the blanket, eyes closed. Claire answers the emergency responder’s questions as they check Jill’s vitals then place an oxygen mask over her mouth. When her eyes flutter open, Claire is right there to soothe her. “It’s okay, Jill. These men are here to help us. We’re going to be okay.”
Deciding the terrain is too bumpy and slick to carry Jill by sled, the medics unfold a stretcher; they’ll carry her on foot.
During the ride back to the house, Claire realizes how dangerous further walking on her own could have been. The terrain is now slick with ice and covered with additional snow—a deceptive cover. Still wrapped in the blanket, she sits on the back of the policeman’s snowmobile, holding on tight, praying even harder. Hang on, Jill...
By the time they reach the house, an ambulance is ready. Though Claire feels able to walk, the paramedics suggest placing her onto a stretcher. “Only if I can ride with her,” she says.
Once Jill is secured inside, she joins her—two stretchers in one ambulance, one raised higher. Like bunk beds, Claire thinks.
“How did you find us?” Claire asks the paramedic as they prepare to drive off. “Was it the dog?”
“I’m sure the officers will explain everything once you arrive at the hospital,” the medic says.
Claire’s heart beats faster. Why wouldn’t he explain now?
She glances out the window and spots part of the answer. Hank’s car is parked on the roadside.
But where’s Hank?
Chapter Seventy-Three
An ER doctor is finishing dressing Claire’s wounds—bruises and cuts on her face, neck and ankle and a sprained wrist—when Elle arrives. She stops in the doorway of Claire’s hospital room, worry etched into her face.
“Claire!” She rushes in and drops her head onto Claire’s chest, crying. “I thought I was never going to see you again. I’m so sorry. I—”
“Hey... It’s not your fault.” Claire smooths Elle’s hair with her hand. “From what the officers said, you helped save me. They also said you took care of Zola.”
“Yeah, about Zola. She may have gained a few pounds...” Elle wrinkles her nose in apology. “I keep wanting to make her feel better so I gave her more snacks. Okay, and I ate a lot of snacks, too. It’s sort of been a comfort food fest.”
Claire grasps Elle’s hand then kisses it.
A nurse enters with a wheelchair. “Is now a good time?”
“Perfect,” Claire says then looks at Elle. “Ready to meet my sister?”
“I can’t freaking believe it...”
“I think I can manage to walk,” Claire tells the nurse.
“Doctor’s orders. After all you two have been through, don’t mind us if we spoil you a little.”
Claire smiles. At this point she’ll take all the spoiling she can get. Pausing outside Jill’s door, she grasps Elle’s hand. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? She’s...in tough shape.”
In addition to injuries similar to Claire’s, Jill suffered two broken ribs, frostbitten feet and hypothermia, which bordered on severe. Yet even with all her injuries. Jill had managed to direct the paramedics to Malcolm’s medical files, which held her recent X-rays and reports. Once she’s strong enough, she will most likely receive one of Claire’s kidneys. Malcolm was right about that.
“As ready as I can be,” Elle replies.
Stepping into the room, Claire catches Jill’s gaze. “Hey Sis.”
“Hey.” Jill smiles weakly.
Elle does a double take as she looks at the sisters.
Claire supposes she will have to get used to such glances. “Jill, this is Elle. I’ve known Elle all my life.”
“Hi Jill. I’m so happy to meet you,” Elle says.
“Happy to meet you, too.” Jill smiles then glances at Claire, as though seeking support.
Claire nods. It’s okay. You’re doing great.
Elle turns to Claire and whispers, “She even sounds like you.”
Claire looks at her friend, wondering how she feels about all of this. Yes, Jill is her sister, but she and Elle are still—she and Elle. And all she sees in Elle’s face is genuine joy as she gazes at Jill. For that, Claire loves her even more.
“I almost forgot. I have something for you both.” Elle reaches into a large gift sack she’s been carrying and pulls out two violet plants in ceramic pots. “I hope they’re...okay?”
Claire’s mouth drops open. “Elle, they’re... I don’t know what to say. They’re...perfect!”
Jill holds hers, staring at it with tear-filled eyes. “It’s so beautiful.”
“You know what?” Claire rests her hand on Jill’s arm. “Our mom loved violets. She even grew some, just like these once.”
Jill looks at her, wide eyed. “I wish I could’ve known her.”
“Me too,” Claire says. “I know it’s not the same, but I’ll tell you anything and everything you’d like to know.”
“We should have a sleepover and go through your old photo albums,” Elle says. “I’ll even make that pasta primavera your mom used to make.”
“That was my favorite,” Claire says. And it sounds delicious right now.
“That was my favorite,” Jill says.
“Why am I not surprised...” Claire smiles. “With warm, crusty French bread—”
“Garlic bread,” Jill adds. “And chunky tomato sauce.”
“What was that amazing cake your mom made?” Elle asks. “All rich and chocolatey. You’ve never had anything like it.”
Cake. Jill’s eyes fall.
“Well, it’s settled,” Elle says. “We’ll have a celebration. I’ll bring the champagne.”
Claire grasps Jill’s arm, aware that comfort around rich foods in particular will take some time. “Maybe. But not until you’re ready.”
Jill looks up. “Not maybe. We will celebrate. I’ll be ready...soon.”
Baby steps, Claire thinks.
One at a time. Jill appears thoughtful, but her eyelids are heavy.
“How about you get some rest? I’ll be back later.” Claire kisses Jill’s forehead then Elle rolls her into the hallway.
Claire steps out of the wheelchair and hugs Elle. “See what you helped accomplish? I don’t know how to thank you. If you hadn’t gone to the police...”
“Well I was only part of that equation. A small part, if you ask me. I wish you could have seen Hank’s eyes when he showed up at my house, panicked over finding you. The man is crazy about you.”
Hank. She needs to see him.
“He woke up a short while ago,” the nurse tells Claire as they reach Hank’s room. “He’s still groggy from surgery, but he’s been asking for you.�
� Leaving the wheelchair with Elle in the hallway, Claire steps inside. “Mr. Matheson? You have a visitor.”
Hank lies in the hospital bed, hooked up to IVs. Thick bandages encircle his abdomen. Though the bullet had lodged in his lower left abdomen, it missed major arteries and organs. His self-care measures had prevented more serious damage.
His eyes crack open as she approaches. “Claire.”
She squeezes his hand and kisses it, then his forehead. “Are you all right?” The question seems silly. What can she say?
“Minus the hole in my stomach thing, just dandy. Hoping I’ll get some extra credit.”
She releases a sob into her hands. “God, I’m so sorry.”
“I was kidding. Come here, you.” He draws her close, kisses her lips. “Do you have any idea how crazy I went worrying about you?” He touches her face, his tired eyes moist with tears. “You are really here, right? I’m not high on pain drugs?”
“I’m definitely here,” she says softly. She touches his bandage. “I wish he hadn’t hurt you.”
“I wish he hadn’t hurt you. Or your...sister?”
Claire smiles. “I know. It’s crazy, right? But Hank, she’s...incredible. I mean, geez. She’s practically another me!”
Hank starts to laugh then winces. “Think we can stick to non-hilarious subjects for a while?”
Claire feels a rush of guilt. “Of course. I have one. Well, two. You heard about Grandma?”
Hank’s smile fades. “I did. I’m so sorry.”
Her throat tightens. “You know what’s odd? When we were out there in the cabin, I kept thinking there’s no way Grandma can live with all of this. She never got over losing Mom...then to learn about Malcolm?”
Claire shudders at the thought. “At least she went peacefully... The police said there was no sign of struggle. She died in her sleep.”
“Do you think Malcolm—?”
Claire shakes her head. “I don’t know. I’m not sure when he could have.” She pauses. “You know what else I kept thinking out there? How I shouldn’t let fear keep me from happiness. Jill taught me that. And how much I love you, Hank Matheson. I should have told you sooner.”
Hank half-laughs.
“Oh, that’s funny?” she asks.
“You’re not just saying that because I took a bullet for you, are you?”
“No, but now that you mention it...thanks.” Claire grins, her face lighting up for the first time in what feels like years.
“I love you too, Claire. When I thought I’d lost you...” A single tear spills down his cheek. “I can’t even go there.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I do have one request...”
“Anything.”
“Let’s not go to such extremes to realize these things in the future. Not sure my body can take it.”
“Deal.” Grinning again, she kisses him.
Once he starts dozing off, she heads back to check on her other other half.
Chapter Seventy-Four
Back in Jill’s hospital room, Claire sits at her bedside, overwhelmed by a sensation of completeness—she cannot think of it in any other way. Though she’s lost all four members of the family she grew up with and will no doubt grieve for some time, she’s gained more than she could ever imagine in Jill. She feels all of them with her now, Jill, Elle, Hank...even Mom, Grandpa, Grandma and William—her true dad—seem present. Noticing similar goose bumps on each other’s skin, the twins exchange smiles.
Claire’s cell phone buzzes—a text from Hank:
Check your email.
What is he up to? She clicks on the inbox on her phone to find a message from Hank, sent the previous day. Judging from the time stamp, he must have sent it after he’d been shot, while he was trapped in the basement.
Dear Claire, I don’t know what’s going to happen, or what already has. But I do know one thing. I love you. I should have told you sooner...
Claire’s words to Hank when she stopped by his room, almost verbatim. She marvels again at how blessed she feels during a time of incredible loss. She and Jill will endure tough patches—probably many, in the coming days. But together, they’ll get through.
When the nurse orders everyone out, Claire remains for a minute. “You doing okay?” she asks.
“I think so. It’s weird. You’d think I’d be in shock over all of this, but it feels...”
“Almost normal?” Claire says.
Jill nods.
“I feel the same way.”
Jill looks at Claire, her chin trembling. Then she bursts into tears.
Claire moves closer, clutches her hand. “What is it? What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
“No! I’m just....happy. I finally know why I never gave up. The reason is...so much better than I imagined.” She wipes her tears with a tissue. “Thank you for being so nice to me.”
“Nice to you? Jill, you have no idea what you mean to me, do you?” Tears spilling down her cheeks, she holds both of Jill’s hands. “We are family now. No. We’ve always been family. The rest of our lives starts right here and now, okay? And I will always be here for you. No matter what.”
Jill touches Claire’s cheek with her hand, smiling. “I love you, Claire.”
“I love you, too, sis. For always.”
Claire hoists herself up onto the bed beside Jill and rests her head on the pillow. As they drift to sleep, unafraid of nightmares, their breath synchronized, Claire feels their mother’s arms wrapped around them. Love you too, Mom.
“Me too, Claire. I feel her too...”
The Beginning
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Chapter Sixty-Six
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Chapter Seventy
Chapter Seventy-One
Chapter Seventy-Two
&n
bsp; Chapter Seventy-Three
Chapter Seventy-Four
In Her Shadow Page 22