So unbelievable! I could still feel the Essence flowing through my body, rushing like giant, powerful waves hitting the surf. Wiggling my fingers, I remembered the tingling sensations when touching Jason’s wound. I’d been so relieved and exalted after I’d healed him. There was a lot to learn and even more to understand, but this was one amazing gift. And for the first time, I truly believed I could survive my rendezvous with mountain lions. I felt incredible. Healing Jason had been effortless. Now, I needed to know if healing myself would be that simple.
My body trembled, and I realized I was still shaking from the whole episode. I wanted to see Jason again. Actually, I wanted his arms wrapped around me, easing away the memories of the beady-eyed man firing his gun at me. Jason had saved me too, and I’d forgotten to thank him.
Vibrations from the old, jumpy washing machine shook the floor as I curled up in a soft, yellow afghan on the couch. I’d rest for awhile and then tackle a woodworking project, or maybe, I’d just sleep and dream of Jason.
CHAPTER 14 – A CHANGE IN PLANS
The next couple days were completely frustrating. A mandate came down directly from human resources that neither Jason nor I could return to work for at least a week, maybe two. We were placed on paid leave while we recovered emotionally, and for Jason physically, from the shooting. Except I was going stir crazy sitting at home all alone. Ally and Ben had left for Tacoma a couple days before the whole incident had taken place and were to be gone for two weeks. My parents were in California visiting my brothers, but calling them was not an option anyways, because they’d fly home immediately. If they learned I’d been involved with gun-wielding bank robbers, they’d spend the next seven days fluttering around me.
The one positive: I was still flying high with the discovery of my new found ability. My Essence was a constant now – always present and easily discernible. Despite feelings of elation regarding my Essence, I still needed to funnel away my other frustrations. I tried reading Thackeray’s novel Vanity Fair again. But anytime I read more than two sentences on a page I’d slip into a daydream and replay the whole, terrifying bank scene in my mind again. I’d imagine the gun going off and ripping my stomach apart, or I’d see a bullet smacking Jason right between the eyes. Trying to obliterate those images was proving difficult. I was also frustrated I hadn’t heard a word from him. I contemplated contacting him but was too pissed off and stubborn to follow through.
Friday morning, Jessica finally called me back, but reception wasn’t great on the island. The current plan was that her family would return early Sunday morning and we’d all head up to Nooksack Falls where we could take a hike and discuss everything. Hiking at Nooksack Falls wasn’t high on my list, but since I wouldn’t be alone, I doubted there was much chance we’d encounter mountain lions.
She’d already heard about the bank saga from Madison, who’d of course, heard it all from Jason. “I can’t believe the whole thing!” she exclaimed. “Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” I said, putting my cell phone on speaker mode as I leaned over the kitchen counter and stared out at the bay.
“Well, I’m jumping into one of our speedboats and coming directly to your house. You shouldn’t be alone after that harrowing experience.”
“Jessica, don’t be absurd. I’ll see you in a day and a half. No worries. I have Ally and Ben looking out for me,” I lied. “Anyways, Jason’s the one who took the bullet; you should be worrying about him.”
The phone crackled. “He’s doing great, thanks to you. I’m so excited and proud of you! I knew eventually you’d discover your Essence, but that was fast. Talk about perfect timing, too. I can’t believe you were able to draw upon your Essence and direct it towards Jason immediately after finding it for the first time. That’s so sensational. How does it feel?”
“Incredible.” I smiled at her enthusiasm and fiddled with the kitchen faucet.
“I still think I should come and see you right now.”
“Absolutely not. You stay with your family and enjoy your relatives. Just come prepared to tell all on Sunday,” I said firmly.
“Oh, I don’t think you should…”
“Jessica, please. I’m fine.”
“Well…okay, but I can’t wait to see you. Max, Madison, Laci and I will be back at the marina early Sunday morning. We’ll meet up with you and Jason at the Sehome store.”
“Sounds good.”
“And Lexi?”
Static erupted, and I held the phone further away. “Yeah?”
“I promise we’ll tell you the whole story about us and explain all about your Amethyst capabilities. You won’t be disappointed; I’m sure. I’ll be so relieved when you know everything. I know you’ll want to help us; we need you more than ever. Promise me you won’t worry?”
After all she’d just said – I wasn’t supposed to worry? Yeah, right. But I said, “Okay.”
Sunday morning arrived none too soon, and I waited impatiently inside the Sehome food court. We were all supposed to meet up at seven o’clock. Since I was a ball of nerves, I’d arrived 15 minutes early and bought myself a huge bag of trail mix. Jessica texted that they were having boat engine problems and were going to be late. She said I should ride up to Nooksack Falls with Jason and they’d catch up in a few hours. That threw me for a loop, because now I’d be alone with Jason. Not only was I tired of small talk, I was ticked he hadn’t bothered to check on me since the bank incident.
Frustrated, I stepped outside into the sunny August morning. The weather had been beautiful over that last couple weeks, and today was no exception. I looked down at my new, waterproof Teva hiking sandals. They were full-grain leather – made for comfort, support, and durability. My khaki hiking shorts weren’t too shabby either. Rather than spend all day Saturday sulking at home alone, I’d spent the day doing something I heavily despised – shopping. But hey, if I was going to get paid not to work, I’d decided I’d spend the money on something useful. For once, I looked fashionably coordinated, thanks to the REI salesclerk. My favorite purchase was the GoLite backpack.
A horn honked, and I looked up. A dirty, teal Chevy Silverado, with some serious all-terrain tires, pulled up next to the sidewalk. The front passenger window rolled down. My heart skipped a beat, and my face flushed as Jason examined me with his bright eyes.
“Hi Alex. I’m glad to see you all in one piece. I was worried about you.”
“Yeah, right,” I mumbled to myself as I walked over to the truck.
As I opened the door he let out a low whistle. “You look way too good to go hiking.”
“Shut up,” I said with dismay and climbed in. “I’m just wearing the usual gear.”
He gave me a sideways glance, “Maybe, but you wear it well.”
I decided to throw it back at him. “Well, you look like a certified hiking guide in that get-up.” In closed-toe hiking sandals, black cargo shorts, and God forbid, a snug turquoise, quarter-zip shirt that matched his eyes and accentuated his well-built upper body, he looked good enough to eat. “All you need now are contacts,” I grumbled.
His eyebrows shot up, and he turned the rearview mirror towards himself. “Why?”
Avoiding direct eye contact, I muttered, “How do you expect a girl to concentrate when you’re flashing those aqua-marine eyes?”
“Ah ha! I do believe you’ve paid me my first compliment.” He inspected his eyes, and then twisted the mirror back into place. “I suppose they are one of my better features.”
“Oh geez, give it up already,” I said, mildly annoyed. Conversation waned, and we drove in silence for a few minutes. Emotions bubbled inside me – fear swirling like clouds of dust and debris encircling a tornado and frustration threatening to explode. “I haven’t heard a word from you in two days,” I finally said. “Can we get serious for one minute, and stop pretending like the whole bank incident never happened.” Quickly, I turned my head towards the side window. Choking on my words, I added, “An event in which eith
er one of us could have been killed. And after everything we went through, I don’t hear anything from you.” I turned and looked at him. “Maybe I needed to know how you were…if you were okay. Did you even wonder how I was doing?”
He drummed his hands on the steering wheel. “God Alex, how can you think I didn’t care how you were doing? You’re all I’ve thought about. I wanted to call you. Really, I did.”
He pulled over to the side of the road and parked the car. Shifting his body sideways, he put his right knee on the seat and frowned. “I should’ve called. I should’ve followed my instincts. I’m sorry.” He banged the dashboard with his left fist. “This is new to you, and you were probably still pretty shaken up from all the gun fire.”
“Do ya think?” I harped.
His jaw clenched, and he shook his head disgustedly at himself. “I was afraid if I called you, we’d get off topic. I knew you’d want an explanation about me and about you…well, before it was time.” His eyes darted over my face. “I have the deepest respect for the Nelson’s and my parents, and I didn’t want to jeopardize my relationship with any of them. They really believe you’re going to need the support of all of us, Jessica especially, when we show you who we are.”
Sincerity and frustration flooded his face, and I realized he was as emotionally screwed up as I was. My heart softened as my spirits lifted. And what did he mean about “showing” who they were? Just who the heck were they?
“Would it be helpful to talk about what happened?” he asked. Relieved and impressed that he’d taken the initiative, I nodded. For the next fifteen minutes I did most of the talking, while he listened. Turned out to be a successful therapy session.
Resolutely, I gazed into his eyes. I wanted nothing more than to spend the next couple hours enjoying his company and forgetting about all the unsaid crap that hung between us. Gathering willpower, I said, “Let’s see if we can have fun for a few hours, before…I guess, before my life changes forever. Okay?”
After examining my face thoroughly, he must have found what he was looking for, because he smiled and said, “Okay.” He started the engine and added quietly, “I think you’re amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“Music?” he asked as he pulled the truck back onto the highway.
“Loud,” I suggested.
He turned the volume insanely loud and yelled, “I love this song.” I sat back and listened to the song, Time Stands Still by Rush. We both sang along during different parts, and I took a few minutes to study the inside of his truck. The only things out of place were the two empty water bottles rolling around on the floor. Sitting in the middle of the console were a couple books about hiking the Pacific Northwest and an I-pod. An Atlas rested in the side pocket of my door, and a CD case sat at my feet. Curiously, I thumbed through it and found an interesting mix of music: the Beatles, Rascal Flatts, Rolling Stones, Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon, Def Leppard, and Santana.
As the song ended he turned the volume down and glanced over at me suspiciously. “So, how is it a girl like you knows the lyrics to a song from an old band like Rush?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I said with attitude. “A girl like what?”
He lifted his hands off the steering wheel. “I just meant because you’re young. You weren’t around when that band was popular.”
“You’re not exactly ancient.” I laughed. “Now put your hands back on the wheel, please.” I looked out the window; we were on the Mount Baker Highway, zipping past farmhouses and open fields. “You shouldn’t be so surprised. I have a much older step-brother who listens to classic rock. I grew up loving the oldies as well as the songs from my generation.”
“Really? How much older is your step-brother?”
“Brandon is fifteen years older than me. I have another brother, Greg, who’s only three years older than me. Greg’s my biological brother.”
A look of confusion crossed his face. “Oh?”
“My dad, Dr. Adams, is really my step-dad,” I explained. “He married my mom when I was three years old, and he legally adopted Greg and me about a year later. Dr. Adams was also divorced, and his son Brandon was living with him.” I glanced at his face. He seemed to be following me and appeared interested so I continued, “Luckily for us, we all got along really well and have been tight ever sense. Both my brothers live in San Diego and are game designers. They can be obnoxious, but I love ‘em.”
“And Dr. Adams?”
“Dr. Adams is my dad,” I said thoughtfully, fiddling with the zipper on my backpack. “I don’t think of him as a step-dad. He raised me. He’s been good to me – always setting the bar high but offering encouragement along the way. I get my passion for reading from him.”
“Sounds like a good man,” Jason said. “No sisters then?”
“Nope, but Ally and I have been best friends since 2nd grade; she’s like my sister.”
He looked over at me with a puzzled frown and said, “You haven’t mentioned your biological father. Is he in the picture?”
Biting my lip, I shook my head. “Nope. Long story. I’ll tell ya about it another time.”
He nodded and changed the subject. “All right, let’s test your musical knowledge.” He ejected the Rush CD and handed it to me. “Put this back and choose your favorite song from any of the CD’s.” I smiled and complied. Familiar with most of his selection, I chose one that suited my current mood. Def Leppard. He laughed. “I’m not surprised. The English rock band from Sheffield which became one of the top-selling bands of the 80’s. They were especially popular with female listeners. Which song?”
“How ‘bout number six, and turn it up.”
“Animal,” he said with surprise and blasted the sound system even louder than before. Even though it was still early morning and not yet warm outside, he rolled down the windows and cranked the heater. The wind and heat combination, along with the loud rhythmic pounding of the bass, were exhilarating. I felt wild and free. We took turns choosing songs and then I switched it out with a Rascal Flatts CD. Eventually, the song Love Who You Love filled the cab, but halfway through the song, he gave me a tight smile and ejected the CD.
I looked at him inquisitively, and he said, “This one is…well, it reminds me of…oh, I’ll tell you some other time.” He kind of choked on his words. His face looked strained, and I didn’t want to remind him of some past girlfriend he still harbored feelings for, so even though I was curious, I kept quiet. My throat tightened at the thought of him with someone else.
I grabbed the Rolling Stones disc but turned the volume way down. “So, what’s the deal with this private island Jessica’s family owns in the San Juan’s?”
He laughed. “I know, right? Seems crazy. There’s around 170 or so named islands out there, and a handful are privately owned. The Nelson family inherited one from Jessica’s grandmother, on her dad’s side. It’s been passed down from generation to generation. Towhead Island is several acres and offers amazing views of the islands and of Mt. Baker.”
“Wow. I’m jealous.”
“Me too. The island is secluded and beautifully treed. They have a huge mansion directly in the center that has like ten bedrooms and seven bathrooms with the most amazing kitchen ever. They like to spend family time out there, and it has other purposes as well,” he gave me a sideways glance, “a safe haven of sorts, but you’ll learn more about that later.”
I tapped the leather seat and said, “Sounds like you’re pretty familiar with the mansion. I suppose you’ve been there a lot with Madison?” I asked with a slight hitch in my voice.
“Actually, my mom and Madison’s mom have always been close friends. So, growing up, our families spent a lot of time together boating, camping, and spending time at their island retreat. I’ve always felt like Max was just another brother and Madison and Jessica were sisters.”
“Hmm,” I said. “But Madison doesn’t feel that way; she’s very possessive of you. Not to mention, I’m at the top of her hate lis
t.”
“What makes you say that?” He turned his head and looked me square in the eyes.
I blushed. To come clean, or not to come clean? I decided there were far too many secrets already. Taking a deep breath, I said in a squeaky voice, “I have a confession to make.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” I nodded and tucked my hands under my legs. “I umm, well I kind of overheard you and Madison talking in the break room. But,” I continued hastily, “it wasn’t on purpose. I had to use the bathroom, and you guys were so loud. When I heard my name—”
“Alex,” he interrupted, “it’s okay. I understand. And you know what?” I shook my head, and he said, “I had my suspicions you’d overheard our conversation.”
My jaw dropped, and I turned beat red. “Why?” I managed to say.
He looked at me and smiled. “I thought I could smell you.”
“What?”
“You always smell like vanilla. When I walked out of the break room after arguing with Madison, remnants of vanilla lingered in the air. I even walked around the backroom looking for you.”
“Great,” I mumbled. So much for being sneaky.
“Yes, you do smell great,” he said. “And I appreciate you fessin’ up.” He changed the subject, and for the next hour we listened to music and talked mostly about our childhoods. Before I knew it we’d arrived at Nooksack Falls. Absolutely magnificent and extremely loud, the falls broke into three separate segments – waters plunging almost a hundred feet. Even though it was still early, a fair number of people wandered around snapping pictures.
“The Falls are fed from the headwaters of the North Fork of the Nooksack River, but the glacial runoff originates on the slopes of Mt. Shuksan,” Jason said in a raised voice, so his words weren’t lost in the roar. He studied his watch and made several indecisive noises before saying, “I think we still have a good couple hours before they make it up here. It’s probably another 12 miles of rough, gravel roads before we get to the trailhead, but about halfway up I know a place we could take a short hike to a hidden waterfall. What do ya think?” He spoke with the enthusiasm of an eight year old boy who’d just walked into Legoland. His eyes sparkled with excitement; he was definitely in his element, and I was enjoying this side of him. “I’d really like to show it to you, if you’re up for it,” he added.
Amethyst - Book One of the Guardian Series Page 19