Nicholas noticed the focus of my gaze and tucked the medallion back under his shirt out of view.
Looking up at his beautiful face made all the pain fade away and I blushed as the butterflies flew around in my stomach. I knew my eyes must be red from crying and dirt covered me from head to toe, not to mention my clothes were torn, but he acted as if he didn’t see any of that.
Nicholas bent forward and looked directly at me. Seriousness crossed his face. “Promise me you won’t wander alone in the woods again. Promise me,” he quietly demanded.
“I promise.”
“And no mention the mountain lion, okay?”
“Okay, but...”
Luke opened the door. His eyes went from Nicholas then to me. When he saw my disheveled appearance, he gaped in horror.
“What the hell?” Luke said.
I clenched my teeth preparing for a barrage of questions. I must’ve looked pretty bad.
Luke rushed to me.
“What happened?” he demanded, glaring at Nicholas.
“I fell and twisted my ankle and Nicholas kindly helped me home,” I said calmly, trying to reassure him that Nicholas was indeed a friend and not a foe.
“You what?” Luke snapped, his eyes squinting into slits. “Where?”
“The trail,” I cringed, choosing my words carefully. “I ran out of gas and my cell phone died. I thought taking a shortcut through the woods would be better than walking around.”
“You took the trail?” His faced screwed up like he’d just smelled something rotten. “In the woods? In the dark? Alone!”
Luke acted angry, but I felt a wave of frustration and powerlessness come over him; I instantly felt guilty.
He took a deep breath and swore. “Julia!” he growled.
“It’s okay Luke. I’ll be fine. I just twisted my ankle.”
“And how did that happen?”
“I tripped and fell.” I forced a smile.
“I think she needs medical attention,” Nicholas interjected, shifting the subject.
“I think you’re right. I’ll get the Blazer. Wait here.”
I blinked and became horrified when the words medical attention registered in my mind.
“No,” I bellowed.
My sudden insistence startled them.
“Why not?” Luke asked.
I would rather eat shards of glass than go to a hospital. They had no idea the personal hell it would cause me, forced to feel everyone’s pain and angst – especially in the emergency room.
“I’m fine, really. I’ll heal. Nothing’s broken, see?” I tried to stand up and then almost toppled over, wincing in pain. Nicholas prevented me from falling.
“You’re NOT fine and you’re going!” Luke insisted.
I stared them both down and clenched my jaw. I knew neither would budge and I couldn’t get myself into the house without help, so like it or not I’d be forced to go.
“Fine.” I snapped, surrendering.
Luke left the porch and headed in the direction of his Blazer. Alone with Nicholas, I didn’t want to waste my last chance to avoid a trip to the ER.
“I’m really not that hurt.”
“I think it would be best for a doctor to check you out, just in case.”
Why did he have to be so sensible? This maddened me. It was my body. I should be able to decide when and if I needed medical attention. I let out a determined huff. They could try to make me go, but I wouldn’t be forced.
Luke pulled around front and got out, opening the passenger side, turning to head in our direction. Nicholas, two steps ahead of him, swept me up and carried me to the Blazer effortlessly. My mouth fell open as he carried me off the porch. This wasn’t how I imagined them getting me to the car. It was hard to be an uncooperative hostage when I didn’t have legs to run away.
I looked into his eyes and my anger subsided as I felt his tenderness again. Losing myself in his intoxicating aura, I forgot where he carried me as we headed to the Blazer. Feeling all giddy inside, I wrapped my arms around his neck secretly glad he didn’t have the power to read emotions like I did.
“Will I see you again?” I said in a slip.
My cheeks flushed in embarrassment for being so forward.
“Well, if falling off cliffs and such is going to be your favorite past-time, then I imagine yes,” he joked.
I gave him a dirty look relieved he thought nothing of my comment. We were almost to the car and I wished I could hold onto his neck forever. I pouted as he put me down gently on the front seat. I felt the same ache return with the absence of his touch.
“Drive carefully Luke. I didn’t go through all this trouble just to have you crash on the way to the hospital,” Nicholas said.
My heart fluttered listening to his concern of my safety. I thought I saw him wink at me.
Luke finally relaxed. “Thanks man,” he told Nicholas. “Hey, you need a ride?”
“I’m good. My car is down the way,” he said as he motioned down the road.
I followed his motion with my eyes confused as I didn’t see a car. Then Nicholas closed the door and I quickly rolled down the window. I wasn’t ready to say good-bye.
“I’ll check on you later,” he said as he reached out and squeezed my hand resting on the windows ledge.
My heart leapt. There couldn’t have been a better ending to a perfectly horrible day.
“Okay,” I said softly.
I watched him, hoping the moment wouldn’t end. He smiled at me, but his emotions changed again as he stepped back away from the Blazer. The sadness and guilt had resurfaced, even though his face didn’t show it.
I wonder what’s wrong?
Whatever it was, I wanted to help. I secretly hoped he’d let me. And answer the questions that nagged me about our evening.
Luke pulled away from the curb and I took a deep breath, sinking back into the seat, already missing Nicholas’ arms around me. But I felt a searing pull. Something cried out inside me, warning not to let him go.
I bit my lip and felt my eyes grow wet unsure if I should make Luke stop the car. The further we drove, the more agony I felt. I finally turned around to get one final glimpse of him. But no one was there.
. . .
4 – WAITING
“Are you in pain?” Luke said after looking at me, noticing my tears.
I was, but not from my fall. I didn’t know how to explain it to him without sounding boy-crazy. And frankly, it confused me how my body reacted after the separation from Nicholas. This never happened before.
“A little,” I fibbed.
“I’m glad I was the one who was home and not Dad. He just left to take Jo home because he didn’t want her to walk. If he saw you… with what happened with mom… ”
He let out a loud gust of air and became silent.
I imagined the scene and shuttered.
“When Dad found me on the doorstep, I wasn’t injured and I was five. It’s nothing like before.” I defended rather gruffly.
Luke glanced over at me and tilted his head, pursing his lips. I knew I grasped at straws speaking of technicalities. The scene would have been close enough to bring back the bitter memories. I turned to look out the window and wished I could open the door and jump out. His unspoken guilt-trip started to bother me.
“I should call him and let him know,” Luke said in a low murmur after a few moments of silence.
“Wait,” I said hoping he’d help me fabricate a story first. There had to be a way to cushion the blow for Dad and for me.
“Wait? Are you kidding? We can’t lie our way outta this one, Julia. Your car is out of gas somewhere on the road and you’ve probably got a broken foot. We are going to be at the emergency room all night. We have to tell him.”
Why couldn’t he be away on business?
“Don’t get mad at me,” I said with a huff. “It was an accident.”
He just glared and snapped his mouth shut while his anger flared.
“Just wa
it until we get there,” I asked softly. “I don’t want to hear your conversation. Okay?”
He glanced over at me with surly eyes for a second.
“Whatever,” he said while he shrugged.
Maybe if I wasn’t around, Luke would be more inclined to smooth things over. One could hope.
We came around the corner and the red emergency signs came into view. I braced myself. There was no way to avoid this dreadful place now.
To our surprise, the waiting room was deserted. The doctor pronounced I only sprained my ankle and the rest of my bumps and bruises weren’t serious
As we drove home, I prepared myself for the lecture ahead. After seeing Luke’s reaction, I could imagine Dad’s. Luke called Dad, like I asked, once we arrived at the waiting room, but I hadn’t asked the details yet.
“What did you say?” I said while studying my purple toes peaking out from under the ace-bandage neatly wrapped around my ankle.
“I told him what happened.”
“Is he mad?”
“What do you think, Julia?”
I looked out the window and bit my lip. It was a stupid question. Whether I wanted it or not, I was going to get a verbal beating in the next few minutes and I totally deserved it.
“What should I say?”
“Just say you’re sorry and don’t make any excuses. He hates excuses.”
I took a deep breath. Luke specialized at staying out of trouble, but I never got away with anything. Maybe that was a good thing. It certainly kept me honest.
We pulled into the driveway and I saw the silhouette of my father standing at the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. I’d hoped the wait would help calm him down, but I hoped in vain. I crawled out of the cab of the Blazer, with Luke helping me. He handed me my brand new crutches and I hobbled the walk of shame slowly past glaring eyes into the house. I went directly to the couch and awaited my punishment.
His infuriation bowled me over and all I wanted to do was go to my room. The intensity told me I was going to be grounded for life. I looked down at the dingy carpet and waited in deafening silence as he paced back and forth.
“Say something, Dad,” I finally said.
“I’m just so upset with you, Julia. I’m afraid of what I will say.”
I hung my head lower and waited. In all actuality, he really didn’t need to say anything. But I knew if he could just talk to me, it would help his frustration go away sooner.
“I just don’t know what you were thinking walking alone in the woods. In the dark,” he said slowly, controlling his anger. “I can’t believe you’d be so careless.”
“I know, Dad. I’m sorry,” I whispered as I glanced up at him through my bangs.
“Nobody knew you were out there.”
I looked down again as I felt wave after wave of frustration and horror. I cringed. This was the one time I wished to be normal. Feeling my dad’s disappointment with me was by far worse than any other real punishment I could have experienced.
“If that boy wasn’t there…” he exhaled sharply and stopped.
I gulped back my tears and glanced up at him with his arms folded, towering in front of me, his body tense.
“Julia, I could have lost you tonight, do you understand?” he said just above a whisper.
The cushions squeaked when he sat down next to me. All I wanted was for him to put his arm over my shoulder, but the lecture wasn’t over.
He struggled to keep his emotions under control, but I caught the twinge in his eye. He was reliving the distress again. The same distress I remembered eleven years ago when they found my mothers waterlogged car in the river with no sign of her whereabouts. I wanted to sink into the couch and never come out.
“Yes,” I whispered, feeling a prick of pain in my own eyes as they started to get watery also. “I’m really sorry, Dad.”
From my peripheral vision, I watched him nervously turn his wedding band on his ring finger. I fought to remain calm as the silence drained on, but I didn’t dare say anything further. No matter how much I fought to fill the void, I would follow Luke’s advice.
“I guess I need to go get your car now,” he grunted after several agonizing quiet minutes.
I shook my head just a tiny bit, but still looked down.
“Fine! Let’s go Luke,” he barked. “Where are your keys?”
I took them out of my pocket and held them out for him without making eye contact. He snatched them out of my hand and stormed towards the door. I breathed a sigh of relief as I read his real feelings. He loved me; overwhelmingly so.
“I hope you’ve learned your lesson!” my father said over his shoulder just before slamming the front door closed behind him.
Full of guilt, I hobbled up the stairs to my room, anxious to shower away the grime and guilt from the fall. The warm water felt good over my sore muscles but stung the large raspberry covering most of my left side. I knew tomorrow I’d be feeling a lot worse.
I winced while examining the new cut on my left cheekbone in the mirror, wondering how I could have been so stupid; a possible permanent token symbolizing my lapse of judgment. A scar might be just what I needed to wise up.
I tried to remember exactly how it happened when a flash of his shimmering eyes gazing down at me the first time we made eye contact stole into my thoughts. The butterflies threatened to rage out of control as I stifled a giggle, disgusted I could so easily let myself out of my self-inflicted punishment. I couldn’t be happy knowing the grief I put my dad through.
I heard the door slam and muffled voices downstairs. On one foot, I hopped to my bedroom door and quietly closed it. I figured keeping out of sight seemed prudent at the moment. I dug around on my floor and found my favorite loose-fitting jammies and gingerly put them on before crawling into bed.
My tattered shirt sat on the edge of my comforter. Picking it up, I felt the fabric in my hands. A memory of Nicholas carrying me down the trail surged through my mind. Who was he really? I bit my lip and thought through what happened, replaying every gory detail. I brought the shirt to my nose and inhaled. It still smelled like him.
I turned off the light and looked out the window. The stars twinkled softly in the night’s sky. It didn’t matter which way I lay on my bed though, every direction I tried hurt something someplace. I picked the least painful position and snuggled my face against the shirt feeling closer to Nicholas with each inhale.
Was he looking at the same stars thinking of what happened too? I hoped so.
I felt someone approach before I heard the gentle tapping on my door.
“Yes?” I said as I frantically stuffed the shirt under my pillow. I knew it was my dad, who seemed to be a lot calmer. But I didn’t want to be caught sniffing my dirty shirt.
“I wanted to say goodnight,” he said while cracking open the door.
He walked over to my bedside and sat down. His soft expression comforted me.
“I’m sorry I got so angry,” he said while reaching out and squeezing my hand. “I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
A tear came to my eye.
“Oh, Dad; I’m so sorry.” I sat up and threw my arms around his neck. He hugged me tightly while gently patting my back.
“Just promise you’ll be more careful next time,” he said.
Too choked up to speak, I nodded in agreement. He kissed me on the forehead, smiled and left my room.
I wiped away my tears and rolled over vowing to never hurt my dad like that again. I sighed as I reclaimed the shirt, holding it to my face and closed my eyes.
Since my dad and I made up, I didn’t feel so guilty anymore allowing the memories of the night to run wild in my head and let the more confusing aspects of it come into light. There were just too many things that didn’t make sense. And the nagging “lie” bothered me too.
What was he hiding? What was he doing there?
Maybe it was illegal to kill mountain lions and he feared he’d get in trouble.
I rolled to the other side and felt the throbbing ache from my hip grow worse. Utterly exhausted, all I really wanted to do was sleep, but my mind wouldn’t let me as the scary “what ifs” played mercilessly when I closed my eyes. I reached over to look at my pain pill bottle thinking it might be time to take one.
‘May cause drowsiness’ it read.
Good.
Within minutes of taking two pills, my brain began to grow hazy and visions of wild animals became rainbows in fluffy clouds as my eyes closed sleepily and I drifted off to dream land.
. . .
I tried to run but my legs were stuck as if in quick sand and I didn’t have the strength to move them. I fearfully pulled with all my might to make them move forward. Everywhere I looked, the blurry forest seemed to close in on me. I could hear the footfalls of something coming closer in the distance. At its snarl, I turned and gasped. A very large cat lay crouched down in the mist. Its yellow menacing eyes studied me, lips snarled up to revealed large meat eating teeth glistening in the moonlight. It sprung.
“Ahh,” I screamed sitting up, flailing my arms trying to prevent the cat from attacking.
I blinked and caught my breath. My head was covered in sweat but I safely sat in my bed. The clock read 2:20 in the morning. I slumped back and thought about what I saw, my heart still pounding against my chest. I felt my eyes grow heavy and sleep took a hold of me once again.
. . .
I woke up the next morning feeling like I’d been run over by a Mac truck. Everything involved in getting ready for the day was a challenge and took twice as long as normal to accomplish. I hadn’t realized how much I’d taken my ankle for granted until it wasn’t a functioning part of my body anymore. I barely made it down stairs in time for Luke to drive me to school.
Earlier, I’d called Sam and asked her to meet me in front of the school where Luke would drop me off. I knew I’d need help with my books, but I didn’t tell her anything about what happened, except that I hurt my ankle. I wanted to tell her all about Nicholas in person.
Talisman 1 - The Emerald Talisman Page 4