Down the Hidden Path

by Heather Burch

  And Ms. Forrester leaned back in her chair with her mouth pursed and waited for one of them to give the moral of the story. Gray shot a blank look over to Jeremiah, who sat beside her, a thoughtful expression on his face. His chin dipped. “I get it.”

  Huh? Gray’s hand squeezed his. If he thought he could bluff his way through this, he was wrong. Ms. Forrester was an educator. She could probably sniff out a bluff from a mile away. But then Miah continued.

  “You see this fund-raiser as a way for David to be introduced to the hive. Everyone is busy, all working toward the same goal. Everyone’s on the same team.”

  Forrester winked. “Exactly. This is our biggest event to raise money for the basketball team. It would be great for David to get involved.”

  “Yes. Absolutely. Anything we can do.” Miah reached out and shook her hand.

  “Also, his attendance and yours at afterschool events . . . helps kids acclimate. I realize David isn’t a sports kid, but if he supports them, they’ll support him.”

  Miah was still shaking her hand. “Anything we can do. Anything at all. Please. Just keep me informed. I’d be glad to help out.”

  Gray stood at her car door, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. You need to do this, she reminded herself. It had been ten days since they’d met Ms. Forester. Gray had run out of excuses to continue staying at the lodge. All she needed now was a strong enough shot of courage to propel her into the driver’s seat and down the road.

  She’d already loaded her suitcase into the trunk and said good-bye to David. She had to be strong now, but her hand trembled as she reached for the handle. All her planning to make a clean break crumbled when she heard the front door open. She closed her eyes and knew the exact moment Miah stepped behind her.

  The heat and warmth of his body near hers was unhinging. Already she’d begun to feel cold, like a person roaming the earth utterly alone. The heat he offered, she drank in, letting it saturate her soul and all those icy rooms in her heart. The chill had nothing to do with the weather; it was not because of the lack of sunshine, but because in a few minutes, she’d be home in an empty cottage where even her grandmother’s imprint continued to fade. What hope did she have of David’s imprint being there and being enough to keep her company?

  Miah’s hands closed on her shoulders and tilted her back so that her spine rested against his chest. For a few moments, she allowed herself to enjoy it, the strength he provided, the wall behind her.

  His breathing was deep, long, and for a stretch of time he did nothing but hold her, shore her up. Because that’s what she needed and he was Miah, the one able to take the shaky ground and make it solid. He’d always had that power where she was concerned.

  He kissed the top of her head. “You don’t have to go.”

  Her eyes closed, shutting out the words because she did, she absolutely did have to go. Because staying meant risk. And she was so tired and so frightened of once again losing him, there was no fight left in her soul.

  His cheek nuzzled against the hair on top of her head. “You could stay.” He wasn’t being pushy, but there was an intensity to the words that told her they were headed down a path that could end up destroying everything they were trying to build.

  She forced strength into her body and turned to face him. “And what, Miah? I can’t just keep finding excuses to spend the night here. Especially now that the driveway’s clear and David’s back in school. I have a home. And you and me . . .”

  There was a smoldering look in his eyes and she knew he was considering the possibilities.

  “I wake up . . . in your bed . . . and there’s a big part of me that just wants to come find you.” She shouldn’t be admitting this to him, but Gray knew she was a terrible liar, so the truth would have to do.

  The smolder lit, blazing a fresh fire in his gaze. She watched the thought play out in his mind.

  “But, Miah. David. He’s the most important thing right now and we’re—”

  “We’re making progress with him. He’s doing great. He’s had his first week of school and is thriving.”

  Relief flooded her. He understood. “He has to be our focus right now.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “I agree.” Then Miah surprised her. He pulled her into a hug and held her against him for a long time. “I don’t have to like it, though. I really enjoy you being here.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut because she enjoyed being there, too, but they couldn’t play house and not have repercussions later.

  He cupped his hands around her face. “I’ll miss you, sunshine.”

  She half smiled. “Not sunshine—Gray.”

  “Not to me. Not anymore. You’re more like sunshine.” He tilted down and gently pressed a kiss to her lips.

  Soft. Cold from the chill outside. Moist. Lips that could search out every secret place on her body and feel new at each brush and at the same time feel as familiar as her favorite quilt she kept on her bed. They were comfort. They were home.

  It took every ounce of fortitude she had to get in the car and drive away. Before she even made it to the main road, her cheeks were wet with tears. “Take good care of my baby,” she whispered as she cast a glance at the lodge behind her. Before her, a cold, empty house waited.

  The lodge was growing on him, but David hadn’t attempted another ride on the snowmobile. The best part of his day was seeing Stacey, but he also liked it when Gray burned the vegetables and Miah laughed at her and told her not to worry, there was plenty of meat. Who needed vegetables, anyway? Not him. He didn’t mind carrying firewood into the lodge, and Miah had taught him how to build an awesome fire, how to stack the wood just so, and he’d told Miah the science behind oxygen and flame. Caleb was a jerk sometimes, pointing out things when David did them wrong, but other than that, the lodge was pretty cool. But he missed Gray being there late at night. He’d gotten used to her sticking her head in his room to say good night after they’d all watched the news. At least she was still there in the mornings to work with Caleb, so he got to see her before he left for school, and she still usually stayed for dinner, but no more sleeping over.

  David watched Jeremiah’s fishing line sail out over the water in a perfect arc. The chubby worm disappeared beneath the surface. On the dock beside him sat a tackle box and Styrofoam containers of worms. There was still a lot of snow on the ground, but they’d shoveled most of it off the pier a few days earlier. The sun was shining today, making it feel warmer.

  “You sure you don’t want to drop a line in? The fish are biting.”

  David focused on the goal. He needed to ask Jeremiah about the fund-raiser. “No, thanks. So, Ms. Forrester told me you were all gung ho—her word, not mine—to help out at the school.”

  “It’s hooray, not gung ho.” Miah winked at him. “And yeah, I’m all in.”

  “So, there’s this fund-raiser.” David sat down beside Jeremiah on the dock where his feet could dangle a couple feet above the water. There, in a reflection below them was an image of him . . . and his birth dad. The image made him smile.

  Miah reeled. “She mentioned it when we went in to talk to her.”

  “Will you do it?”

  He reached over and ruffled David’s hair. David scowled and pulled away, but secretly, he liked it.

  “Great. I’ll put you down as my pledge.”

  Miah stopped reeling. “What’s that mean?”

  “Well, everyone at the school has to get an adult to be their pledge, then you’ll have to be present at the fund-raiser and . . . you know . . . do what they tell you to earn the pledge money.”

  “Like a race or something? Like when you pledge to give so much money and the person has to run a marathon?”

  “Yes. Something like that.”

  “No problem.”

  That was easier than David had figured. “Great! One down,” h
e mumbled.

  “What’d you say, champ?”

  “Huh? Oh, nothing.” He stood from the dock. “Do you mind if I go find Gray? I need to ask her about the fund-raiser, too.”

  David left Jeremiah fishing. He sneaked around the edge of the house to find Stacey waiting for him. “How’d it go?” she whispered, though there was no one in earshot.

  “Good.” He looked from side to side—just to make sure. “He didn’t suspect anything. Come on, let’s go find Gray.”

  They rounded the corner to find Gray and Caleb sitting on the side of the indoor pool. The walls of the new pool house were glass or Plexiglas or something.

  “Hey there,” Gray yelled through the wall and waved them in.

  Stacey’s eyes widened. “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know anyone with an indoor pool at their house.” David held the door open for her and they stepped inside. The air was wet and the room smelled like chlorine.

  Caleb rested his foot on the edge. “The water is still chilly, but we’re supposed to be able to get in today.”

  David turned to Stacey. “When it warms up more, maybe you can come over and try it out.”

  Stacey clasped her hands together. “That’d be great. I haven’t been swimming since the lake started getting colder.”

  Caleb frowned. “This isn’t going to become some juvenile hangout, David. So don’t get your hopes up.”

  Gray gave Caleb a dirty look.

  David squared his stance. “Since it’s my birth dad who owns the pool, I guess he’ll be the one to decide that.”

  Caleb chuckled and gave a reluctant nod.

  Gray smiled at David, and he almost felt bad for what they were doing, but the sensation faded quickly. “You know about the fund-raiser, Gray?” he asked, sinking his hands in his pockets because he’d decided men looked more intelligent when they frowned a little and their hands were in their pockets.

  “Yes.”

  David fidgeted. “Well, Stacey needs an adult to be her pledge for the fund-raiser. Would you do it?”

  He saw the questions across her features and hoped she wouldn’t ask why Stacey’s parents weren’t doing it. “Um, yes. Sure. What will you need me to do?”

  This was the part they’d practiced. Stacey was up. She stepped forward and an angelic smile lit her face. “It’s really easy for the pledges. You just show up the night of the banquet. All the work is up to us. David and I are going to start collecting pledge money around town.” And then her smile broadened and her green eyes blinked and David chewed the inside of his cheek.

  “Anything you need from me, David. You know that.”

  I’m counting on it.

  The two left Gray and Caleb at the edge of the pool. “Thanks,” David hollered over his shoulder.

  “Need me to help?” Caleb asked. “I’d be glad to come and babysit your little friends.”

  David turned to face him, choosing to ignore the insult. “Nope. Don’t need you at all.”

  And then they left and gave each other a high five once they were around the corner of the house, where the Plexiglas wouldn’t give away their excitement.

  When he’d walked Stacey back to her house, she stopped on her front porch. “You don’t think your birth mom and dad will be mad, do you?”

  Stacey called them his birth parents because he called them his birth parents. And that made his heart proud because it mattered to her what he thought and what he wanted. “Nah.” He kicked at a clump of dirt and snow. “They’ll be cool.”

  He hoped he was right.

  Gray sighed. This animosity between Caleb and David really needed to come to an end. On the one hand, Caleb was her patient, and she understood that with traumatic brain injuries, there were often little lapses in judgment . . . things like picking on a twelve-year-old when you’re twenty-five. On the other hand, David was her son and she did tend to have momma-bear syndrome where he was concerned. It’ll get better, she told herself. They’ll find a balance.

  She had to admit David was learning to stick up for himself. He didn’t let Caleb bully him, he was quick with the retorts . . . a la Nope, don’t need you at all. Angela would have gotten onto him for that little remark, but Gray let it slide because it showed some backbone, some grit. He wasn’t going to let a big soldier push him around. And if he wasn’t going to let Caleb push him around, he certainly wouldn’t let someone at school.

  This was why it was good to have older siblings, she realized. She was an only child. David was an only child. No one to prepare you for the world out there. Well, she didn’t like the way Caleb wouldn’t cut David any slack, but she also wouldn’t interfere with it. Growing pains came in all shapes and sizes.

  Her feet dangled in the water, but it was still too cold, so Gray stood up. She was in shorts and a T-shirt, but Caleb had changed into his swim trunks at the mention of water possibly, maybe, not likely, but possibly being warm enough for swimming.

  “Let’s let the heater work its magic for one more night before we dive in. It’s still freezing.”

  “Do whatever you want, Powder Puff, but I’m going swimming.” He stood, pulled off his shirt, took a couple steps back, and cannonballed in.

  Icy water splashed up onto her legs and arms.

  Caleb came up sputtering, arms flailing.

  “Nice try, soldier.” Water went in arcs around his wide shoulders, his feet were kicking frantically, and in a rushed moment Gray caught on to what was happening. The look of horror on his face snapped her into motion. Caleb was drowning. His head went under.

  “Caleb!” she screamed and dived in, trying to come up beside him. His thigh connected with her head, causing it to whip to one side, but she ignored the pain, groping to get a grip on him before he went under again. He reached for the side of the pool, but was too far in the center. Gray came up out of the water and threw her arm over his wide shoulder. She’d had lifeguard training in high school, but they never used a tank as a victim. Her whole lifeguarding career she’d spent pulling kids out, not bulls. Her hand slipped off him and his head ducked under. She altered her grip, knowing her nails were likely digging into the meaty part of his triceps muscle. With him in position, locked beneath her arm, she swam toward the side of the pool. It was twelve feet deep at its core and that was more than enough to drown in. Even as she got him to the edge and he started to calm, coughing out all the water he’d inhaled, Gray knew this had been a close call. What if he’d jumped in when no one was around?

  Her hands came around him in a hug and for a long time, she held him right there.

  An hour later, Jeremiah brought her a steaming cup of hot cocoa. She sipped it and scooted a little closer to the fire. She was chilled to the bone and no amount of heat was going to correct that. They were calling for snow again, and Gray was still too rattled about Caleb to drive home. Miah had suggested she go ahead and spend the night. She’d agreed.

  “What do you think happened?” Miah sat down on the area rug beside her, his foot catching on the handmade quilt he’d tucked around her shoulders.

  “I’ve been asking myself that for an hour. Miah, this is Caleb. He could swim circles around the whole swim team.”

  Miah stared into the flame. “I know. Is it neurological? At the rehab center in Tampa, they talked about how the mind can shut off certain things, skills, even.”

  Her hand rubbed her neck. It was stiff from slashing around in the pool trying to haul a Mack truck. “This was different. It must be psychological. Miah, he looked terrified.”

  “Drowning, scary business.”

  “I know, but he’s a soldier. He’s accustomed to adapting. This was . . . this was real terror.” She chilled at the thought and pulled the blanket closer.

  He placed an arm around her. “I’m so glad you were there.”

  She smiled over at him. “Me to
o.”

  “What are we going to do now?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ll talk to Jamille. Maybe put in a call to Tampa. See what they think. I’m not sure if I should ease him into the pool or give this time to blow over before we start any kind of water therapy. I just want to do what’s right for him.”

  Jeremiah caught her chin in his hand. “That’s all you ever want, isn’t it?” His voice was velvet soft and tender, and the fire danced on the side of his face making him look unearthly, ethereal and perfect. Miah was beauty and danger all wrapped up in a package that was becoming harder and harder to resist. And she was just getting so tired of pulling away from that magnetic force drawing her. His fingertips grazed her jaw and tiny little bells went off as those fingers moved gently but with precision. He dusted her cheek, index finger stopping at the chicken pox indention. He scrubbed at it. “We both had chicken pox at the same time, remember?”

  “How could I forget? You called me every hour to complain.”

  He smiled. “You did your share of complaining, too.”

  She nodded. “I guess I did.”

  “Remember that trip to the lake when we skipped school and got lost trying to find the waterfall?”

  “Fourteen of us went. Twelve came back covered with poison oak. But not you and me. Not sure how we dodged that bullet.”

  “Yeah. Lucky, I guess. Hey, do you remember—”

  She cut him off, gripping his hand tightly where it held her cheek. “I remember all of it, Miah. Every. Single. Moment.” And she closed her eyes because if she didn’t, he’d be eighteen again and she’d be seventeen and in love with the only boy who had the power to break her heart. But instead of moving away, she felt his body shift, coming closer, moving in, and when she pulled a breath it was filled with him, his scent, the very thing that made Jeremiah just a little bit beyond human. Her eyes opened to find his. Miah’s hand slid with delicious slowness from her cheek to cup her neck. She knew that on his lips was the question only she could answer. He wouldn’t do this, she realized. He wouldn’t complicate things just to satisfy his own flesh. But he wanted to, that was clear in the ragged breath he drew, in the way his tongue slipped over his lips as if preparing to taste her . . . or perhaps remembering what she tasted like from all those years ago.