“That,” Ivy murmured as the entire room exploded in pandemonium.
Three
Jack raced forward, kneeling next to the fallen girl as he rolled her on her side and waited for the convulsions to cease. He knew better than trying to hold her still. It could do more harm than good. She had to go through it. He couldn’t save her from that.
Max admonished the girls to stop screaming, but they paid him little heed. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called 911, Jack barking orders for him to relay to the dispatcher.
Simone fanned her face as she fretted, leaning close to Jack several times to encourage the girl. “It’s okay, Aubrey. You’re going to be okay. Everything will be fine.”
All the while bedlam carried on, Ivy remained rooted to her spot, fists clenched at her sides. The blood pounded in her ears and her heart raced. She felt like an interloper, a stranger in her own body. She sensed Aubrey was going to fall right before it happened. But how? Ivy didn’t know and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
Everything was a blur and she thought she might lose consciousness when she listed to the side.
Jack steadily watched Ivy, worry for the way she was reacting warring with his determination to remain close to the girl until her seizures subsided. When he realized Ivy was tilting to the side, Jack panicked. “Max!”
Max saw his sister sliding at the same moment Jack did and he lurched forward, catching Ivy around the waist before she hit the ground. He was gentle as he lowered her to the floor, pressing a hand to her forehead and waving fingers in front of her face to make sure she was breathing.
“What is it?” Jack’s voice caught as he fought to maintain control.
“I think she just fainted,” Max replied calmly. He knew he had to maintain a relaxed façade if he expected Jack to keep his cool. “Her face is a little warm, but she’s breathing evenly.”
“Stay with her,” Jack ordered, flicking his eyes to the barn door. “Where are the paramedics?”
“They’ll be here.” Max had no idea how he managed to maintain his cool given the circumstances. He wasn’t known as the calm one in his family. In fact, he was known as the reactionary, which was saying something since his parents were both spazzes to the utmost degree. “She’ll be fine.”
“Of course she’ll be fine,” Simone scoffed, rolling her eyes. “She’s just doing this for attention. She always has to be the center of attention. She probably sensed that Jack was more interested in what I had to say than her and that’s why she did this.”
“That’s not even remotely true,” Jack hissed, narrowing his eyes. “Shut your mouth.” He felt impotent because he couldn’t go to Ivy, which was what he really wanted. Instead he remained next to the girl, who thankfully had stopped seizing. “What’s this girl’s name?”
“What? Oh.” Simone was distracted as she forced herself back to reality. “Aubrey Daniels. She’s seventeen. She was a front runner in the pageant.”
“Which I seriously doubt she’s going to care about now,” Jack said, exhaling heavily when he saw Ivy’s eyes open. “Honey?”
“Hey, kid.” Max forced a smile as his gaze locked with Ivy’s confused stare. “How are you feeling?”
“I … you … … who … what … why?” Ivy had trouble forming one cohesive thought.
“Three excellent questions,” Max teased, propping Ivy to a sitting position and staring hard into her eyes. “What do you remember?”
“The girl passed out,” Ivy replied after a beat. “I … why am I on the floor?”
“Because you passed out, too.”
“Yes, and we’re all a little baffled about why you’re so needy you decided to pass out when Aubrey is facing a legitimate medical crisis,” Simone interjected.
Ivy scowled as she rubbed her hands over her knees. “It wasn’t intentional, you ninny.”
Jack felt some of the tension he carried in his chest loosening at Ivy’s tone. If she was feeling good enough to snap at the idiotic pageant woman, she was going to be fine. He had faith. “It’s okay, honey. The paramedics will be here any second.”
“But … what happened to her?” Ivy asked, slapping Max’s hands away when he tried to help her to her feet. “I’m not an invalid.”
Jack opened his mouth, an admonishment for Ivy to allow her brother to fuss over her on the tip of his tongue, but the instinct died as the paramedics bustled into the room and he was all business. “Seventeen-year-old female. Aubrey Daniels. She was behaving normally with the other girls and then she pitched forward, hit her head on the floor, and began seizing. The seizure lasted more than sixty seconds. She’s been quiet and unresponsive since.”
The paramedic nodded. “Okay. Give us some room. We’ve got it from here.”
Jack was relieved when he could escape. He was halfway to Ivy when Simone stepped in his path.
“You were very brave.” Simone patted Jack’s arm and then impulsively threw her arms around his neck. “I don’t know what we would’ve done if you weren’t here to help. It was all so … terrifying.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive.” Jack firmly gripped Simone by the shoulders and physically moved her back. “Excuse me.” He hurried to Ivy, concern etching his face as he approached. “Tell me how you feel.”
“Like an idiot,” Ivy muttered.
Jack’s lips curved as he pulled her in for a hug, cupping the back of her head as he let loose with a pent-up sigh. “You’re okay.” He could feel the steady beat of her heart against his. “You’re okay, honey.” He wasn’t sure if he kept saying the words for her benefit or his, but ultimately he didn’t care.
“Of course she’s okay.” Simone made a face as she watched the interaction, momentarily drawing Jack’s attention to her. “I think she got exactly what she wanted.”
“And what is that?” Ivy fired back.
“She has a man doting on her, doesn’t she?”
“She always has me to dote on her,” Jack said, his temper fraying. “Is there a reason you’re focusing on Ivy rather than the girl you’re supposed to be taking care of?”
“Maybe I just can’t drag my eyes away from the way you’re treating Ivy, as if she’s the one who had the seizure,” Simone challenged. “It’s ridiculous.”
Jack glared. “Go someplace else.”
“Fine.” Simone turned on her heel and stomped closer to Aubrey, whom the paramedics were loading on a gurney in anticipation of removing her from the scene.
Max smirked as he pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “Ah, Ivy, you’ve always had a way with the other women in town.”
“Shut it,” Ivy groused.
Jack kissed her forehead by way of comfort. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
“We’re going to have to take her to the clinic,” the paramedic informed Jack. “I assume you’ll follow on your own.”
“You assume right.” Jack bobbed his head. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“So will I,” Simone said pointedly.
Jack ignored her as he slipped his arm around Ivy’s waist. “Come on, honey,” he prodded. “We’ll go to the clinic. You can be checked out there, too.”
“I don’t want to be checked out.”
“Well, you’re going to be checked out.” Jack was firm as he followed the paramedics, lowering his voice so he could be sure that Simone didn’t hear the next part. “And then you’re going to tell me how you knew that girl was going to seize before it even happened.”
Ivy turned pale. “I don’t know … .”
“Shh. Not right now.” Jack kept his features placid as he led Ivy outside. “Wait until we’re alone.”
Ivy was happy for the reprieve, but she knew it wouldn’t matter in the end. She didn’t have an answer for Jack. She had no idea how to explain what happened.
JACK KEPT IVY CLOSE as he hustled across the town square and pointed them in the direction of the clinic, which happened to be located on the edge of the downtown area
. Shadow Lake was small enough that it was quicker to walk to the clinic than drive.
“Tell me what happened, honey,” Jack said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Max was the only one who followed. The two men exchanged a weighted look but otherwise refrained from commenting on the situation. That could wait until later.
“I don’t know what happened,” Ivy said. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Try.” Jack was gentle but insistent. “You knew it was going to happen right before it did. Just … walk me through it.”
“I don’t know.” Tears filled Ivy’s eyes and she swiped at them, embarrassed by her reaction.
Jack read the emotion on her face and pulled up short, gesturing to Max to get his attention. “Go to the clinic and watch Aubrey. See if you can get any updates. We’ll be right behind you.”
Max was torn. He wanted to bolster Ivy, but he knew it wasn’t his place. Jack was going to be her husband. He should be the one to take care of her. Since Max was the one who looked after Ivy for almost thirty years, though, it was hard for him to relinquish the job. “Okay.” Max blew out a sigh. “Take care of her.”
Jack allowed a small smile to come out and play. He understood Max’s reticence. “Always and forever.” He waited until Max disappeared inside the clinic to speak again. “Honey, it’s okay. Just tell me what happened.”
Ivy wanted to. She wanted to bury her face in Jack’s chest, hide her eyes from his, and admit what she felt right before Aubrey lost consciousness. She knew he would understand and try to calm her. A small part of her – a very small part – worried he would have to hide his disgust at what a freak she was turning in to, though. That small part fueled her now.
“Honey, please tell me.” It took everything Jack had to remain calm. “I swear it’s going to be okay. You need to tell me, though.”
Ivy made up her mind on the spot. They were going to be married. He loved her. She had no doubt about that. Even if he did think she was a freak, he would still love her. It was simply the way he was built.
Besides, ever since they met weird things had been happening. First he called her to his dreams and they walked through his memories and fears together. Then she saw a ghost. She’d also had several psychic flashes. He took all of it in stride. This was no different.
Ivy sucked in a steadying breath. “I don’t know how to explain it,” she started. “I was standing there listening to Simone be a first-class pain in my rear end and then it … um … happened.”
Jack stroked his hand down the back of Ivy’s head. “What happened?”
“I heard this … buzzing … in my ears. I don’t know how else to explain it. My ears went a little numb and I heard the buzzing and then … somehow … I just knew that she was going to fall over. I saw it in my head.”
Ivy expected Jack to react with horror or revulsion, but he was calm and collected. “Do you know the girl?”
Ivy shook her head. “I think I’ve heard her name once or twice, but I don’t know her.”
“And when you saw it in your head, did it happen exactly the way it happened in real life?”
Ivy was caught off guard by the question. “I … well … yeah.”
“So you saw the future seconds before it happened. Hmm.” Jack increased his stroking as he considered the implications. “That’s interesting, honey.”
Ivy was dumbfounded. “Interesting?” she screeched, glaring when Jack held a finger to his lips to quiet her. “It’s not interesting,” she barked. “I’m a freak, Jack. How can you stand being around me?”
“I happen to love my freak.” Jack didn’t hesitate to pull her into his arms and hug her. “It’s okay, honey. Everything is okay.” Jack swayed back and forth, his lips pressed to her forehead.
“How can you say that?” Ivy found herself near tears. “I saw the future.”
“Yes, and you’ve seen through the eyes of a killer before, too,” Jack noted. “You’re getting stronger.”
The simple statement was enough to cause Ivy to freeze. “What?”
“You’re getting stronger,” Jack repeated. “Whatever is happening, the magic you possess is getting stronger.”
“Magic?” Ivy’s voice was unnaturally squeaky, causing Jack to let loose with a genuine grin.
“Honey, it’s been happening since we met,” he pointed out. “Heck, for all I know, it was happening before we met and you simply refused to acknowledge it.”
“It wasn’t happening before we met,” Ivy argued, regaining a modicum of her sassy attitude. “Nothing happened until we shared that first dream.”
“Then maybe I’m the one who brought it out in you.” Jack never suffered from bouts of insecurity and he liked the idea of being the one to bolster Ivy’s powers. “Either way, you’re getting stronger. More and more things are starting to happen around you. It’s okay. There’s nothing to panic about.”
“You just said that my magical powers are getting stronger,” Ivy whispered. “If that’s not something to panic about, I don’t know what is.”
Jack grinned, genuinely amused. “You are all sorts of adorable.” He dropped a soft kiss on her upturned mouth. “I love you more than anything. We’re going to figure this out.”
Ivy wasn’t so sure. “What do you think it means?”
“I have no idea.” Jack refused to lie to her. “I do know that we’re going to work together to make sure that we figure this out and that you’re going to be fine. Although … you passed out after the fact. You scared the crap out of me, by the way, when you did that.”
“I’m okay.” Ivy pressed her hand to his chest, reassured by his steady heartbeat. “I was just overwhelmed for a second. It was weird. My head couldn’t keep up with … well, my head … and I somehow mentally tripped, if that makes sense.”
“Well, I still want you checked out.”
Ivy balked. “I said I was fine.”
Jack cocked an eyebrow at her aggressive stance. “Honey, I want to be the judge of that.”
Ivy vehemently shook her head. “I’m not going to explain that I had a psychic flash regarding that girl. It’s not going to happen.”
Jack opened his mouth to argue, switching gears when he recognized the adamant tilt of her chin. “Fine. You don’t have to be checked out. I want you to agree, though, that if it happens again you’ll let me take you to the doctor.”
Ivy wasn’t sure she wanted to agree, but it seemed the easiest way out given their current circumstances. “That sounds fair.”
“Good.” Jack gave her a swift kiss and grabbed her hand. “Now, come on. Let’s see what’s going on with our patient.”
“Yeah, speaking of that … um … what do you think happened?”
“I have no idea, but it didn’t look good.”
“You can say that again.”
Four
Jack kept a firm hold of Ivy’s hand as he led her through the clinic’s front door. He didn’t let it show, but he was worried. Odd things kept happening around the woman he loved. It was almost as if she was manifesting powers – like in a movie – and he didn’t know how to handle it.
It wasn’t that he was afraid of her. He was definitely afraid for her, though. If she ended up hurt – or possibly worse – because of this, he would never forgive himself for not properly protecting her.
Still, Jack needed to give himself time to think, and he needed to do it when Ivy wasn’t around to gauge his reaction. If she read the situation wrong and felt as if he was judging her, or somehow recoiling because he was turned off by the latest development, she would close herself off. That’s the last thing he wanted.
“Anything?” Jack asked Max as they stepped into the lobby.
“She’s only been back there a few minutes,” Max replied. “We need to give them time to work. They know we’re out here waiting for answers.”
“Then let’s give them time to work.” Jack led Ivy to a group of chairs in the corner, helping her remove her jacket before s
itting in the chair next to her. He held her hand, tracing the lines in her palm with his finger, and compared her small hand to his much larger one.
That’s where Simone found them fifteen minutes later. “Any word?”
Ivy did her best not to scowl. “They’re working on her. They won’t come out to give us an update until they have her stabilized.”
“How do you know that?” Simone challenged.
“Because I’ve spent some time in the hospital.”
“Oh, right.” Simone was blasé as she sat on the other side of Jack. “You were in here because you were shot a few months ago. I almost forgot. What happened with all of that?”
Ivy swallowed hard and averted her gaze. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, but we clearly have time to burn,” Simone pointed out. “Aubrey’s parents are out of town until tomorrow afternoon. I was watching her. I placed a call to them, but they won’t be here for several hours. They asked me to watch her and talk to the doctors on their behalf.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Yeah, I’m a real saint,” Simone agreed. “How come you don’t want to talk about the time you were shot?”
“Maybe it’s none of your business,” Jack barked, causing Simone to jolt. Ivy’s shooting was still a sore subject with him, for multiple reasons.
“I think you want to pretend it didn’t happen to protect yourself,” Simone shot back. “Didn’t you dump her after that? Everyone in town was buzzing about it. Ava said that Ivy had a broken heart. We all had a good laugh about it.”
“That did it.” Jack moved to get up, but Ivy stopped him with a shake of her head.
“It’s not worth it,” she said. “She’s just doing it to get a rise out of you. That’s the way she is. That’s the way she’s always been. Ignore her.”
Jack grudgingly reclaimed his chair, making a pointed showing of increasing the distance between his seat and Simone before twisting his body so he could focus solely on Ivy. “You know, honey, you don’t have to stay here. Max can take you home. Heck, you can go back to the festival if you want. You don’t have to stay here.”
Wicked Hearts (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 9) Page 3