She continued, oblivious to the knots inside me. “Plenty of women have wanted him, but other than that one girl, nobody’s ever struck his fancy long enough to keep him interested.”
I bit my lip. Davin had only been eighteen when he caught Makanza, so he’d been young enough he’d probably never thought of marriage, but he’d still been old enough to fall in love. I tried to picture Davin with the mystery woman Sharon spoke of. I was surprised at the jealousy that seared through me.
“Is there anyone you’re interested in?” Sharon asked.
I tucked my chin so she wouldn’t see my face. Davin’s face flashed through my mind. There was no point denying to myself or Sharon that I’d developed feelings for him. “Kind of.”
She smiled. “He’ll be a lucky man if he gets you.”
I was amazed at how candidly Sharon spoke. I knew now where Davin got his charm. By the time we returned to her house and sat for supper, Sharon felt like a long lost friend.
“I’m so glad you came out for the day.” She dished a small serving of pot roast and potatoes onto my plate. I could tell from the smell that her cooking was immensely better than mine.
“Me too. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
“Have you played any games with Davin?” She settled into her chair and lifted her fork. “I’m guessing there aren’t many things you can do in his cell?”
“That’s true, but we haven’t done anything other than talk.”
“Do you play poker?” She took a bite of pot roast.
I shook my head.
“You should ask Davin to teach you. He’s an excellent player.”
Something stabbed in my heart. Playing games in his cell is probably all we’ll ever be able to do. Davin was a prisoner of the Compound. He probably always would be. I frowned heavily, remembering his comment yesterday about me being different. I still didn’t know what he’d meant by that. And I also didn’t know if he’d shared with everyone how I pretended to speak to my dead brother.
“Are you okay?”
Sharon’s voice broke my thoughts. I picked up my fork hastily. “Yes, I’m fine.”
She set her utensils down with a disapproving, motherly frown. “Meghan, I raised five children and have seen it all.” She paused and then said more quietly, “Do you want to talk about it?”
An ache that had nothing to do with her question came over me. Has my mother ever asked me anything like that? Have my mother and I ever talked like Sharon and I have today?
No, not once in twenty-three years. I took a deep breath. Maybe Sharon was right. Maybe I should talk about it. After all, she knew Davin better than anyone.
“I’m not entirely sure what Davin thinks of me.”
She clasped her hands, resting her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Go on.”
“I found out yesterday that he can communicate with another Kazzie in the Compound. She has telepathic abilities and can speak with all of the Kazzies silently, and now me too.”
Sharon’s eyebrows rose so high that it reminded me that most people knew nothing about the bizarre manifestations of Makanza.
“I thought it was just him and me talking this week, that he hadn’t talked to anyone in months, but that wasn’t true. The whole time, he’s also been talking to Sara.”
“And that worries you?”
I swallowed. “I said some things to him, opened up to him, and I’m not sure I would have done that if I’d known he may be telling someone else what I said.”
“So you’re afraid he told this other girl whatever you divulged?”
“Yes.”
“Have you asked him if he has?”
“Not yet. I just found all of this out yesterday.”
“Well, I can understand your concern. I’m sure most people would react that same way.”
“So you think Davin told her?”
She smiled but shook her head. “No. I know my son better than anyone, and if there’s one thing he isn’t, it’s deceitful. He wouldn’t share your information. He’d view that as a break of trust. He despises people who do that.”
“He does?” So maybe I can rest easy that Davin hasn’t shared what I told him.
But that still didn’t clarify my other worry. That I was some weirdo researcher to him, different from everyone else, but I kept that thought to myself.
We continued eating, and throughout dinner, I felt Sara again try to make contact. She’d been doing it all afternoon, but it wasn’t until she tried three times in five minutes that alarm raced through me. It suddenly occurred to me that something may have happened and that was why she’d been trying to get a hold of me.
“Would you excuse me for a minute?” I tried to keep the panic from my voice as I stumbled out of my chair and raced to the bathroom.
I closed the door behind me, set the lid down on the toilet, and sat. The half bath was small and cramped, but at least it gave me privacy. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I pictured the mental door in my mind, my link with the twin. I pretended to knock on the door while thinking, Sara?
The link clicked. It felt like someone tied an invisible thread around my cerebral cortex before giving it a tug. It was the oddest sensation. So much for distance being a concern.
Meghan? Her word came through right away.
Yeah, it’s me. Is everything okay?
I swear I heard Sara sigh. Meghan, are you okay? Did you make it to Rapid City?
Yeah, I arrived early this afternoon. Why? Is something wrong?
I heard another sigh, this one more exaggerated. No, other than Davin practically screaming in my head all day, asking if I’ve connected with you. He’s really worried.
He is? I frowned. Why?
He’s worried you got in an accident, or you got caught somehow after you left the lab. I know something else is bugging him too, but he won’t tell me.
Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.
That’s okay. Have you talked to his mom?
Yeah, I’m with her now.
Really… I felt her pause.
Sara?
I’m here. I just…
I couldn’t be sure what I felt from her, but it felt like she was thinking about something. Sara?
Sorry. She shook herself. It’s just… I have an idea. It’s something I’ve tried before, but it’s never worked.
What are you talking about?
Just… hold on. I think if it’s going to ever work with anyone, it would be you.
Huh?
I felt her put some mental distance between us. It was weird. I could still feel her, but it seemed like she moved farther away. At least a minute ticked by. It felt like forever, but then I felt a new presence in my mind. My breath stopped.
Meghan?
My heart beat harder. I’d recognize that timbre tone anywhere. Davin?
I was glad I was sitting down. I was pretty sure my knees would have given way if I’d been standing.
What happened to Sara? I finally managed. I could still detect her presence, but it was like she’d gone into another room, close to us, but not near.
She’s giving us privacy. I think.
How is she doing this?
I have no idea, but I think she’s channeling us somehow.
I was quiet for a moment, still reeling that I was talking to Davin, in my head, even though I was hundreds of miles away from him. How are you? I finally asked.
Better, now that I know you’re okay.
My heart rate increased. I’m fine.
His tone changed, becoming gruffer. Why wouldn’t you talk to Sara? She said she’s been trying to reach you since this morning, but you wouldn’t respond.
I… ah… I guess I just needed some time.
Oh. Right. I felt his guard go up again, just like it had yesterday before I’d left.
But I’m okay now. I remembered what Sharon said, about how Davin was a lot of things, but deceitful was not one of them. Your mom helped me see a few things.
I felt him relax. Like what?
Ah, nothing, just… Everything’s fine.
I could tell he didn’t know how to interpret that.
Are you still with her? Is she there now? His tone turned hopeful.
She’s in the kitchen. We’re having supper. Speaking of which, I’ve already been gone a long time. I should go back.
Where are you?
In the bathroom.
The one that’s so cramped you can barely sit on the toilet without your knees touching the wall?
I looked at my knees. They were two inches from the wall. That’s the one.
He paused. Do you think I could talk to her?
Talk to who?
My mom?
I cocked my head, not sure what he was asking, but then it suddenly dawned on me. Oh… I nodded but then realized he couldn’t see me. I get it. You want to try to talk to her through me?
If you don’t mind.
We can try.
I returned to the kitchen. Sharon was still at the table. It looked like she hadn’t touched her plate since I left. Our food was probably cold.
“Is everything okay?” Her bright blue eyes looked worried.
I sat. “Um. Yes.”
She raised an eyebrow.
I twisted my hands. “Well, yes and no.” Before she could ask what I meant, I rushed on. “So you know how I told you that Sara and I made a telepathic connection?”
Sharon nodded.
“Well, as it turns out, Sara’s put me in contact with Davin. Just now.”
“She’s put you in contact with Davin?” The confusion on her face told me she had no idea what I meant.
“Yes, so I am talking to him right now, in my head.”
She balked.
“So if you want to, you know, say anything to him, now’s the time.”
I heard Davin chuckle. You’re doing just fine.
You heard me say all that?
Yes.
Weird.
Tell her I’m really happy I got the picture.
“He said he’s happy he got the picture.”
Sharon just sat there, her skin pale. She finally cleared her throat. “So anything I tell you right now, he can hear?
“No. I have to tell him. He doesn’t have complete access to my senses.” Fortunately.
I heard that.
I rolled my eyes.
“Can you…” Sharon paused. The shocked expression still hadn’t left her face. “Can you ask him what his favorite toy was when he was ten? He’ll know what I’m talking about.”
So, she was going to test this. I couldn’t blame her. This was definitely bizarre. It was hard to wrap my head around the situation too.
She wants to know what your favorite toy was when you were ten.
I felt him smile. The mountain bike they bought me for my tenth birthday. It was blue.
“a mountain bike you got him for his tenth birthday? A blue color?”
Sharon’s mouth dropped. Her hands flew to her cheeks as tears sprouted in her eyes. “It really is him. Can you ask him what he did today? How’s he feeling?”
I relayed that message too, and Davin replied, telling her he just finished a crime novel and was feeling fine.
“How are they treating him? Has anything bad happened this week?”
I again passed on the message.
I can honestly say for the first time in six years, I’ve been treated very well, all week.
Davin’s reply, as happy as he sounded, made my stomach drop. Six years and only now was his treatment humane.
“What about the other Kazzies? Do you still talk to them?” Sharon asked.
Yes, was his reply.
Their conversation continued for over an hour. It felt strange being the middleman, but both Davin and Sharon seemed to relish the little contact they had. They spoke about all sorts of things after Sharon finished asking about the Compound, mostly things I had no idea about. After a while, I stopped trying to follow along. It was kind of like listening to someone’s conversation on a public bus. You could understand what they were saying since you spoke the same language, but you didn’t really understand it since it was completely out of context and involved people and places you had no idea about.
By the time they said goodbye, it was well into the evening. The potatoes on my plate had cooled into gooey mush while the drippings on the pot roast were gelatinous pearls. I’d tried to eat while I’d relayed the conversation, but it took too much concentration. It was worth missing dinner, though, even though my stomach growled in protest. I’d never seen Sharon smile as she was now.
“That was the best gift anyone’s ever given me,” she stated.
“I’m glad you two were finally able to talk.”
“I really can’t thank you enough.” She clasped my hand. “Just a week ago, I thought I’d never talk to my son again, and now I’ve given him a photo I’ve held on to for years, and I’ve talked to him, almost in person. You have no idea what that means to me.”
If I hadn’t formed such a surprisingly close bond with her, I would have squirmed in discomfort from her praise. “You’re very welcome. I’m glad I’ve been able to help.”
At just that moment, my stomach let out another big growl.
Sharon smiled. “How about I reheat our plates and we actually finish supper?”
“Good idea.”
AN HOUR LATER, Sharon led me to one of the bedrooms. “I hope this will do.”
She opened a door, revealing a room crammed with three beds and mountains of stuff. “It was the boys’ room. Davin slept in the single twin while Lars and Elliot shared the bunk beds.”
My mouth opened and then closed. “Sharon, I can’t sleep in here.” It looked like nothing had been touched since they’d all gone. It felt wrong disturbing it since she’d obviously kept the room as it was.
Sharon however, just waved her hand and smiled. “Please, it’s fine. A few years ago, I realized this room is not a mausoleum. I come in here sometimes now and look through their things, but it’s not a tomb. Things have been moved. I dust when I can be bothered. Besides, I already threw Davin’s sheets in the wash when you were in the bathroom earlier. It’s all ready for you.”
I wrung my hands. “I could sleep on the couch.”
“No, don’t be silly! You’re staying here. Bathroom’s down the hall on the left. I hung a fresh towel for you.”
We each said goodnight.
After brushing my teeth, I padded into the bedroom. Moonlight shone through the curtains, and the silence seemed to echo. It wasn’t a large room, but the three boys had made use of every inch. Knicknacks, books, CDs, and other various things were crammed wherever there was room. I didn’t want to snoop, but it was hard not to notice the clothes jumbled into the drawers. The dresser was so crammed, a few drawers wouldn’t even close. Sleeves and pant legs hung over the edges.
It was a room of teenage boys, even though Davin hadn’t lived here for over six years and was well past being a teenager. Sharon obviously kept it similar to how it had been. I knew both Lars and Elliot had been living at home when Makanza infected them. Davin said Lars was only fourteen and Elliot had been twelve when the Second Wave struck.
I changed into some sweats and a t-shirt before pulling back the sheets. The pleasant scent of laundry detergent wafted around me when I burrowed under the covers. I wondered what Davin would think if he knew where I was sleeping.
The irony of it made me smile. A few weeks ago, he’d hated me. Now, I was sleeping in his childhood bed.
Who would have thought?
24 – POKER
I was surprised at how hard it was to say goodbye to Sharon the next day. She’d been more of a mother to me in two days than my own mother had been to me in twenty-three years. I knew I’d see her again, but I didn’t know how long it would be. It was strange. I already missed her.
“You’re welcome here anytime.” She hugged me tightly as I stood by the door. She smelled g
ood, like soap and lavender. “I always leave a key under the green pot out back. If I’m not here, and you come to town, just let yourself in. I’m never gone long.”
“Thanks, Sharon. Take care until then.”
She waited at the front door, still in her bathrobe, waving goodbye until I could no longer see her in my rearview mirror.
I drove slowly through the neighborhood, settling in for the long trek as I headed to the interstate. I took a chug from my water bottle as my thoughts inevitably drifted toward Davin. I propped my elbow against the window and leaned my head into my hand as the rising sun blazed through the windshield. I wondered what he smelled like. Will I ever know?
Sara knocked on our mental door as I merged onto I-90. I opened my mind, grateful for the distraction. The connection clicked instantly.
Hi, I said.
Good morning, Davin wants to know when you’re coming back to Sioux Falls.
Right now. I just got on the interstate.
Sara sighed. Thank God. He’s been driving me crazy all weekend. Just get back here. I have a feeling when he sees you, he’ll calm down.
My pulse leaped. I could picture exactly what she meant. Davin was not someone who waited patiently. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow, I said.
I will. Drive safely.
GOING TO WORK the next day was much different than how it had been one week ago. After my first trip to Rapid City, I’d been convinced everyone knew what I’d done. Today, that was far from my mind. I just wanted to see Davin and talk to him.
I hurried through security and went straight to the Sanctum.
When I reached Davin’s hallway, a smile spread across his face, softening his angular features and making him look almost boyish. Since it was almost eight in the morning, he’d probably been up for a couple of hours.
Well-worn jeans hung from his lean hips. A form-fitting shirt accentuated the hard angles and planes of his chest. Heat cascaded to an area of my body that left me squirming. Seriously, Meghan, get a grip! This was beginning to get ridiculous. I was his researcher after all. I should act like it.
“Good to see you, Dr. Forester,” Sergeant Rose said when I stepped up to the control panel. “Good weekend?”
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