by Tess Oliver
I sat in Sadie’s backroom with my leg on a chair. It seemed to help. I’d decided that I was done with the pills. They’d eased the pain, but they also made me feel dopey and that was the last thing I needed.
Sadie set me a task of sorting old buttons by color and size which made me feel rather silly and useless, but it was all I was good for at the moment. I was admiring an oval button that looked like an old-fashioned cameo when my phone rang. It was Chase.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“I’m good, Sweetie. How’s your sister doing?”
“She’s still in the hospital for observations. We’re all supposed to meet with the counselor at the hospital to talk about things.” He paused. “I’m not really sure what we’re supposed to discuss. I just wish they’d figure out a way to help her.” Poor Chase had never suffered physically from the effects of an eating disorder but he had mentally, and it had taken a toll on him. He loved his sister, but I think there were times when he was truly angry with her.
“Jessa,” he said suddenly.
“Yeah?”
“Susie would never do anything to hurt you.” It was obvious he’d been beating himself up about it, and the strain of it came through the phone. “I know she’s jealous of you, but she would never do anything like that.” He laughed weakly. “Besides, she’s petrified of spiders.”
“Chase, please don’t give it another thought. I know it’s not her, and I hope that by the end of summer we can get to know each other so she won’t dislike me so much. I’d really like to get to know her.”
“Thanks, Jessa. I’ll tell her that. She’s super stubborn though.”
“Just give it some time, Chase.”
“I’ve got to head down the hill to the hospital. Call if you need me.”
“I will and drive safely, Chase. Bye.”
Nico called right after I’d hung up with Chase.
“Hola, my knight in shining armor.”
“How’s the leg?”
“Ugly and red and I guess I’m going to have a scar.”
“I like a chick with a scar. Maybe we should get you a couple of tattoos too.”
“Yeah, and why don’t you run that one by my mom to see if she’ll pay for it?” Something had been scratching around my mind and I finally decided to ask it. “Nico, when did you get the tattoo with my name?”
There was a long pause. “Right after the tattoo artist moved in with my mom. It seemed like a good way to keep a part of you with me.”
“I was always with you.” My throat tightened around my words.
“I know you were, Duchess.” Another round of silence drifted through the phone. “I’ll pick you up for lunch.”
“See you then.”
Mom and Sadie kept popping their heads into the back room to check on me, and each time I assured them that I was fine. Between the mind-numbing task of button sorting and my lack of sleep the night before, my lids felt like they had tiny weights attached to them. I decided to stretch out on the small sofa and take a quick nap. Only it was far from quick. The next thing I knew Mom was shaking me awake to let me know that Nico was out front.
Nico was leaning against his truck as I stepped out of the shop. Everything about him, his broad shoulders, his lazy smile, every glorious inch of him, sent my heart into a frenzy.
He pushed off the truck and opened the door without a word. We didn’t have to talk. Just being together was like speaking a million words to each other.
I yawned and stretched my arms forward. “I took a super long nap. I’d just planned to lay down for a few minutes and the next thing I knew, you were outside.”
“The medication?”
“No, I didn’t take anymore. I just kept waking up last night and thinking about everything.”
“It’s never good to think dark thoughts when you’re lying in bed. They’ll give you bad dreams.” He stared absently at the road, and it was obvious he was thinking about his childhood. I couldn’t even fathom all the restless nights and grim thoughts he’d had as a kid lying alone in his dark bedroom.
“Actually I was trying not to dwell on dark thoughts last night,” I said. “I was thinking about us a lot.”
He glanced sideways at me. “Oh yeah?”
“Yep. I realized that even though I’ve had a rather crappy start to my stay in Pinecliff, there’s one thing I’m certain about.” I looked at him. “I’m thrilled to be back with you. I think deep down I’ve always known we’d find each other again.”
“I’ve always felt the same way.” He released a short laugh. “I used to tell myself that once I got my shit together and once I’d saved up enough money, I would find you. Unfortunately, getting my shit together took me a lot longer than I’d expected. There were some definite self-made road blocks in the way. Funny thing is-- this year I’d decided I could finally go through with my plan.” He smiled at me. “And then you came to me.”
“If I hadn’t moved away for awhile, do you think we would have stuck together through those early teen years? I mean junior high years are sort of yucky. I know I was a total butt pain to my mom.”
“We might have hit some rough spots, but I think we’d still be together. I know, at least for me, there’s never been anyone else but you.”
“I’ve never given my heart fully to anyone else either.” I unbuckled my seatbelt a second and leaned over to kiss his cheek. Then I sat back down and buckled up.
“I don’t know about you,” he said, “but after last night, I’ve been having a strange craving for burritos. Let’s get some and park over at the haunted forest to eat them.”
“Sounds good. I’m finally feeling hungry again.”
The smell of the food made my mouth water as we climbed the steep dirt road to the small turn-off in front of the haunted forest. The official name of the place was Sutter’s Grove, but stories of ghost sightings had always floated around Pinecliff. So the locals always referred to it as the haunted forest.
“I’d forgotten about this place,” I said. “Remember when we were in sixth grade and Chase’s dad drove us up here after we’d gone out for Halloween.”
Nico parked the truck. “Oh yeah, you thought you saw a pair of red glowing eyes watching you eat your candy apple.”
I lifted my chin. “Excuse me, but I didn’t think it-- I actually saw them.” I pointed to where an old marker showed the edge of the trail. “They flickered like the eyes of a Jack-o-lantern, and they were right over there.”
Nico handed me a burrito. “If you say so.”
“I saw them, so think what you will.” I scooted back against my seat and took a bite of my food. We munched in silence for a moment then I decided to bring up my conversation with Chase. “Chase called to check on me this morning.”
He swallowed and took a sip of soda. “How is his sister?”
“Fine, I guess, but he had to go to the hospital for a family meeting.”
“Bummer.”
“Yeah. He wanted to assure me that Susie had nothing to do with the threats.”
“I’m sure he did. I still don’t trust her,” he said.
“I don’t think it was her and please don’t ever bring it up to Chase again. The fact that he was still talking about this morning means it really hurt him when you accused her.”
“All right, all right. I won’t ever remind him again that she’s a witch.”
“Nico, stop it. Really. It’s not helping.”
He looked at me. “Why are you so mad?”
“I just don’t want to upset Chase.”
“Fine. I won’t bring it up again.”
I handed Nico the last half of my burrito to eat.
He took it happily. “See, we were meant to be together. You only eat half of everything and I prefer to eat one and a half of everything.”
“
That is rather convenient and less wasteful.” I opened the door to the truck. “I think I’m going to wander around out there for a bit.”
“Don’t go too far. Remember the legend says that they never found Frank Sutter’s body. He could still be out there somewhere.”
I leaned back in. “With the dead spider and the nightmarish river trip, do you really think you need to try so hard to scare me? Believe me I’m already freaked out enough.”
“Sorry, Duchess. You’re right.”
I closed the door to the truck and headed toward the trail head. Tourists rarely came up to this trail, and sometimes I wondered if the rumors of it being haunted kept them away. More likely it had to do with the steep, unpaved road leading up to it. This afternoon was no exception. There were only two other cars parked in the clearing, but there was no sign of the people. I wandered along the path which was not being maintained as well as other hiking trails. Pine cones and dead pine needles littered the shady path.
I decided to collect up a few pine cones. The stitches pulled against my skin as I walked, but I refused to think about the incident.
I followed the trail of fallen pine cones into a small copse of trees about twenty feet off the path. There were some nice ones that hadn’t been destroyed by feet or long-teethed animals yet. Something skittered behind me, and I twisted back just as a gray squirrel went racing up a tree trunk. I was humming to myself, using my foot to sort through the pinecones when an arm grabbed me around the waist and I dropped my collection.
Nico turned me around to face him.
“You might have let me know you were about to grab me.” I pressed my hand to my chest. “My heart is about to pop out, and I dropped my pine cones.”
“Now what’s the fun of grabbing you, if you know I’m about to do it?” He pulled me against him and kissed me. We stood in the center of the tall, fragrant trees, being warmed by the ribbons of sunlight that managed to wind their way through the evergreen canopy. There was something so familiar and yet so excitingly new about these intimate moments with Nico. The feel of his mouth on my lips and skin made every inch of me tingle. Being tucked in the security of his arms and with my head reeling from the pleasure of it; it was easy to forget the horrid events of the previous day. All that mattered was that I was with Nico.
My lips were raw again by the time we’d left the circle of trees and headed back to the truck. “Why does the lunch hour go so fast when the work hours seem to just plod along,” Nico said as he slid back into the driver’s seat.
“It is a strange phenomenon, isn’t it?”
“Scientists should figure out a way to change that.”
We pulled back onto the main highway. A lot of people were driving into Pinecliff for the weekend, so it looked like we’d be stuck in traffic.
“Great, my dad’s going to throw a fit,” Nico said.
I fell silent. There was nothing I hated to hear about more than his father’s ugly temper. Unfortunately, I’d seen it in action plenty of times when we were kids. I’d always considered him to be a crazy man. Nico seemed to sense my concern.
He reached over to hold my hand. “Hey, he doesn’t dare hit me anymore. It kills him, I know, but now he’s a lot more afraid of me than I am of him. The most he’ll do is tell me I have to stay late to make up the time.”
I smiled weakly and nodded. “I’m glad to hear it. Hey, speaking of later on, my mom has to help Aunt Sadie tonight. She told me I should ask you to come sit with me at home so I’m not alone.”
His eyes opened wide. “Really?”
“Why would I make that up? Do you want to come?”
He looked over at me for a moment. “What do you think?”
“Nico!” A car had slammed on the brakes in front of us and Nico did the same. We lurched forward and something small and heavy slid out from under the seat and hit the back of my heel. Once we’d come to a full stop, I leaned down and reached for it. It was a small box holding something heavy. I held it up in front of my face and stared at it.
Obviously not wanting to take his eyes off the road for long, Nico glanced over then turned back to watch the traffic. “What is that, Jessa?”
“It slid out from under your seat,” I said quietly. “It’s a box of nails.” My throat felt dry as I spoke and there was a sharp pain in my stomach.
Silence filled the cab of the truck for a long moment then Nico spoke. “They aren’t mine. I don’t know where they even came from.” There was nothing in the sound of his voice to make me doubt him and yet a sick feeling overcame me. The nails in the box looked exactly like the nail we’d found in the mailbox.
“You don’t think I had anything to do with the river accident?” The terrible urgency in his voice made it feel like someone had just reached in and punched me in the heart.
“No, I-- I don’t know what to think, Nico.”
“Are you kidding me?” He gripped the steering wheel harder and was now passing cars in the opposing lane at top speed. I gripped the edge of my seat.
“I’m just confused. I-- I . . .” Truthfully, I didn’t know what to say or think. Tears streamed down my cheeks as he sped along the winding highway.
“God, Jessa, I promise you, I don’t know where those nails came from. Why would I want you to leave town? I’ve only ever wanted you to come back.” His voice was breaking, and the sincerity of his tone should have convinced me but the whole incident was so bizarre.
“Who would have put them in your truck?” I asked shakily.
“I don’t know,” he yelled. “Dammit! I have no idea how that box ended up under my seat.” I willed myself to peer up at him through teary eyes.
The anguish in his expression made my tears roll faster. “Jessa, you’ve got to believe me.”
“I believe you.” But even as I heard the words I’d spoken I knew there was some doubt in my tone. “I just need to be alone for awhile. Everything is happening so fast with us, and I’m confused by it all.”
Nico didn’t say another word but his face spoke volumes. His jaw twitched and his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. He pulled up to the shop. I hopped out hoping he wouldn’t follow but he did.
He grabbed my hand but I didn’t turn to face him. I just stared down at the ground in front of my feet. “I’ll call you later, Nico,” I said in a near whisper.
He let go of my hand and I glanced back as I got inside. Nico kicked a dent in the truck’s fender then climbed in and sped away.
Chapter 17
I was crying so hard by the time I got to my mom, she was sure someone had attacked me again. I wrapped my arms around her and sobbed into her blouse for a good five minutes before I could catch my breath enough to talk. She walked me to the back room and we sat down on the couch. Her fingers were shaking as she took hold of my hand, and I felt close to throwing up.
Aunt Sadie hobbled over with a wet cloth to put on my forehead. I closed my eyes for a second to relax under the cool comfort of the cloth. When I opened my eyes, Mom and Sadie both looked so fraught with concern I felt guilty for making such a scene. “I’m sorry I was so hysterical, but--” My words choked off.
Mom released my hand and placed her palm against my cheek. “What is it, Jessa? What has happened?”
I decided to just blurt out the story hoping that it would not sound as dreadful once I’d retold it aloud. “There was a box of nails under the seat of Nico’s truck.”
Mom had decided not to mention yesterday’s mail gift to Aunt Sadie, and the poor woman looked completely confused by what I’d just said. But Mom caught the meaning immediately. She quickly debriefed Sadie too.
Mom looked thoughtfully at me. “Jessa, you can’t possibly think that Nico had anything to do with it. You told me he’d pulled you from the water.”
“I know, I know. None of it makes sense.” I removed the cloth from
my head and pressed my face into my palms. “I don’t know why I reacted the way I did. It was just so coincidental.”
“I told you to stay away from that boy,” Aunt Sadie interjected. Now I wanted her to leave us alone. I got my wish when the bell on the front door rang. We waited for her to shuffle with her walker out to the front room before continuing.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Mom turned back to me. She brushed the hair off of my face with her hand. “What did Nico say about the nails?”
“He swore they weren’t his.” More tears ran down my cheeks. “And I’m so awful, I didn’t tell him I believed him. What must he think of me?”
“You’ve had a few truly scary mishaps and you were upset, that’s all. I can’t imagine why the nails were there, but I know that kid, and he is so crazy about you, he would never do anything to hurt you. He looks at you like you are the only person in the world who matters to him.”
I cried harder. “I know and I hurt him so badly just now I’ll never be able to make it up to him.” I hugged her. “He’ll never talk to me again and I wouldn’t talk to me either.”
“Go into the bathroom, wash your face, and call him. He’ll understand.”
“You knew as soon as I told you that he could never have done it. Why am I such an idiot?”
“I’m not saying that you weren’t right to jump to such an obvious conclusion, Jessa. The entire thing is a little disquieting, but I’m standing on the outside looking in. His devotion to you is deep. I think that’s why I’ve always been so fond of him. That boy has loved you unconditionally since you were both young kids, and when I see him with you now, I know he has never wavered from that affection.
My hands were trembling so badly I could barely hang onto the phone. My heart sank when the call went straight to Nico’s voice mail. But I wasn’t ready to leave a message, so I hung up like a coward.
I curled up on Sadie’s couch and put the cloth back on my aching head. I kept going over the scene inside the truck in my head and felt worse with each run through. I’d have to make it up to Nico and fast or I would lose him forever. Of course I deserved to lose him. I decided to call the only other person who I could talk to when things were bad. And they were really bad.