Read Online From The Wreckage - Complete by Michele G Miller - Free Book Online Page B

head. The touch stirs her barely enough to mumble a sleepy, 'What are you doing?' He explains he is heading out to help do some recovery work in town, and Jules squeezes her eyes shut to keep the memories out; falling back asleep. An hour ago her mother came in to tell her she made some chicken salad and it will be available whenever she’s ready to come downstairs, but instead she pulls the covers up and squeezes her eyes shut. She knows she is fighting the reality of what she might have to face once she leaves the safety of her room, but she can’t help it.
    Hearing West's voice, however, puts urgency into her movements and she slides from the bed and feels her limbs turn to jelly when she tries to stand.
    "Whoa."
    Jules falls back to sit on the side of the bed and her head spins as dark spots flash before her eyes. She can hear a deeper voice speaking below her and decides it must be Mr. Rutledge. Wondering why they are here, she slowly pushes herself to a standing position again.
    She manages to crack open her door when she hears a broken sob from her mom.
    "Oh, dear Lord."
    The strangled words fill her with worry and Jules rounds the corner; her head poking down into the open foyer below as she calls out, "Mom?"
    Her mother stands inside the door with her head bent low. Mr. Rutledge stands close to her, his hand touching her shoulder as she cries. To the left stands West with his hands tucked into the pockets of his blue jeans. He looks up at the sound of her voice and his expression changes immediately; the pain and sadness is evident in his eyes. 
    Paying no heed to the tank top and small sleeping shorts she wears, Jules steps into full view and takes a shaky step; grabbing the rail to brace herself for whatever dismal news the Rutledge’s seem to be bringing into her house. 
    "What's wrong? West, why are you here?"
    He stands his ground silently and she takes the steps slowly; her eyes glued on her mother's back. It feels like everything is moving in slow motion, as if her mother is ignoring her, but in reality it takes only a few seconds before she turns towards Jules. Her face is pale and her eyes are rimmed red as she brushes the wetness from beneath her lower lashes.
    "Oh, honey," she starts; moving to take Jules' hand once she reaches the last few steps. "I have some bad news."
    The black spots show up again and Jules grips the post to the stairs. She feels a sudden urge to vomit and swallows hard as she looks at the three somber faces in front of her. She barely feels her mother’s arm wrap around her, pulling her snugly against her, as she meets West's eyes again. Something in his look instinctively tells her what she is about to hear. They lock with hers and his expression fills with indescribable emotions. There’s deep sadness, but there’s something more; something that makes her whole body tingle with the urge to be near him.
    "Honey, it's Tanya. She didn't make it, sweetie," her mother's voice whispers into her ear as she tilts her head against Jules'. The words sound fake to her; a mimicry of the teacher in all of those Charlie Brown television specials she’s watched through the years. 
    "Wah wah wah wah..."  
    The sentence registers deep down in her gut, but as her head swims and her feet begin to give away, she stays zoned in on West. As she stares Jules notices his mouth open, and his face switches from sadness to a look of concern. She registers his movement towards her as if she is watching a movie. She doesn’t feel as if she is actually present in the room as he flings himself towards her. Her mother's worried shout sounds in her head before everything goes black.
    Coming back to earth, Jules shakes the cobwebs from her vision and asks groggily, "What? What happened?" 
    "Welcome back, cheerleader." 
    West's face hovers over hers and his eyes convey worry, even while he smiles his brilliant smile.
    "Honey? Are you all right? You passed out, but only for a moment." Her mother rushes to