Read Online A Message for Julia by Angel Smits - Free Book Online Page B

blankempty void threatened to suck her under. She had to escape her thoughts.
    She stood and walked over to the distraught woman. Gently, Julia touched the woman’s shoulder, trying not to startle her. The woman jumped anyway and stared at her. The pain in her eyes hit Julia like a semi barreling down I-99. She nearly took a step back from it.
    â€œI didn’t… I can’t…” The woman took Julia’s hand and squeezed it tight. Julia let her hold on, let herself hold on.
    Julia settled beside the woman. Jack didn’t look pleased with what Patrick was saying, but he sat next to his wife, who laid her head on his shoulder.
    Julia closed her eyes and wished for a strong shoulder to lean on… The what-ifs that popped into her mind hurt too much. She forced herself to open her eyes and focus. She couldn’t let herself feel right now.
    â€œThere’s a press conference scheduled for six o’clock,” Patrick said. Everyone turned to look at the large white-faced clock high up on the wall. Less than ten minutes from now. How had they been here for two hours already?
    â€œLook.” Patrick stood beside Jack now, his hand on the man’s shoulder. “I don’t have the answers for you. I wish I did. We’ve got crews and equipment headed this way from three states. We’ll do everything humanly possible to get to our crew.”
    Julia realized they had to trust these men and that she had to put her faith in their knowledge, skill and determination. She didn’t necessarily have to like them,but they needed this operation to succeed as much as everyone else in the room.
    Jack stood and Patrick held up his hand as he spoke. “I will promise you one thing. I’ll tell you everything I know as soon as I know it. And I’ll tell you before I tell the press. Fair enough?”
    Jack nodded once, then turned back to his wife. He suddenly looked defeated and years older than he had a moment ago.
    Patrick’s promise sounded sincere, but Julia couldn’t help but wonder how he was going to keep it. She’d never felt more helpless and alone than she did surrounded by all these people.
    The mine managers left the gym with what seemed like incredible speed. As they opened the metal doors, the flash of lights, the crush of microphones and reporters was surprising and intimidating.
    Julia cringed. She couldn’t deal with reporters. Not now. Her panic faded when the doors closed again.
    Only one of the men remained. Patrick Kelly.
    Julia stood, not letting go of the woman’s hand. “What now?”
    Patrick seemed relieved that someone else other than Jack had spoken. “We know from experience that you all need to be as close to the site as possible.”
    The shadow of past mining disasters fell across the group. They all knew the history, the successes and failures. Accurate communication was key, and Julia was relieved to hear that Patrick was aware of the risks.
    â€œWe’re not going to try to run you in front of those reporters like others have done,” Patrick said. “We’veset up a tent near the command center. We’ll get you all there as soon as the reporters are gone.”
    â€œThat’s not going to happen.” Jack sighed in exasperation. “They’re here for the duration. You know what the press is like with stuff like this.”
    â€œI don’t know how else to get you through that crush.” Patrick looked helpless and frustrated.
    The thought of sitting here on the hard bleachers for any longer was too much. Julia wasn’t sure she could do that without losing her mind.
    â€œIsn’t there another way out?” Shirley asked, rising from her seat.
    â€œThere is a back way.” Julia blurted out the words as her mind clicked into gear. She’d caught two kids using it just last week.
    â€œBack way?” Everyone looked at her expectantly.
    She almost smiled. It felt good