find Simone and Bobby at the cabin, but she had hoped . The knots in her gut told her she’d been hoping much harder than she’d realized.
At the window, Charlie let the curtains fall back. “Far as I can tell, no one’s creeping around out there. I’m sure we weren’t followed, so unless Boots knew where we were headed—which is impossible since we didn’t know ourselves until an hour ago—we’ll be safe here tonight.” He crossed the room to stand beside her. “I know you’re disappointed Simone and Bobby aren’t here, but Anna, you knew it was a long shot. I’m sure Hawkins has called in outside help by now, so at least we’re not the only ones looking for them.”
“We’ll find them soon,” she said, more to herself than to Charlie.
We have to.
“Stay positive.”
“I am trying.” Closing her eyes, she imagined a fire crackling in the hearth, the smell of cedar filling the room. She licked her lips, practically tasting the hot chocolate on her tongue. This cabin was one of the few places she’d been happy as a child. Her father came up most every weekend during hunting season, plus a fair amount in summer. With no wife at home, he’d been forced to bring his girls along. Simone used to dread the isolation of the cabin, but Anna relished the chance to escape the taunts of the neighborhood bullies.
Freak! Freak! Why don’t you speak?
Sometimes the most hurtful words came from the adults.
Leave her alone, kids. The poor girl’s retarded .
If Simone was with her, she’d yell and curse and threaten Anna’s tormentors with her fists. But Anna would simply stand there, arms locked at her sides, her knuckles aching to rise up and punch somebody smack in the face. Only she never did. She didn’t fight back because good little girls didn’t curse and run wild in the street. And she needed to be good—good enough to make her mother want to come back home.
Of course, Mom never did come home.
Finally, Anna stopped hoping—and that’s when she stopped whispering. After all, she had Simone. And Simone had mothered her enough to drive any child stark raving mad. A small smile lifted her lips. It almost felt good, in a completely devastating sort of way, to know that the tables had turned and now Simone needed her.
At last it was her turn to look out for the sister who had always looked out for her.
Anna placed her hand over her belly and exhaled, willing herself to relax. Her limbs were wired with restless energy. She needed to go for a run to burn this tension. She needed to run and run and keep on running until every muscle in her body released its pain.
Rolling her neck to work out the kinks, she felt a strong hand come over her shoulder. A thumb started to stroke along the side of her neck, making her stomach loop and dive. When she opened her eyes, she got caught up in Charlie’s gaze, marveling at the way the cool blue of his eyes had gone all smoky. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing here daydreaming, or how long he’d been watching.
His knees bent, and before she could protest, he’d swooped an arm under her bottom and lifted her off the floor. “I’m sorry, Anna, but I need you now . I can’t wait any more.” His words came out in a low growl that sent shivers racing through her.
As he carried her into the bedroom, she let her head nestle against his chest, cherishing the feel of his cotton T-shirt, damp with sweat, beneath her cheek, cherishing life . She pressed her lips against the unyielding wall of his chest. It seemed she didn’t want to protest after all.
Inside the bedroom, still holding her in his arms, Charlie managed to yank open the curtains, causing a glaze of moonlight to coat the room.
“Anna.” He whispered her name, and the fine hairs on her arms rose. On the outside her skin prickled with chill bumps, but inside she blazed, like a carefully constructed pile of kindling that had finally found its match.
“Anna.” This time he moaned her
At the window, Charlie let the curtains fall back. “Far as I can tell, no one’s creeping around out there. I’m sure we weren’t followed, so unless Boots knew where we were headed—which is impossible since we didn’t know ourselves until an hour ago—we’ll be safe here tonight.” He crossed the room to stand beside her. “I know you’re disappointed Simone and Bobby aren’t here, but Anna, you knew it was a long shot. I’m sure Hawkins has called in outside help by now, so at least we’re not the only ones looking for them.”
“We’ll find them soon,” she said, more to herself than to Charlie.
We have to.
“Stay positive.”
“I am trying.” Closing her eyes, she imagined a fire crackling in the hearth, the smell of cedar filling the room. She licked her lips, practically tasting the hot chocolate on her tongue. This cabin was one of the few places she’d been happy as a child. Her father came up most every weekend during hunting season, plus a fair amount in summer. With no wife at home, he’d been forced to bring his girls along. Simone used to dread the isolation of the cabin, but Anna relished the chance to escape the taunts of the neighborhood bullies.
Freak! Freak! Why don’t you speak?
Sometimes the most hurtful words came from the adults.
Leave her alone, kids. The poor girl’s retarded .
If Simone was with her, she’d yell and curse and threaten Anna’s tormentors with her fists. But Anna would simply stand there, arms locked at her sides, her knuckles aching to rise up and punch somebody smack in the face. Only she never did. She didn’t fight back because good little girls didn’t curse and run wild in the street. And she needed to be good—good enough to make her mother want to come back home.
Of course, Mom never did come home.
Finally, Anna stopped hoping—and that’s when she stopped whispering. After all, she had Simone. And Simone had mothered her enough to drive any child stark raving mad. A small smile lifted her lips. It almost felt good, in a completely devastating sort of way, to know that the tables had turned and now Simone needed her.
At last it was her turn to look out for the sister who had always looked out for her.
Anna placed her hand over her belly and exhaled, willing herself to relax. Her limbs were wired with restless energy. She needed to go for a run to burn this tension. She needed to run and run and keep on running until every muscle in her body released its pain.
Rolling her neck to work out the kinks, she felt a strong hand come over her shoulder. A thumb started to stroke along the side of her neck, making her stomach loop and dive. When she opened her eyes, she got caught up in Charlie’s gaze, marveling at the way the cool blue of his eyes had gone all smoky. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing here daydreaming, or how long he’d been watching.
His knees bent, and before she could protest, he’d swooped an arm under her bottom and lifted her off the floor. “I’m sorry, Anna, but I need you now . I can’t wait any more.” His words came out in a low growl that sent shivers racing through her.
As he carried her into the bedroom, she let her head nestle against his chest, cherishing the feel of his cotton T-shirt, damp with sweat, beneath her cheek, cherishing life . She pressed her lips against the unyielding wall of his chest. It seemed she didn’t want to protest after all.
Inside the bedroom, still holding her in his arms, Charlie managed to yank open the curtains, causing a glaze of moonlight to coat the room.
“Anna.” He whispered her name, and the fine hairs on her arms rose. On the outside her skin prickled with chill bumps, but inside she blazed, like a carefully constructed pile of kindling that had finally found its match.
“Anna.” This time he moaned her
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