Read Online Leap of Faith by Fiona McCallum - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Fiona McCallum
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lovely.â It felt quite decadent to be sipping mugs of hot chocolate together at this time of the morning.
âYouâd better get some more sleep else youâll be too tired for marking tomorrow,â Jessica said a few minutes later.
âHmm, today, you mean. Iâll just finish this.â
At least he would drop back off to sleep quickly.
âMind if I turn the light off now?â he asked when heâd put his empty mug down.
âNo. I need a wee, so you turn yours off and Iâll put mine on.â
âDo you need a hand?â
Jessica almost laughed at the image of him actually trying to help her pee. It was different for men, who had something that needed holding up. She didnât want to laugh and have him think she wasnât being grateful. âThanks, but I should be fine,â she said, being careful to keep any sarcasm out of her tone.
âWell, be careful â especially with the crutches on the tiles.â
âI will. Goodnight.â Jessica leant over and kissed him before leaning the other way, turning on her light, grabbing her crutches from where they were stacked against the wall, and carefully getting out of bed. The dogs were again at attention beside her. They stepped aside and followed her to the ensuite toilet where they sat watching her. It was kind of cute, though a little weird and disconcerting.
âAll done, back to bed,â she whispered to the dogs, as she hoisted herself back onto her crutches. As Jessica turned out the light, Laurel and Hardy were already curling up on the floor.
Jessica lay in the dark, desperate to relieve the scratching feeling in her eyes by getting some sleep, but fearful of returning to the nightmare and that feeling of drowning. And putting Steve through it all again. She listened to him breathing â already sleeping soundly again.
She forced herself to endure the discomfort of lying on her side; that way she was unlikely to go to sleep. She listened to the whistle of the wind through the pine trees and the faint, occasional whirr of a vehicle out on the highway. She felt sleep tugging at her eyelids and her body twitch as she gave in. She was just too tired to resist.
*
Jessica was riding that cross-country course again, checking off each jump, each twist and turn, each marker, as she went. She could feel her heart rate soar as she came around the last corner to face the water jump. Her heart leapt into her throat as Prince slowed, too much â to the point she knew he wouldnât make it. Then the sound of scraping and the feel of him twisting awkwardly underneath her as he scrambled over, and finally the crash and splash as his legs buckled and they went down.
This time Jessica somehow managed to wake before the feeling of being pinned underneath Prince and the sensation of drowning hit her. She was sweating and gasping once more but thankfully had this time managed not to disturb Steve. She forced her breathing to slow, detecting the furious pounding of her heart under her ribs. She felt as if sheâd actually ridden the round.
Early morning light glowed at the edges of the nearby curtains. Around five thirty or six, she guessed. As she returned her gaze to the bed she noticed Laurel and Hardy beside her.
âDo you need to go out?â she asked in a whisper. But they stayed where they were, their expressions apparently just of concern.
âItâs okay. Iâm okay,â she said quietly. Jessica was surprised to see them leave and then hear their snuffling as they lay down out of sight. She shook her head with wonder. Donât ever tell me animals donât understand human emotions .
Seemingly seconds later, Steveâs alarm went off. He raised himself with a groan.
âGood morning,â Jessica said.
âGood morning. Did you manage to get some more sleep?â he asked, leaning across to give her a kiss.
âYep, Iâm fine,â she said, forcing joviality
âYouâd better get some more sleep else youâll be too tired for marking tomorrow,â Jessica said a few minutes later.
âHmm, today, you mean. Iâll just finish this.â
At least he would drop back off to sleep quickly.
âMind if I turn the light off now?â he asked when heâd put his empty mug down.
âNo. I need a wee, so you turn yours off and Iâll put mine on.â
âDo you need a hand?â
Jessica almost laughed at the image of him actually trying to help her pee. It was different for men, who had something that needed holding up. She didnât want to laugh and have him think she wasnât being grateful. âThanks, but I should be fine,â she said, being careful to keep any sarcasm out of her tone.
âWell, be careful â especially with the crutches on the tiles.â
âI will. Goodnight.â Jessica leant over and kissed him before leaning the other way, turning on her light, grabbing her crutches from where they were stacked against the wall, and carefully getting out of bed. The dogs were again at attention beside her. They stepped aside and followed her to the ensuite toilet where they sat watching her. It was kind of cute, though a little weird and disconcerting.
âAll done, back to bed,â she whispered to the dogs, as she hoisted herself back onto her crutches. As Jessica turned out the light, Laurel and Hardy were already curling up on the floor.
Jessica lay in the dark, desperate to relieve the scratching feeling in her eyes by getting some sleep, but fearful of returning to the nightmare and that feeling of drowning. And putting Steve through it all again. She listened to him breathing â already sleeping soundly again.
She forced herself to endure the discomfort of lying on her side; that way she was unlikely to go to sleep. She listened to the whistle of the wind through the pine trees and the faint, occasional whirr of a vehicle out on the highway. She felt sleep tugging at her eyelids and her body twitch as she gave in. She was just too tired to resist.
*
Jessica was riding that cross-country course again, checking off each jump, each twist and turn, each marker, as she went. She could feel her heart rate soar as she came around the last corner to face the water jump. Her heart leapt into her throat as Prince slowed, too much â to the point she knew he wouldnât make it. Then the sound of scraping and the feel of him twisting awkwardly underneath her as he scrambled over, and finally the crash and splash as his legs buckled and they went down.
This time Jessica somehow managed to wake before the feeling of being pinned underneath Prince and the sensation of drowning hit her. She was sweating and gasping once more but thankfully had this time managed not to disturb Steve. She forced her breathing to slow, detecting the furious pounding of her heart under her ribs. She felt as if sheâd actually ridden the round.
Early morning light glowed at the edges of the nearby curtains. Around five thirty or six, she guessed. As she returned her gaze to the bed she noticed Laurel and Hardy beside her.
âDo you need to go out?â she asked in a whisper. But they stayed where they were, their expressions apparently just of concern.
âItâs okay. Iâm okay,â she said quietly. Jessica was surprised to see them leave and then hear their snuffling as they lay down out of sight. She shook her head with wonder. Donât ever tell me animals donât understand human emotions .
Seemingly seconds later, Steveâs alarm went off. He raised himself with a groan.
âGood morning,â Jessica said.
âGood morning. Did you manage to get some more sleep?â he asked, leaning across to give her a kiss.
âYep, Iâm fine,â she said, forcing joviality
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