Read Online Love Me If You Must by Nicole Young - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicole Young
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woman ’til death do them part.”
Brad snapped his head in my direction. “What’s this about a divorce?”
“He got the papers today. Rebecca’s finally decided to give him another chance at love. Sure took her long enough.”
Brad bounced his thumbs off his lips in silence, staring at some crack in the sidewalk below.
His voice came softly. “It hasn’t even been a year, Tish.”
I met his eyes. Plain brown circles stared back at me.
I stood up. “Well, thanks for stopping by. I promise I’ll check my locks twice.”
He jumped to his feet. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a look around for myself.”
I crossed my arms, debating. The guy was a police officer, not to mention my neighbor. And it wasn’t as if I had anything to hide that he didn’t already know.
I gave him a smart-aleck look. “You’re not afraid to be alone in a house with me?”
“Should I be?” he asked, not rising to the bait.
My heart softened. At least he wasn’t the type to throw my past in my face.
I opened the door and he followed me in.
10
Once through the door, Brad took the lead, walking with purpose to each window, jiggling sills and checking latches. I raced to keep up with him as he took the steps two at a time to the second floor and repeated the motions, then thumped down the back stairs to the kitchen.
He walked toward the cellar door.
“Wait,” I hollered when I realized his intentions. “That door stays locked. There’s no reason to go down there.”
He paused with his hand on the knob. “Let me do my job, Tish. I want to get some sleep tonight.”
I crossed my arms. “Fine. I’ll wait up here.”
“No problem.” He turned the latch and stepped into the gloom beyond.
The sound of his footsteps diminished as he reached the dusty floor of the basement. I crept away from my safe haven by the kitchen sink and over to the door. I leaned against the trim, peering down at the dim circle of light on the gray floor below.
I listened for movement. Only an occasional shuffle and thud reached me. A soft breeze drifted up from the cellar and brushed against my cheeks.
Panic rose in my throat.
A ringing filled my ears—the same high-pitched inner whistle I’d experienced the last time I’d braved the basement. And just as before, I felt more than heard a soft, haunting plea.
Help me, Tish.
I shuddered. A voice from the past, nothing more. Why couldn’t she leave me alone? I’d done what she’d asked of me. I’d made the ultimate sacrifice so she could rest in peace. So why couldn’t Grandma just leave me alone?
I put my foot on the first narrow step.
What was taking Brad so long? I threw a glance over my shoulder at the empty kitchen. Hanging out in the basement suddenly seemed more appealing.
I went down another step.
My breath came in panicked gulps.
Memories of the image at the bottom of the cistern forced themselves into my head. The open mouth, the clawing hands, the flailing feet . . .
I wrapped one arm around the railing and shrank against the wall.
“Brad!”
He appeared at the bottom of the steps and started toward me.
“Everything okay?” He gently untangled my elbow from its mortal grip on the handrail and helped me up. “You look scared to death.”
I cleared my throat. “I must be shook up from earlier this week. I guess the cellar still spooks me a little.”
“Everything checks out. We should both be able to sleep better.”
He helped me to the kitchen, and for the first time since my arrival in Rawlings, I wished I had a chair to sit in.
I leaned against the counter instead. “Thanks. I appreciate you looking the place over.”
He walked to the back door. “Lock up after me.”
I followed him and watched as he stepped onto the porch.
His eyes met mine. “Good night, Tish.”
I shook off the rush of longing his whispered words sent through me.
Those teenage prickles that dotted my skin were reserved for David alone.
I faced the mirror the
Brad snapped his head in my direction. “What’s this about a divorce?”
“He got the papers today. Rebecca’s finally decided to give him another chance at love. Sure took her long enough.”
Brad bounced his thumbs off his lips in silence, staring at some crack in the sidewalk below.
His voice came softly. “It hasn’t even been a year, Tish.”
I met his eyes. Plain brown circles stared back at me.
I stood up. “Well, thanks for stopping by. I promise I’ll check my locks twice.”
He jumped to his feet. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a look around for myself.”
I crossed my arms, debating. The guy was a police officer, not to mention my neighbor. And it wasn’t as if I had anything to hide that he didn’t already know.
I gave him a smart-aleck look. “You’re not afraid to be alone in a house with me?”
“Should I be?” he asked, not rising to the bait.
My heart softened. At least he wasn’t the type to throw my past in my face.
I opened the door and he followed me in.
10
Once through the door, Brad took the lead, walking with purpose to each window, jiggling sills and checking latches. I raced to keep up with him as he took the steps two at a time to the second floor and repeated the motions, then thumped down the back stairs to the kitchen.
He walked toward the cellar door.
“Wait,” I hollered when I realized his intentions. “That door stays locked. There’s no reason to go down there.”
He paused with his hand on the knob. “Let me do my job, Tish. I want to get some sleep tonight.”
I crossed my arms. “Fine. I’ll wait up here.”
“No problem.” He turned the latch and stepped into the gloom beyond.
The sound of his footsteps diminished as he reached the dusty floor of the basement. I crept away from my safe haven by the kitchen sink and over to the door. I leaned against the trim, peering down at the dim circle of light on the gray floor below.
I listened for movement. Only an occasional shuffle and thud reached me. A soft breeze drifted up from the cellar and brushed against my cheeks.
Panic rose in my throat.
A ringing filled my ears—the same high-pitched inner whistle I’d experienced the last time I’d braved the basement. And just as before, I felt more than heard a soft, haunting plea.
Help me, Tish.
I shuddered. A voice from the past, nothing more. Why couldn’t she leave me alone? I’d done what she’d asked of me. I’d made the ultimate sacrifice so she could rest in peace. So why couldn’t Grandma just leave me alone?
I put my foot on the first narrow step.
What was taking Brad so long? I threw a glance over my shoulder at the empty kitchen. Hanging out in the basement suddenly seemed more appealing.
I went down another step.
My breath came in panicked gulps.
Memories of the image at the bottom of the cistern forced themselves into my head. The open mouth, the clawing hands, the flailing feet . . .
I wrapped one arm around the railing and shrank against the wall.
“Brad!”
He appeared at the bottom of the steps and started toward me.
“Everything okay?” He gently untangled my elbow from its mortal grip on the handrail and helped me up. “You look scared to death.”
I cleared my throat. “I must be shook up from earlier this week. I guess the cellar still spooks me a little.”
“Everything checks out. We should both be able to sleep better.”
He helped me to the kitchen, and for the first time since my arrival in Rawlings, I wished I had a chair to sit in.
I leaned against the counter instead. “Thanks. I appreciate you looking the place over.”
He walked to the back door. “Lock up after me.”
I followed him and watched as he stepped onto the porch.
His eyes met mine. “Good night, Tish.”
I shook off the rush of longing his whispered words sent through me.
Those teenage prickles that dotted my skin were reserved for David alone.
I faced the mirror the
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