Read Online The Color of Heaven - 09 - The Color of Time by Julianne MacLean - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julianne MacLean
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don’t know what to do.”
“Of course,” he replied. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the Mobil station on Ocean House Road. How soon can you get here?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” he replied. “Just stay put.”
“Okay.” I hung up the phone, thanked the cashier, and went outside. When I reached the edge of the parking lot, my knees buckled beneath me and my body crumpled to the ground, where I sat on the curb, buried my face in my hands and wept.
Chapter Nineteen
I was standing on the asphalt under the golden glow of the streetlamp, pacing in circles, when Chris pulled up in his parents’ Honda Civic. I immediately got in and shut the door.
“What happened?” he asked as I buckled my seatbelt. “You sounded out of breath when you called.”
“I just ran all the way here from Ethan’s house,” I explained. “I’m still freaked out. I don’t know what to do.”
Chris shifted into gear and pulled into a parking spot at the edge of the lot. “Tell me what happened.”
I took a deep breath and let it out, then I covered my face with my hands. “It was awful. Ethan’s parents were supposed to be in New York overnight, so he took me to his house to show me around. We had just gotten there when they came home unexpectedly.”
“Oh, geez…” Chris replied with understanding, as if he knew what I was about to describe.
I paused to collect myself, then lowered my hands to my lap. “They were really mad. We were upstairs, not doing anything—but I’m sure that’s not what they thought. We came down the stairs and his dad totally lost it.”
“Of course he did. He’s a total jerk. My parents can’t stand him.”
“Really?” I said with surprise. “You guys have been neighbors forever. I thought you were all friends.”
“We are, sort of, but only because I was the only playmate for Ethan when he was little. Otherwise, his parents would never have acknowledged us.”
With a sigh of defeat, I explained what happened after Mr. Foster ordered me to wait outside. I told Chris everything I’d heard from outside on the veranda—from the initial argument to the sound of glass smashing and the scuffle, and then Mrs. Foster screaming.
“When I went back inside,” I said, “Ethan was unconscious on the floor and there was blood on the fireplace. His mother told his dad to call an ambulance, and that’s when he yelled at me to leave. I was so scared, I just ran. Oh, God, Chris… I can’t believe I just left him there.”
“It’s not your fault,” Chris said, shifting into reverse and backing up. “Mr. Foster is a scary guy.” Chris pulled onto the road and headed back toward Ethan’s house. “But we should make sure Ethan’s okay.”
Relieved to have the support of a friend who understood the situation, I tipped my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.
Please, God, let him be all right…
* * *
By the time we arrived at Ethan’s house, there were two cop cars and an ambulance in the driveway, and lots of flashing lights.
“This looks bad,” I said as we pulled up.
A police officer approached. Chris rolled down his window.
“Can I help you?” the cop asked.
“I live next door,” Chris explained. “We’re friends of the family, and she’s Ethan’s girlfriend. She saw what happened earlier. Is Ethan okay?”
The cop bent forward to study my face. “You were here earlier?”
I nodded my head. “Yes, but Mr. Foster told me to leave. He was angry.”
The officer stared at me for a few tense seconds. “What’s your name?”
“Sylvie Nichols.”
“Could you step out of the vehicle please? I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
All at once, my heart exploded with panic. I felt as if I were about to be arrested for committing a crime.
I got out of the car and met the officer who had circled around the front. “Can you tell me what you were doing here and the approximate time you arrived and left?”
Swallowing nervously, I knew it
“Of course,” he replied. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the Mobil station on Ocean House Road. How soon can you get here?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” he replied. “Just stay put.”
“Okay.” I hung up the phone, thanked the cashier, and went outside. When I reached the edge of the parking lot, my knees buckled beneath me and my body crumpled to the ground, where I sat on the curb, buried my face in my hands and wept.
Chapter Nineteen
I was standing on the asphalt under the golden glow of the streetlamp, pacing in circles, when Chris pulled up in his parents’ Honda Civic. I immediately got in and shut the door.
“What happened?” he asked as I buckled my seatbelt. “You sounded out of breath when you called.”
“I just ran all the way here from Ethan’s house,” I explained. “I’m still freaked out. I don’t know what to do.”
Chris shifted into gear and pulled into a parking spot at the edge of the lot. “Tell me what happened.”
I took a deep breath and let it out, then I covered my face with my hands. “It was awful. Ethan’s parents were supposed to be in New York overnight, so he took me to his house to show me around. We had just gotten there when they came home unexpectedly.”
“Oh, geez…” Chris replied with understanding, as if he knew what I was about to describe.
I paused to collect myself, then lowered my hands to my lap. “They were really mad. We were upstairs, not doing anything—but I’m sure that’s not what they thought. We came down the stairs and his dad totally lost it.”
“Of course he did. He’s a total jerk. My parents can’t stand him.”
“Really?” I said with surprise. “You guys have been neighbors forever. I thought you were all friends.”
“We are, sort of, but only because I was the only playmate for Ethan when he was little. Otherwise, his parents would never have acknowledged us.”
With a sigh of defeat, I explained what happened after Mr. Foster ordered me to wait outside. I told Chris everything I’d heard from outside on the veranda—from the initial argument to the sound of glass smashing and the scuffle, and then Mrs. Foster screaming.
“When I went back inside,” I said, “Ethan was unconscious on the floor and there was blood on the fireplace. His mother told his dad to call an ambulance, and that’s when he yelled at me to leave. I was so scared, I just ran. Oh, God, Chris… I can’t believe I just left him there.”
“It’s not your fault,” Chris said, shifting into reverse and backing up. “Mr. Foster is a scary guy.” Chris pulled onto the road and headed back toward Ethan’s house. “But we should make sure Ethan’s okay.”
Relieved to have the support of a friend who understood the situation, I tipped my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.
Please, God, let him be all right…
* * *
By the time we arrived at Ethan’s house, there were two cop cars and an ambulance in the driveway, and lots of flashing lights.
“This looks bad,” I said as we pulled up.
A police officer approached. Chris rolled down his window.
“Can I help you?” the cop asked.
“I live next door,” Chris explained. “We’re friends of the family, and she’s Ethan’s girlfriend. She saw what happened earlier. Is Ethan okay?”
The cop bent forward to study my face. “You were here earlier?”
I nodded my head. “Yes, but Mr. Foster told me to leave. He was angry.”
The officer stared at me for a few tense seconds. “What’s your name?”
“Sylvie Nichols.”
“Could you step out of the vehicle please? I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
All at once, my heart exploded with panic. I felt as if I were about to be arrested for committing a crime.
I got out of the car and met the officer who had circled around the front. “Can you tell me what you were doing here and the approximate time you arrived and left?”
Swallowing nervously, I knew it
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