Read Online The Reservoir by Rosemarie Naramore - Free Book Online Page A

you screamed.”
    “What does that mean?” Holly said, eyeing him curiously.
    “Your voice didn’t abandon you.”  He dropped his head in shame.
    “So?”
    “ Everything abandoned me—my voice, my ability to reason, my ability to take a step…  I didn’t even register that I dropped that plate—hence, you cut your foot.  Yeah, I’m great in a crisis,” he muttered morosely.
    “Yeah, well, it’s not everyday you see a ghost.”  She reached for his hand.  “Besides, you are great in a crisis.  You’ve proven it time and time again.  If you’ll remember, when Daniel was in the water, screaming for help, you jumped in to save him without any thought for your own personal safety.  You didn’t even hesitate.  Zack, I’d say you’re great in a crisis.  Frankly, during any crisis, I’d want you by my side.”
    He hesitantly raised his head and met her eyes.  A smile played at the corners of his mouth.  “Really?  You mean that?”
    “I do.”
    A genuine smile creased his face and he leaned in and kissed her.  It was a quick kiss, but full of promise.
    Suddenly, Holly remembered their friends.  She had screamed only moments before, yet, no one had come tearing into the kitchen to check on her.  “Zack, where is everybody?” she murmured fearfully.
    Suddenly, his eyes widened with understanding.  The twosome turned slowly, frightened of what they might see.  Had some ghost appeared and carried their friends off? Holly wondered fleetingly, but dismissed the notion as quickly as it had come.  She was being ridiculous.  Her friends were fine.
    Her friends were fine.  Daniel was in the recliner, somehow having managed to pull it back into its reclining position.  Holly couldn’t help wondering how he’d managed it, and if he’d done irreparable damage to a chair that was already on its last leg.  Niqui and Kendall had retrieved blankets from one of the bedrooms and had spread them out on the floor.  The two were currently lying parallel to one another, only inches apart and a few feet from Daniel’s chair.  Holly couldn’t blame them for wanting to stay close to each other.
    “I can’t believe they managed to fall asleep,” Holly said with wonder.
    “I’m glad,” Zack said, giving an audible sigh of relief.  “Daniel needs his rest and…”
    “What?”
    “I don’t feel much like rehashing our ghostly encounter with them right now.”
    Holly gave him a hesitant glance.  “Do you mind talking with me about it?”
    “Of course not,” he told her.
    He took her hand and together they walked back into the kitchen.  “I need to clean up this mess,” he said, gesturing toward the broken glass on the floor beside the sink.
    “I’ll get it,” Holly said, rising to retrieve the broom and dustpan.
    “No, I’ll get it.  I made the mess.  I’ll clean it up.”
    Holly sat down at the dinette table and watched as he pulled the broom and dust pan from a small pantry.  He first picked up the largest pieces of glass with his fingers, carefully avoiding the razor sharp edges.  He suddenly glanced up and frowned.  “This isn’t glass.”
    “Nope.  That plate’s actually supposed to be unbreakable.  The commercial’s tout it as indestructible.  Guess they’re wrong.”
    “Huh,” Zack muttered, and then swept the smaller pieces into the dustpan and dumped it into the trash below the sink, finally giving the dustpan a good tap against the trash receptacle.  He rose up, and Holly didn’t miss the apprehensive glance he sent toward the window.  He paused briefly, and Holly could see he was surveying the property out front.
    “See … anything?” she asked.
    “Uh, no, nothing,” he said, the relief evident in his voice.  After putting the broom and dustpan away, he crossed the room and took a chair beside her.  “How’s the foot?”
    “Oh, it’s fine.”
    Wordlessly, Zack rose again, strode into the living room, and retrieved the Tylenol he’d left beside