Page 104 of Dream Lake

“Alex, you werehurt.I saw it.”

“I know what it must have looked like,” Alex said gently. “But everything’s okay. I promise.”

The driver of the car, a distraught middle-aged woman, was babbling about insurance and phone numbers and calling paramedics. Alex said to Zoë, “If you could take care of her, I’m going to bring Emma inside.” Without waiting for a reply, he bent to scoop Emma into his arms. He carried her to the cottage. She was astonishingly light in his arms.

“Thank you for saving me,” Emma said.

“No problem.”

“I saw the car hit you.”

“Just a little bump.”

“The front grille was caved in and the headlight was smashed,” she told him.

“They don’t make cars the way they used to.”

She gave a raspy little chuckle.

Alex carried her into the house and directly to the bedroom. After setting her on the bed, he removed her slippers and pulled the covers up to her chest.

“I was looking for Tom,” Emma said, reaching up to pat his cheek.

Alex bent to kiss her forehead. “He’s here,” he murmured.

“I know.”

Zoë entered the room and fussed over her grandmother, asking worried questions, coaxing her to take a sip of water. As Alex left the room, he heard Emma say a bit testily, “Let me sleep, Zoë. I love you, too. Let me rest.”

***

When Zoë finally turned out the lights and left the bedroom, Tom went to lie quietly beside Emma.

“I wanted you,” she whispered after a moment. “I couldn’t find you.”

“I’ll never leave you again,” Tom told her. He didn’t know if she could hear him, but he sensed that she was relaxing, settling into sleep.

A plaintive murmur. “I don’t remember anything.”

“You don’t have to,” Tom replied, smiling at her in the darkness. “I found all your memories tonight. I’m keeping them safe for you… they’re waiting inside me like a heartbeat. And I’ll give them to you when the time is right.”

“Soon,” she whispered, turning toward him with a sigh of relief.

“Yes, love… very soon.”

***

Zoë gestured for Alex to follow her. She led him to her room, her throat tight, her eyes flooding with fresh tears.

He looked down at her with infinite concern. “What’s the matter?”

“I was so scared,” she said in a watery voice, blotting her sore eyes with the sleeve of her robe.

“I know. I’m sorry I pushed Emma like that. But she seems okay now—”

“I meantyou.” She went to the tiny bathroom, found a tissue, and blew her nose vehemently. Her jaw quivered as she continued. “I saw you get hit by that car—”

“Bumped.”

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