Page 23 of Chasing Fireflies

“Is Maci coming?”

“I don’t know.”

“Wanna give her a call and see?”

“No, Cash. Stop asking twenty questions.” She walks away from me, and I take a deep breath.

“Shit.”

*

Sara sits on the porch swing while Anne and Leigh lay the tablecloth down. The steaks are done, and we are ready to eat. I take a sip of my beer and walk up the steps.

“You hungry, baby?”

“Not really,” she says.

“Wanna try to eat something anyway?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’ll come down.” She’s being antisocial, but it could be worse. At least she is out here.

*

“You did a damn good job on those steaks,” I tell Mark as we clean up.

“Anytime you need a cook, just call me.” He grins.

“He does most of the cooking at our house,” Leigh says. “And I happily let him.” She smiles at her husband and then looks over at Sara. “Honey, if you ever wanna get out of the house, you just give me a call. We can plan something.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.” She’s quiet and drawn-in, but she compliments Anne’s potato salad and tells everyone thank you for coming before she lies about having a headache and heads inside. I get looks, but I finish the cleaning.

“Your wife okay?” Mark asks.

“Yeah, she just gets headaches sometimes.”

“I used to get those things,” Anne says. “Ruin a whole day, they will. Keep you shut up inside a dark room. Warm baths used to help me. Maybe you should run her one, Cash. We can finish up here.”

“I will in a little bit.”

*

After everyone leaves, I walk up the steps and into the bedroom, thinking Sara will be lying down, but she isn’t. I hear water running, and I walk into the bathroom.

“Sara!” I yell as I run over and pull her out of the water. “Fucking hell, baby.” I stand her on her feet and grab a towel. She’s out of it, and I see her hands shaking. I kiss her forehead and wrap the towel around her, pulling her close to me. “Sara, what were you doing?”

“I was trying to cut out the noise. It’s so loud in my head,” she says as she starts crying.

“Let’s get out of these wet clothes and we can lie down together for a bit.”

She agrees and I help her undress. She shakes and I’m not sure it’s from being cold or she’s just scared.

I pull a nightgown down over her head and move the covers back so she can get under. I lie down beside her and wrap my arms around her back.

“I love you, baby.”

“Promise?” she asks quietly.

“Promise, promise,” I whisper as I kiss her hair and pray to God she never leaves me on purpose.

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