Page 9 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

Retching noises echoed from the bathroom.Please let him be hitting the garbage can and not the floor.She didn’t know if it was a prayer or just a fervent hope. Outside, the wind screamed louder. Another crack of thunder boomed, and she resisted the urge to wrap her arms around her head. Barely.

The broken shutter banged against the wall. One problem at a time. Rounding the corner to the hall, she almost stepped on Maggie.

“Hey, baby.” She put her hand on Maggie’s head. Hot and sweaty.

“I frewed up.” Maggie’s eyes welled with tears as she held up her stuffed bunny. “Trixie is all yucky.” Trixie, dilapidated by being excessively loved, looked even worse now. Mia didn’t want to think about what might be waiting in Maggie’s bed. Her stomach rolled over. She took three deep breaths, willing the bile to stay in place.

“Oh, Mags.” Mia picked up the bunny by the one place on its right ear that seemed cleanest and dropped it onto one of the towels. She wrapped the bundle up and set it next to the wall. “We’ll get Trixie cleaned up in a little bit. Let’s go help your brother.” Fatigue pulled at her bones as she picked up Maggie.

A tiny spark of warmth lit her heart as Maggie wrapped her arms around her neck and buried her head on top of her shoulder. Thunder boomed directly above them, and they both yelped. Mia jumped and clutched Maggie tighter. Her heart raced.

Yeah, she knew that storms were a normal part of a Michigan spring and summer—she even used to enjoy them. Now, all she could hear in the thunder was the groan of a ship against rocks. The rain was the waters of Lake Huron swamping a boat, dragging down the only boy she’d ever kissed.

Maggie convulsed once. Something warm and wet made its way through the hair tucked behind Mia’s ear and down her neck. She knew even before Maggie spoke.

“Mama, I frewed up again.”

A heat prickled in her eyes. She would not break down. She didn’t have time for that.

In the bathroom, Finn sat on the toilet, legs pulled tight to his chest, chin between his knees, hair tousled. Vomit filled the garbage can and spotted the floor. “I’m sorry, Mommy,” Finn said to his knees.

The wind found its way through a crack in the attic and began moaning. Finn looked up, his eyes wide. “Is that a monster?”

“No, honey, it’s just the wind.” She set Maggie in the empty tub. The loose shutter began banging again.

“The monster wants to get in,” Maggie said and began sobbing. “I don’t want any monsters.” The two-year-old shivered.

Enough. Mia squared her shoulders. She wrapped one of the clean towels around Maggie. No need to dirty up a blanket, the towel would do for now. “Stay here, Mags. Finn, watch your sister. Stay in here. I’ll go get the monster.”

She marched out of the bathroom and toward the front door. Something cold slid down her back. Not stopping for her jacket hanging on its hook—no sense getting the sick all over it—she opened the door, and a gust of wind almost tore it from her grip.

A wet spray of sleet hit her in the face as she stepped onto the cold front step. In defiance, the broken shutter banged a few more times. She grabbed the edges of it and began tugging. If it could bang around so much, surely it was loose enough to come off the side of the house.

It held tight.

A bolt of lightning streaked the sky, followed by a rumble. Mia could taste the sleet streaming down her face. It tasted salty. Oh wait. Maybe she was crying. She pulled again at the shutter, twisting it this time.

It came loose. A shocking pain ran through her hand and she fell backward, shutter still gripped tightly. The cold feeling of wet mud bit into her pajama pants. Another bolt of lightning—no, a flashlight this time.

Over the roar of the storm, she could hear someone calling her name.

“Mia?” Evie’s voice. She almost cried in relief. Mia felt Evie grasp the shutter and move it away. “Mia, what are you doing out here?”

“Monsters.” Mia couldn’t stop shaking. Evie put her arm under Mia’s armpits and lifted her up. Evie’s rain jacket crinkled. Mia cupped her sore hand to her chest.

“Let’s get you inside,” Evie said. “Mia, are you bleeding?”

“What are you doing here?” Mia clung to her sister’s arm, slip sliding in the mud to the front door.

“I was visiting Mom and Dad when the storm came up. They canceled the ferry service, so we’ll be spending the night.” Evie shrugged. “I know how these storms freak you out. I thought I would come by and check on you.”

“Across the island? How could you even see in this downpour?” Mia scrubbed a hair out of her eye.

“It wasn’t raining this hard when I left. Besides, why are you always surprised when people show up for you?” Evie held open the door for Mia. “Never mind, don’t answer that. You’re dripping blood on the floor. And is that vomit in your hair?”

“It’s been a long night.” Mia reached up to push her hair back but then remembered the cut on her hand. “The kids are in the bathroom. Watch out in the hall. I haven’t had time to clean up.”

“I see. It’s that kind of night.” She squeezed Mia’s arm. “I got this.” Then she headed down the hallway.

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