Page 63 of (Sur)real
“Five hours,” he said. “The stitches will be set, then you’re mine.”
I grinned sadly and lay next to him, resting my head on his shoulder. I doubted five hours would be enough to heal what they’d done to him. Not when he’d been holding his insides in with his arm on the way here. His lips were hidden, but I didn’t doubt they were pale, like his exposed arms. He’d lost a lot of blood.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
“Don’t leave me. If something happens where you think you won’t make it, take me with you,” I whispered. “I don’t want to live without you.”
“I love you, Gabrielle Winters. More than you can possibly know.”
Thirteen
JIM…
Everyone watched me as they waited for the decision of the Elders.
“Winifred just finished stitching Clay up. She thinks he will need at least two days to fully heal. She hasn’t yet checked on Isabelle,” I said.
“I think Isabelle is pretty badly bruised and will need a few days, too,” Michelle said. “I’ll use that time to see if I can figure out which desert I saw in those images.”
“That also gives Bethi time to keep dreaming of her answers. Let’s hope it’s enough,” Olivia said.
I glanced at Mom’s pale, worried face again. Dad still held her tight. Remembering the last time Michelle had touched her, I knew she probably wanted to rest. Michelle looked like she could use some time alone with Emmitt, too. At least, that’s what I told myself as I tried to ignore the burning need I had to touch Olivia. To spend time alone with her again.
“I’ll walk Olivia back to our room,” I said, holding out my hand.
Olivia glanced at it for a long moment before hesitantly reaching for it. Her cool fingers felt so fragile in mine. I carefully wrapped my hand around hers and gave a light reassuring squeeze. She’d just stood when Winifred walked into the room.
Winifred took one look at us and scowled.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea.”
“Why not?” I asked. “I’m fine, now, aren’t I?”
Olivia made a small sound almost like a laugh, and I realized that I’d just asked why again. I almost grinned, but Winifred looked anything but amused as she continued to study me.
“At this moment, perhaps,” Winifred said, angering me. “But I’m worried you’ll make a mistake. We can’t afford to lose you to your stubbornness.”
Mom reached up to clasp Dad’s hand, and I wanted to growl in frustration at Winifred. I understood her concern; but I wasn’t Sam and Olivia wasn’t Winifred. We were different. Thrown together because of a different set of circumstances. Winifred knew that. But it didn’t change why she worried. She cared because she loved me. She loved all of us. How could I argue with that?
“Winifred, I saw them in the white room,” Michelle said, coming to my rescue. “He is going to spend time with her. They’ll even stay together in the same room overnight. Those images weren’t blurry.”
A surge of joy tried surfacing, and my chest cramped with pain. I quickly told myself my joy was because I’d have more time to learn about Olivia which would only help assure the safety of my people. That thought helped suppress the blossoming pain.
Olivia wasn’t as quick to stifle her reaction. Her fingers twitched in mine. I glanced at her, noting the flush rising to her cheeks.
“Excuse me,” she said softly. “I need to lay down for a bit.”
She pulled her hand from mine and started for the door. It opened before she reached it. Sam and Henry stood in the hall. Winifred went to Henry and took the pizza boxes he held.
“Thought we’d bring some of these here since this is where most of you are,” Sam said.
“Henry, can you walk Olivia to her room?” Winifred asked.
A growl almost rose at the idea of the pup around her. The pain in my chest hit me hard. Winifred noticed my wince because her gaze had never left me, not even when talking to Henry.
“Yes, Nana,” Henry said. Olivia moved toward him. He politely held out his arm and wrapped Olivia’s hand around it.
Everyone in the room watched me as they left.
