Page 11 of The Spirit Key
But?“What?”
Tim sighed. “Having you just show up out of the blue? I’m happy but so angry. Was our friendship a lie?”
“What? Oh God, no.” I couldn’t have him think that. “I ran because I was afraid of bringing my weird into your life.”
A grin played on his lips. “Your weird has always been in my life. It’s part and parcel of who you are.”
A car horn blew, scaring the shit out of both of us. A kid stuck his head out the car’s window. “You the one that called for an Uber?”
“Yeah, I….” I was torn. Part of me wanted to get in the car and drive away, but another part wanted Tim to say not to go.
“Well? Do you need a ride?”
I gazed into Tim’s eyes. “Do I?”
He shook his head emphatically.
I yanked my wallet out and tossed the driver a twenty. “Sorry, it was a mistake.”
“Whatever.” He took the money, put the car into gear, and drove off.
We stood in awkward silence for a few moments, and then Tim heaved a sigh. “Don’t go. Come into the house.”
“Okay.” My voice was calm, though inside I was anything but.
I followed him back into the house, and we went into the living room, where we took a seat on the sofa. He ran a hand over the burgundy monstrosity his mother had thought was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
“Do you remember when we built a fort in here?”
Did I! Couch cushions became walls. A tattered red blanket was our roof. We hid inside and read comic books until his mother came along and found out we’d taken apart half the living room. She turned around and stomped out to the kitchen. We were terrified that she was angry, especially when she yelled for us to get our asses into the kitchen. When we did, she grinned and held out a platter of pizza rolls. She handed that to Tim, then gave me three sodas. We trooped into the living room, and she got down on her hands and knees and crawled into our fort, then turned and asked if we were coming. We spent the afternoon there, reading, eating, and sharing a lot of laughs.
“I loved your mother.”
“And she loved you. She thought of you like another son.”
“I know. She told me.” I hadn’t meant to say it, but I got overwhelmed by the emotions and memories.
Tim drew in a sharp breath. “Did you really see her?”
“Yes.” My voice was soft, because I was deathly afraid of pissing Tim off again.
“She doesn’t hurt anymore, right?” He sounded so hopeful.
“No.” How could I tell him what she had sacrificed to get to me? “Tim….”
“She’s gone, isn’t she? I don’t know why, but when you said you saw her, it felt like I’d been punched in the gut. After she died, I felt she was watching me, but then yesterday I had a chill run through me and I couldn’t feel her anymore. I tried to tell myself I was wrong, but I knew it.”
“Tim, I—”
“It’s okay. You can tell me. I’d rather know from you than always wonder.”
I took a deep breath. “Yes, she’s gone.” I fought to keep myself composed, but when I saw the hurt in his eyes, it was a losing battle. I opened my arms, and he rushed to me. I held him while he cried, something I should have been here to do in the first place.
It took a while, but eventually his breathing evened out and he drifted off to sleep. I pulled him down onto my lap and ran my fingers through his hair. Tim had always been the stronger of us. He was the one who fought back, even when the odds were impossible. I loved him so much but was always too afraid to tell him.
The night got darker, and I was exhausted. I reached out, flicked the switch on the lamp next to the couch, and plunged the room into darkness. With Tim’s head in my lap, his soft snores tickling my ears, I finally slept.
FIRE SURROUNDSme, the flames licking at my clothes. It’s so hot and I can’t breathe. Each gasp draws more smoke into my lungs. In the distance, my baby is screaming, and I can’t reach him. My shirt catches fire. I try to beat out the flames, but it doesn’t help. My cries join my baby’s. I’m pinned, unable to move. My hair sizzles before it too catches fire. I pray to God to save me and Joshua.
