Page 79 of Cursed Sight
At the sound of car doors, Peter whispered, “We should get her inside.”
Ethan lifted her into his arms, and she curled into him. Her cries had stopped, and her makeup was smeared on her beautiful face. Peter opened the door and followed them inside.
“Is she okay?” Andrea whispered, but Ethan could not reply.
He did not know what was wrong. How could he fix anything if he did not know what was broken?
“Follow me,” Debbie stated, and she guided them down the hall to their master bedroom.
Ethan moved to one of the chairs by the window and sat with her in his lap. “Can someone tell me what happened?”
His voice was hard but quiet, not wanting to upset Serena any more than she already was. Before Debbie or Peter could answer him, James, Carter, and Ryan entered the room.
“Let me see her,” Carter said and kneeled before him.
Ethan watched his brother run a hand over her hair, avoiding the flowers she had put in that morning, and down to her neck. He nodded to himself before continuing down her body. Carter returned to her head and placed both hands on her.
No one spoke as minutes passed. Ethan could feel her mind calming, and his own followed.
“She should be better now,” Carter said. “Serena, honey?”
Ethan looked down and wiped his thumb over the smudges. Her lids fluttered open, then she turned and spotted some of Ethan’s family. Surprise, embarrassment, sorrow, and worry flowed through her in an instant.
“Look at me, Serena. Ignore the others and tell me, how are you feeling now?” Carter asked.
Her gaze moved to Ethan and then Carter as she sat up. She placed a hand to her temple. “Better, I think.”
She faced James, who watched her wearily. “I’m so very sorry.”
His brother’s face softened, and he stepped forward.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
James nodded. “Carter fixed me up. I’m sorry for startling you.”
Serena shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You went through a traumatic experience, Serena. Let’s just say your brain was unbalanced. I noticed the same thing with Ryan a few months back. You should be okay now,” Carter told her.
“Can someone please catch me up?” Ethan asked.
Serena sighed and told him about the last month and the building anxiety. As her story went on, he heard the mounting sorrow in her voice.
“I really am s—”
James put his finger to her lips and shook his head. “You’ve already apologized, Serena. Now go clean up that pretty face so you can marry my sister and Ryan,” he said with a wink.
Everyone filed out as quickly as they had arrived, leaving only Debbie. “I’ve set my makeup and stuff on the counter. Use whatever you need.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he whispered when the door clicked shut behind Debbie.
“I thought it would get better, and I didn’t want to worry you,” she said, and he pushed to his feet.
Ethan cupped her cheek and tipped her mouth to his. The kiss was slow and deep as he told her without words how much he loved her.
“You really scared me. You don’t have to do any of this alone ever again. Please worry me next time.”
Serena laughed. “Promise, and I’m sorry I scared you.”
