Page 17 of Wild Rush Of Love
“They are. You wrote them together.Youillustrated them. Get them published.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. They’re not…” She couldn’t imagine letting go of those stories. They were the closest link she had to the woman who’d taken her in, treated her as her own, when no one else wanted her.
“Beth would want you to.”
Would she? Reena didn’t know. Could never take that step without being sure her aunt would want that—and now it was too late. Still shaking her head, she stammered, “I-I can’t.”
“Then find something else to do with your talent. Write more stories. Draw the pictures to match.”
Reena shook her head so fast her teeth clacked together, her lungs seized, and tears welled in her eyes, stung the back of her nose.
The stories and drawings had always been something she and Aunt Beth did together.
It was something only the two of them shared.
They were never meant for anyone else, and she couldn’t imagine doing a story without her aunt.
“Stop.” Caitlyn gripped both her hands firmly. “Sabreena. Breathe.”
Pulling in a sharp breath, Reena tried to calm her racing heart, think beyond the irrational panic Caitlyn’s words made her feel. “Why are you pushing this now?”
Not that her friend hadn’t tried to talk her into getting the children’s stories published before. Although she’d never taken Caitlyn’s words seriously.
Caitlyn’s gaze softened, her mouth curving up in a small smile. “Because you’re talented. You should share your work. And I miss the vibrant girl you used to be, the woman who was starting to emerge before Beth had a stroke and died. She wouldn’t want you to hide away—”
“I’m not,” she protested.
“You are. And it has to stop.” Caitlyn squeezed her hands. “It reminds me of that scared little girl I met all those years ago.”
Oh.Oh god.
Had she closed herself off again? Pulled back into her shell like the frightened eight-year-old she’d once been?
“I’m sorry,” she whispered through a constricted throat.
“Don’t apologize. I understand. Completely. But like I did back then, I’m not going to let you hide yourself away. Beth would haunt me if I did but that’s not why I’m doing this. I miss my friend, Sabreena. She’s been slowly disappearing for the last few years and I want her back.”
Reena drew in a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Sucked in another. “Okay. I didn’t realize…” Nodding, she gave Caitlyn’s hands a reassuring squeeze and attempted a smile. “You’re right. I’ll fix it.”
“You don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be here if you need anything. Remember that.”
“I know.” Reena’s mouth curled into a genuine smile this time. “Thank you.”
“So. First up in the Reena-starts-living-again plan.” Caitlyn let go of Reena’s hands and rubbed her own together. “Contactthe guy.”
“What? No. I can’t.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I don’t have his number.”
“Oh.” Caitlyn blew out a frustrated breath. A second later she sat up with a grin. “What was his name again? I’ll find out not only his phone number but his boot size.”
Reena laughed. “I know his boot size and I know where he works. I can call him there.”
“Great, do it now.” Her friend’s brow creased. “Does he work Saturdays?” Caitlyn waved the question away with her hand “Doesn’t matter. Call. Leave a message if he’s not there.”
Should she tell Caitlyn she’d punched the number for the Lodge into her phone so many times this past week without hitting call that she knew it by heart?
