Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel) (20 page)

Backing away, Micah turned to run down the hallway.

“Micah, wait!” Ben yelled behind her. “I can explain.”

Karla said, “That’s just fucking great. I thought you said no one would be here?”

Micah flew out the front door then practically dove into the Mini Cooper. Anna was there, brows lifted in shock. “What’s going on?”

“I just saw Ben and Karla doing it on Ben’s desk.” Her hands shook so bad
ly she could barely steer the car away from the curb. “Diane thought he was having an affair, only she guessed the wrong girl.”

“What are you gonna do?” Anna asked, twisting to look at the building as Micah sped away.

“She has to know,” Micah said, picking up the phone. Diane didn’t answer, so she left a short message, stating it was important and that she needed to speak with her right away.

Chapter Fifteen

Micah looked up at the massive stucco home that should have held a lifetime of memories. She took a deep breath and released it through her nose as a wave of sorrow washed over her. She was sad, not because this house held no memories of a childhood here, but because she held no memories of a past life whatsoever.

              Not knowing what to expect, Micah wished that Anna was here to provide moral support. The shepherd had been called away to guide reaped souls into the light, or whatever it was she did after they went through the door, so Micah was on her own.

             
She dialed Sully’s number as she walked up the stone walkway. It went straight to voicemail again.
Damn.
Now she knew how Ben felt, sort of. Since she’d walked in on him and Karla, he’d left about a dozen messages. Not wanting to hear any lame-ass excuses, she’d ignored his calls and allowed them to go to voicemail.

             
The front curtains fluttered, and Nancy peered out. She seemed relieved when she spotted Micah meandering up the walkway. Roger ushered her inside and swept her into a bone-crushing hug.

“I’m so glad you made it, honey,” Nancy said then kissed her cheek.

              Micah wandered around the house, following Nancy as she pointed out photos of family members and those chronicling her childhood. It was painfully droll in a sad, pathetic way. Old Micah had worn thick, ugly glasses as a child. Her hair had been too long and lacking in style through her pre-teens. She had a smile full of silver braces, and she looked miserable in all of the photos.

When she reached what must be her old bedroom, judging by all the ghastly pink and glitter, she spotted a framed photo on the bookshelf. In it, a dark haired man was holding a laughing girl of about two or three. Micah picked it up and examined it, thinking this was one of the few photos she’d seen where old Micah really looked happy.

Nancy smiled and took it from her. She smoothed a finger across the glass then put it back on the shelf. “That was always one of your favorites. You and your dad were so close.” She sighed, unable to make eye contact.

Nancy sat heavily on the pink and lime blanket. She swiped at her eyes and smiled at Micah. “You were only thirteen when cancer took him. You just weren’t the same after that. There was no way you could deal with what had happened by yourself, but you refused to let anyone in. You were so closed off
, and everything, including your personality, changed.”

Micah smoothed a wrinkle on the kaleidoscope bedcover. “Did I go to therapy or anything?”

“Yes, but you wouldn’t open up to her either. We stopped making you go after a while. You were just coming back around before the accident.”

Micah sat next to Nancy, unsure of what she should say or do. Perhaps losing her dad explained why the old Micah was so weird, unhappy
, and friendless. She must have pushed people away to protect her stunted emotions. You couldn’t get hurt if you didn’t allow yourself to care for anyone. What a sad, lonely existence.

Nancy studied the posters on the wall. “I thought you were gone, that I’d never see you again.”

Experiencing this woman’s pain was so awkward. Yet, Micah felt an emotional pull at her heart. Perhaps they had lost their daughter, but there was no reason she couldn’t fill that void. Roger and Nancy had no idea the old Micah was gone. And Micah had no way of knowing if she’d left a mother, a family, behind when her real body died. Would it cause harm to fill that role here and now, with these people? Especially when they all so desperately needed it?

She gripped Nancy’s hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I came back.”

“You were dead, Micah. There was no brain activity. Life support was the only thing keeping your body alive.” Nancy leaned against Micah’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to unplug the machines, but Doctor Egan told us it was the most humane thing to do. He said you were gone, that you were gone from the moment you were brought in.”

“Mom.” Micah wrapped her arms around Nancy in a hug. Emotions she didn’t quite understand burned her throat and constricted her chest. She couldn’t imagine the amount of guilt this woman must be carrying over pulling the plug on her only child. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

Tears slid down Nancy’s cheeks. “I don’t want you to think we did it without considering all the alternatives. I didn’t want to lose my little girl. I’m so happy you’re back, but I’m also scared. My daughter has been returned to me, but at the same time, you’re a complete stranger. I feel like I’m meeting you for the first time.”

Micah sucked air between her clamped teeth.

“Don’t you mourn for the memories you’ve spent a lifetime building then lost?”

Micah glanced at the yearbooks and photos strewn atop the bed. “Not really. They’re gone, lost to me now. Yes, I’m broken, but I’ve been given a chance to rebuild what’s been torn down. It’s a chance to start over. Think of it this way,
Mom. We can make new memories. We can make a new, happier life.”

Nancy’s gaze was still watery as she smiled up at her daughter. “I love you.”

Micah stood and pulled Nancy to her feet. “Come on, this is supposed to be a happy day. Let’s go see if Dad has started those steaks yet.”

“Everything okay?” Roger asked as they descended the stairs together, hand in hand.

Nancy looked to be on the verge of tears again. Her voice had a crackly quality, and her eyes were damp again. “I’m just so happy.”

Eager to get away from the suffocating emotions of her new mom, Micah moved over to the countertop where the steaks were. A heavy memory from before she became Micah struck her like a bolt of lightning. She was ten, crouched in a corner of a kitchen and crying because her adoptive mother had accused her of lying, of being crazy. The woman had been scared and angry with her because she’d claimed grandma was still in the kitchen, even after the body had been taken away.

Micah struggled to tamp down the emotion this brought to the surface. So, she’d seen ghosts even when she was a child? With trembling hands, she opened the cabinet above the stove and selected a few seasonings. Nancy and Roger shared a surprised glance.

Micah belatedly remembered that Nancy said she used to bring casseroles and snacks she could eat throughout the week. Old Micah probably never helped with this sort of thing.

“I thought you were bringing your friend?” Nancy said then winked.

Roger wore a dis
approving frown. “Who is this guy anyway? You’ve never mentioned him before.”

Nancy tried, but failed to hide a smile. “I believe this is a new friendship, Roger.”

Micah released a calming breath. My God, it was like she was sixteen all over again. Only she doubted old Micah brought home her crushes. Not with those pop bottle glasses and braces. She wanted to make an excuse for Sully’s absence, but honestly didn’t know what to say. “I don’t think he’s coming.”

Just hearing those words aloud nearly sent her spiraling into tears. She hoped it was only residual emotion from Nancy’s breakdown or the weird memory, but she knew better. She turned away and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to gain control of her rampant emotions. She couldn’t allow herself to become dick-whipped by the first guy to come along. It didn’t matter if he was a gorgeous, talented lover who was on her mind constantly. If Sully didn’t want her, she’d have to move on and not moon over him like some stupid fan-girl with a crush.

Roger studied her a moment, started to say something, then decided against it. Instead, he put his arm around Nancy’s shoulders.

The awkward silence was interrupted by the doorbell. Nancy hurried out of the kitchen to answer it. After a few moments, her tittering laughter caused Roger to set the spices aside and wipe his hands. He cast a suspicious glance in Micah’s direction then hurried to see what was going on. He didn’t immediately return.

“Shit.” Micah ditched the hand towel she was twisting in her hands and made her way to the living room. What, or rather who, she saw there made her heartbeat flutter against her ribcage. She breathed his name in greeting and was rewarded with a slight smile that made her insides quiver.

Sully shook Roger’s offered hand. He even smiled when Micah’s pretend dad said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sullivan.”

There was so much she wanted to tell Sully, so much she wanted to show him. Unfortunately, all of that would have to wait until they were alone. She closed the distance between them, content to just have this moment.

Micah threw her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoes and hugged him close. His lips brushed against hers in a quick kiss.

Micah whispered, “I’m glad you’re here.”

“We didn’t think you were coming,” Nancy said then glanced at Micah. She sounded almost as relieved as Micah felt.

“I was working in the area.” Sully leaned closer and dropped a soft kiss on Micah’s temple. “Plus, meeting you was a big deal to her.”

Micah’s heart swelled with warmth. She tilted her head to gaze up at him and smiled. The man was a genius. Not only would he win her heart, but her parents
’, too.

He squeezed her hand. “I didn’t want to miss it.”

This seemed to win Nancy over. She smiled and even looked like she wanted to hug Sully, too.

Roger didn’t look quite as convinced. “Where do you work?”

“Dad!” Micah pretended to be affronted, even embarrassed. Truth be told, she was just as curious to hear what Sully would say. She slanted her eyes in his direction, curious if the word Reaper would come out of his mouth.

“I build bikes.” He smiled convincingly. “Occasionally I repair them.”

Nancy cocked her head, sculpted brows dipping downward. “Bicycles?”

Roger grinned. “I don’t think he’s talking about that kind of bike, honey.”

Micah took her mom’s hand and led her to the large picture window in the living room. She swept aside the curtain and pointed at the shiny motorcycle parked behind her Mini. Nancy’s eyes widened, and she glanced back at Micah.

“Don’t tell me you ride on that thing,” Nancy said, worry lines around her eyes deepening with a frown.

“No worries, Mrs. Farris. Your daughter is in good hands,” Sully said with a sly wink that curled Micah’s toes. She couldn’t wait until they were alone, and his hands were on her again.

Sully and Roger found a common interest in motorcycles. Her dad explained that he used to have one in his younger days and had thought about getting another. Nancy was adamant that they were too dangerous and a man his age had no business riding. After a while, the men went outside to grill the meat.

Micah helped Nancy cut veggies for a salad. She kept sneaking glances at Sully through the window and nearly winced when she saw how serious Roger’s expression had grown. He waved the spatula around as he spoke and even pointed it at the house a few times.

“You really like him, don’t you, sweetheart?” Nancy asked as she watched Micah glance out the window again.

“Yes.” She couldn’t help the silly smile that formed. “I really do.”

“It’s pretty obvious he’s nuts about you
, too. I saw the way he looks at you.” Nancy smiled.

Micah snuck another peek at her lover through the window. “Oh
God, do you think Dad’s giving Sully
the
talk?”

Nancy laughed as she tossed the chopped ingredients together in a large bowl. “Probably. Roger’s been all worked up about some guy dating his little girl. He’s even been rehearsing what he would say.” Nancy ducked her head and fought a grin. “It probably didn’t help that I told him about that awkward situation I walked in on.”

“Oh my God, Mom, you didn’t!” Micah peeked out the window again. Whatever they were talking about didn’t seem to ruffle Sully in the least. His features remained neutral and relaxed. The only clue that he might be uncomfortable was the slow tap of his boot on the stone patio.

Nancy laughed. “Well, I was a little shaken by what I saw. I mean, that kind of thing is so unlike you
, and even though you’re his adopted daughter, Roger thinks of you as his own. How could I not tell him?”

Micah stared at her mom for a moment. “What did Roger come to talk to me about the night of the accident?”

Nancy pursed her lips. “Well, we were thinking about getting a divorce. I was a mess, and he thought it would be better if he told you.”