The Healer: First Touch (20 page)

"We're here." Only then did I open my eyes.

My eyes needed to adjust to the light from being closed while we drove. Varick stepped away from the cycle. He reached his hand out and assisted me off the motorcycle. I pulled off my helmet grimacing as it scraped and tugged at my skin and hair. Varick grabbed the helmet from me and placed both his and mine on the seats of the motorcycle. Only then did I look around and realize where I was. Varick had taken me home. I grinned broadly and looked at Varick.

"I thought you might want to get freshened up a bit." Varick's shoulders lifted in a shrug.

"Thank you, yes I would like that." I started walking the short path of the driveway leading to the front porch. I turned towards Varick, grinning slyly. "Wait, are you trying to tell me something?''

Varick's chagrinned smile responded. "I'll just wait here," he said, leaning up against his motorcycle and crossing his legs at his ankles and his arms in front of his chest.

I rolled my eyes at Varick as I turned the doorknob of the front door. It was open. I hadn't seen Oma's Buick in the driveway so I didn't think she was home yet, but I called her name anyway. Only the clicking of the grandfather clock in the family room answered my call. I walked in to the kitchen, took off my purse, and set it on the counter next to the microwave. That's when I noticed the note, Oma's neat handwriting scrawled across the scrap paper.

I got your message. Hope everything is alright. I love you and miss you. Should be coming home this weekend. Cathy is very sick. Will tell you all about it later. Love, Oma.

I ran my fingers over the note, tracing Oma's handwriting. My heart ached at the sight of her familiar penning. I missed her so. My thoughts were awakened by the grandfather clock's melody, signaling it was half past the hour. I remembered Varick waiting outside by his cycle. Leaving my purse and Oma's note on the counter, I ran through the house and up the stairs to the bathroom.

Once upstairs, I threw my clothes down the laundry shoot into the basement. I took a quick, hot shower, brushed my teeth thoroughly and added a little make-up. I quickly brushed out my long hair, pulling the wet locks into a single braid that hung down the middle of my back. I grabbed a clean pair of denim capris and two ribbed tank tops, one white and the other pink. I layered the tank tops and pulled on the capris, grabbing a pair of pink flip flops from my closet before running down the stairs and out to Varick.

He was still leaning against the motorcycle, his arms crossed over his chest still. "That was quick." Varick smiled warmly.

I returned the smile and grabbed my black helmet off the seat of the motorcycle. "So, where are we going?"

"I thought we'd take a ride out to the beach, maybe have a picnic or something." "Hmm. That sounds good."

"Okay, then. Hop on." Varick put on his helmet and I did the same, adjusting the helmet once it was in place.

Varick looked at me. "Ready?"

"Yep," I answered, lightly hitting the top of my helmet with my open palm.

Varick's laugh reached his eyes, the blueness of them bright and cheery. I hoisted myself onto the back of the bike, balancing on the small seat.

"Ready," I called out, wrapping my arms eagerly around Varick's waist, clasping my hands together.

I could almost feel Varick's grin through his helmet. The sleek cycle started with a jerk and a purr. Varick slid the machine down the driveway and onto the roadway. We drove into town, past the grocery store and post office. Varick held the bike between his legs, while I balanced on the back. The motorcycle lurched forward as Varick accelerated through the rest of town.

Jameson's came up on the right and I turned to look at the family diner as we passed. My heart grew heavy with sadness as Jamie's image came to mind. My throat tightened as feelings of guilt filled me. I thought I felt Varick accelerate, the motorcycle lurching forward, the town speeding past us a little faster. I held tighter around Varick, my thoughts and feelings left behind with Jameson's diner.

Varick turned the motorcycle onto Lake Drive, the machine leaning heavily with us along with it. He gracefully maneuvered the motorcycle over the hills and through the curves of Lake Drive until we reached the sand dunes, the big lake just on the other side.

Varick slowed the cycle as we approached the dark brown ranger booth. Giving a quick wave to the ranger who also waved in response, Varick drove the motorcycle into the parking lot and maneuvered it into a parking spot near the entrance of the park, close to the ranger booth.

When he had the machine stabilized with the kick stand, I carefully slid off the side and took my helmet off. Varick did the same, running his hand through his wavy, brown hair. Smiling mischievously, Varick held out his hand to take my helmet. He placed both helmets on the leather seat of the motorcycle. Running his hands through his hair again, Varick turned grinning broadly. "I've got water and a couple of granola bars in the leather pouch on the motorcycle."

"Is that your idea of a picnic?" I placed my hands on my hips.

Laughing, Varick, "Yeah, I guess so."

Reaching into the leather pouch, I took out the waters, handing both to Varick. I grabbed the granola bars. "Next time, I'll pack the picnic."

"Deal," Varick stated, his eyes glittering with amusement.

I started for the sand that would lead down to the beach and Lake Michigan. It was another beautiful late spring day. The sky was bright blue, a few wispy clouds running high in the sky. The air temperature was warm, but the light breeze off the lake was cool. The big lake was full of waves, whitecaps frothing the wave crests. A seagull's lonely cry sounded high in the sky.

I looked back and Varick was following me. A light blush stained my cheeks at the sight of his reckless smile. Varick stopped when we came to the foot of a dune. Jerking his head quickly to the side, he motioned that we should sit up on the dune. I nodded and followed him. I carried my flip flops as I trudged up the sand dune, careful not to step on the coarse dune grass.

Varick stopped at the top of the small dune, where the sand shelved off. A larger dune was behind it. A couple rogue trees were growing out of the shelf of the dune giving shade. Varick sat down under one of those trees and crossed his legs. I followed, placing my flip flops in the sand next to me. Varick handed me a water, and I gave him a granola bar. I placed the unopened water bottle between my legs and stared at Varick as he opened his water, threw his head back, and downed half the bottle.

"Thirsty?"

"Yes," Varick laughed loudly, screwing the top back on his bottle.

Varick and I looked across the lake for a moment. We saw a sailboat, the white sail stark against the blueness of sea and sky. A freighter moved slowly along the far off horizon.

Varick spoke first. "I like coming here. The fresh air clears my mind." Varick brought his knee up and rested his left arm on it. I was distracted by his heavy tattoo. I traced the lines and patterns up the length of his arm with my eyes.

"Uh huh," I murmured absently in response.

"And the waves," Varick continued, his voice nostalgic and wistful. "The rush the wave makes as it crashes onto the beach and then how the lake reclaims it, sucking it back out to its depths."

I stopped staring at Varick's arm, instead staring at his profile. His face was hard, his jaw flexed. He stared out at the waves, the light breeze blowing at his hair.

"I could watch those waves forever."

Varick looked so forlorn. I had an overwhelming urge to throw my arms around him and hold him close. Instead, I looked down at my hands clasped around the water bottle in my lap. "I know," I answered softly.

He spoke again, telling me more about how he came to find me, how he watched over me since my birth, and how he had saved me from the fiery car accident that claimed the lives of my parents.

I stared at him, astonished with what he was telling me and how freely he was sharing this information.

"I know you have something you want to ask me...about that night," Varick said as he stared out at the waves on the lake. "I wish you would just ask me."

I bit my lip hard enough that I tasted the metallic flavor of blood. There was a question I wanted to ask him about that fateful night. A question that burned in the very core of my soul. But I was afraid to ask it.

Varick turned to look at me. His eyes were cloudy and stormy. "Just ask, Jacey." His face was still hard, stone like.

"Why didn't you save them too?" I said softly, my voice catching. I fought to keep my tears at bay.

"Because I only had time to save you. Only you. You were my responsibility."

"I know. But could you have saved them?"

"I don't think so." Varick turned his attention back to the water. "Everything happened so fast. I was watching you, as I did all the time. Your mother needed to go to the store for something and of course your father insisted on going along to protect her and you."

I swallowed hard, staring intently at Varick, silently urging him to continue. I wanted to know more about the night my parents died.

"Your father was driving just outside of town, on his way to Oakton. I followed them on my motorcycle. I don't think they knew I was there." Varick smiled ruefully.

"All of a sudden a dark cloud loomed ahead of them. It was massive; it completely blocked the road. Before your father could react, the mist slid under the car and picked it up. The mist lifted the car high in the air and threw it back on the road."

My breath caught in my throat as I pictured the terrifying scene. I already knew what the mist was. Varick didn't need to tell me.

I was suddenly very cold. I raised my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, my water and granola bar completely forgotten.

"I skidded my motorcycle to a stop and smashed through the back window of the car. I can still smell the gasoline that was leaking all around the vehicle."

"My first priority was you. You were awake and crying. But you didn't appear injured. That's when your father grabbed my arm. My English was very broken still, and he spoke to me in our language. Your mother was either already gone or very close. He told me to save you. To always protect you. And not to hesitate."

Varick looked at me. I stared back, blinking back tears.

"And so, I grabbed you, ripping the car seat to pieces in the process. I jumped from the vehicle and heard your father thank me, just before the car exploded into flames. I don't think I could have saved them. I just didn't have time. As I sped away on my motorcycle with you tucked in my arm like a football, I heard the Fury scream and howl. It was furious that I had you. It didn't expect me."

Varick looked back at the lake. "I brought you back to Oma and Opa. It was hard to tell them what happened because my English was still so weak, but they seemed to understand." Varick picked at something on his knee.

"I'm sorry, Jacey," Varick said, sighing sadly. "I'm sorry that I couldn't save your parents."

I looked at the lake and took a deep breath. The breeze blew on me, picking up a stray hair that had escaped my braid, blowing it across my face. I was sad still, but somehow I felt better, relieved that I finally knew what had happened.

"Thank you, Varick," I finally said, turning to look at him. I placed my hand on his arm to console him. My heart quickened as the electric current passed from his bare skin to my palm and up my arm. Varick placed his other hand over mine.

I smiled lightly. Cocking my head to the side, I said, "Varick, what did you do all those years waiting for me to grow up?" I tried to ignore the intense feelings his touch created inside me. My heart was beating quickly. I deliberately slowed my breath in order to slow my heart. It didn't work.

Varick smiled, his eyes lightening. The storm contained within them cleared. "I waited...for you." We talked freely and easily now that the tension was gone. Varick told me about the different times he had saved me or protected me in the past and I recalled the events, actually seeing him in each memory now.

We continued talking as the orange sun seemingly slid into the lake. I felt so content talking with Varick. Conversation came easily along with smiles and laughter and we both lost track of time as the sun set and the moon started its ascent.

Varick was in the middle of telling me a story about when my stubbornness almost got me in trouble, when he stopped suddenly. He sat totally still, only moving his eyes around.

"What's the matter, Varick?"

Varick waved his hand in the air to silence me. He was listening. He definitely heard something, and from his actions I didn't think he liked what he heard.

Varick abruptly stood and thrust his hand out towards me. "We have to go. Now." Varick's words were soft but urgent. His eyes were wild, filled with anticipation and dread. I grabbed his hand and let him yank me to my feet. We started down the sand dune as fast as we could safely go in the diminishing light. I was glad I had put my flip flops on earlier since Varick hadn't waited for anything before pulling me down the hill. He looked nervously around us then turned to look at me. "Come on. Hurry."

His eyes scared me and I felt my heart pumping adrenaline.

When we got to the bottom of the sand dune, Varick didn't stop. He pulled me along after him toward his parked motorcycle. I was vaguely aware of a sea gull shrieking above us. At least I thought it was a sea gull.

My heart hammered in my chest and I could feel myself shaking. "What is it, Varick? What's the matter?"

Varick stopped and looked me in the eyes. He still held my hand in his.

"It's the Fury. It's here."

My stomach flipped and I felt dread sinking inside me, filling me with sickening fear.

We hurried toward the parked motorcycle. But before we reached it, a loud growl stopped us in our tracks. The guttural growls came from behind us. Varick stopped and turned to face the noise. He pushed me behind him and I cowered at his back, grateful for his courage.

"Too late," he muttered wryly.